Experienced investors will want to help you if you show initiative, drive, and genuine interest.

Ps- anyone that promises that they have special contacts is most probably not genuine.

I've been around the REI space long enough to know it goes against conventional wisdom so I'm genuinely interested in your thoughts:My wife and I have been working on paying off debt and have paid off over $200k in the past 6 years.

Coming from being morbidly obese (I am now a bodybuilder/competitive powerlifter), it brings genuine happiness to my heart hearing another person embarking on the weight loss journey and seeing results!

A genuine learning environment won't push you to call your credit card companies and ask for an increase in your limit, and pass this off as an "exercise" to teach you how to "negotiate".THAT is the type of education that is unsupported on BiggerPockets. 

As you mention, I want to genuinely help the homeowner. 

Go to local real estate meet ups and get to know some people and dont tell them that you have that money and see who is genuine to partner with and help you learn and grow without expecting much in return other than some sweat equity. 

Just tell people what you are looking to accomplish and be genuine, no need to feel shy around these folks, they all started in the same spot, with no real estate holdings at all.  

Find out how to research recorded NODs, get the address and knock on their door.You need to be prepared to offer genuine help. 

Sorry, I'm genuinely confused there.