I am grateful for many blessings in my life including each of you and your commitment to our team and our community. During this week, I hope you all will take a few minutes to think about three things or people in your life for which you are thankful. If they are people, reach out and let them know that you are glad they are in your life and why.

To those of you answering calls to 211 and 988 this week, thank you for serving our community with your compassionate response to their fear, anxiety and discouragement.

We’ll be back with another installment of Monday Message on Nov. 27.

PEOPLE

Happy Anniversary:

Jasmine Byard – 11/21 – 1 year

Kayla Huggins – 11/21 – 1 year

Jacqueline Stallone – 11/22 – 2 years

Corinne Tippins – 11/25 – 10 years

Happy Birthday:

Michael Willis – 11/25

Staff Profile

James Ellout

Position/Department: Vice President, Community Impact

Years at United Way: 1

Why are you passionate about United Way and/or your work?

As someone who grew up poor in a hardworking/blue collar household, I know firsthand the power of community service and organizations lifting families out of the cycle of poverty and injustice. I am honored that each day I work to lift up the needs of Northeast Florida and help those most in need rise above their conditions.

Hometown: Pontiac, Michigan

What's a fun fact about yourself?

I am a girl dad!

Favorite Book: Assata: An Autobiography by Assata Shakur

Favorite Band: Earth, Wind & Fire

Favorite Movie: The Hurricane

Hobbies: Sports, music, traveling, reading and art

Favorite thing to do in Northeast Florida: Visit the beach

Welcome to United Way, Jennifer Oliveras!

Jennifer Oliveras transitioned from Jessie Ball duPont Center employee to United Way on Nov. 1 as an emergency services and concierge for the building.

Jennifer has been working for The Jessie for almost three years. She is originally from New Jersey and moved to Florida eight years ago for better opportunities for her family. She has two handsome boys, ages 17 and 18. She adores her sons and enjoys watching them play sports.

Jennifer has a degree in medical billing and coding, and before working at The Jessie she worked for three years at HCA hospitals. Her hobbies include cooking and singing. She is very excited to be part of the United Way family and looking forward to a successful future!

Welcome back to Steffen Strayer!

Volunteer and Community Engagement (VCE) is grateful to have Steffen Strayer back in the temporary role of MLK grant compliance and volunteer coordinator to assist with the behemoth that is the MLK Week of Service event.

For those that don’t know Steffen, he has been a part of the VCE team since 2018. He was technically a volunteer, but took on the responsibilities and time commitment of a staff member for four years. Steffen was also an integral part of the Civil Rights Conference where he was one half of the two-man VCE team—as a volunteer still! Shortly afterwards, he came on officially as a seasonal staff employee until last year, and, boy oh boy, have we missed him.

Please drop by his desk on the other side of Maria’s to say hello if you haven’t already.

Congratulations, Linda Olson!

We announced in October the new donor services department led by Linda Olson. Linda's new role as Senior Director of Donor Services is a testament to her leadership. Prior to being promoted to this position, Linda and the donor services group captured donor detail for an additional 300+ donors, worked to close the gaps in our monthly pledge processing and partnered with leadership in IT to correctly categorize almost $1 million in revenue in our CRM tool. Please join us in congratulating Linda again for her leadership and new role.  

MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL

Side Door Under Repair - Do Not Use

The side cypher lock door is currently under repair. Please use the front entrance to our suite to enter and exit until further notice. If there is an extreme emergency happening within our building, you may exit through the side door. For security reasons, we would like this door to remain locked until repairs are made.  

VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

United Way Volunteer Hub

If your department uses volunteers in any way or you want to learn more about the United Way of Northeast Florida’s Volunteer Hub, please be sure to reach out to the VCE department. VCE is eager to be of service and to share the awesome benefits of the Volunteer Hub!  

KEY DATES AT A GLANCE

Don't see below a key date you'd like listed? Request your supervisor submit to it in next week's Monday Message template (due Friday).

• Nov. 23-24: Thanksgiving Holiday (United Way offices closed)  
• Dec. 2, 9 and 16: RealSense Volunteer Income Tax Program Training 
• Dec. 12: United Way Holiday Happy Hour (Stein Fellows, Women United)
• Dec. 19: Board of Directors Meeting  
• Dec. 22: Christmas Eve observed (United Way offices closed)  
• Dec. 25: Christmas Day (United Way offices closed)  
• Jan. 1: New Year's Day (United Way offices closed)  
• Jan. 4, 11 and 18: RealSense Dinner and Certificate Financial Literacy Series 
• Jan. 6, 13 and 20: RealSense Volunteer Income Tax Program Training  
• Jan. 13: MLK Day of Service  
• Jan. 15: MLK Holiday Grand Parade 
• Jan 27: EITC Awareness Day  
• Feb. 5: UNF Black Alumni Week Mental Health Forum (United Way is a sponsor)
• Feb. 11: 211 Day
• April 13: 100th Anniversary Community Celebration 

UNITED WAY IN THE NEWS

Explore recent news content related to United Way of Northeast Florida:

WJCT News: First Coast Connect

Jacksonville Today: United Way invests $10 million for affordable housing

News4Jax: CDC: Suicide rates highest among elderly men in US, most involve guns

News4Jax: $10M donated by the MacKenzie Scott foundation helps residents along Emerald Trail as some worry about gentrification

News4Jax: Mayor encourages city employees to support United Way during holidays

The Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville split over MLK Breakfast ending with plans for single event

Jax Daily Record: Committee approves Anna Brosche for city chief financial officer

News4Jax: Could people fleeing from the Hamas-Israel conflict seek refuge in our area?

The Florida Times-Union: Relief Fund raises $1 million to lift Jacksonville community reeling from racist killings