Connie Hodges, President, United Way of Northeast Florida
Mission
To unite people and resources in building a stronger and healthier community.
Serving Jacksonville
The Community Chest was officially launched in 1924. A group of Duval County’s leading citizens assembled in Hemming Park and waited for the bugle to sound the signal to march to the Duval Theatre for the first Community Chest Campaign Kickoff Parade and Rally. Frank C. Groover, president of the Community Chest, and Morgan V. Gress, campaign chairman, led the volunteers and raised $202,329 for the 19 agencies that had just joined forces under the umbrella of the Community Chest. In later years, the name evolved into the Community Fund and then United Way in the early 1970s.
Those served
United Way and its 69 partner agencies provide more than 87 programs in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and northern St. Johns counties. Services cover programming in eight areas: Early Childhood Success, Helping Students Achieve, Senior Independence and Engagement, Financial Stability, Community Support Network, Independence for Adults with Disabilities, Positive Youth Development and Preventing and Addressing Abuse.
Biggest challenge
The past couple of years, we have seen growing human needs with limited resources to adequately address many critical issues.
Biggest satisfaction
The greatest satisfaction in my position is working with a strong base of passionate volunteers and community leaders who are committed and invested in measurably improving the lives of children, families and seniors in our community. Most recently I was inspired when Michael Ward, CEO of CSX, contributed $1 million to support United Way’s Achievers for Life, a research-based strategy targeting sixth-grade middle school students who are at risk of dropping out. A parent’s story brought home the impact of his gift. A young student named Moses had been retained in sixth grade, when his dad enrolled him in Achievers For Life. Soon, his grades and attendance improved to the extent that he was advanced to his appropriate grade level. At an appreciation event recognizing Michael Ward’s gift, Moses’ dad earnestly and emotionally thanked him and Achievers For Life for turning his son’s life around.
Hometown
I was born in Independence, Mo., and grew up in nearby Harrisonville, a suburb of Kansas City. I have lived more years (24) in Jacksonville, so it is definitely “hometown” for our two sons.
First experience with community service
While I was working and attending graduate school, I was a Big Sister to a young girl over a five-year period.
Your job before United Way of Northeast Florida
Before joining United Way of Northeast Florida, I served in two other United Ways, one in Kansas and one in Michigan.
Upcoming events
United Way and its Learning to Finish partners are focused on education. On May 26, this partnership is joining with Gen. and Mrs. Colin Powell’s America’s Promise Alliance to host a CEO & Business Leaders Summit chaired by Steve Halverson, president and CEO of The Haskell Company. The summit will engage the business sector in targeted strategies to prevent high-school students from dropping out and improving the graduation rate. Bob Wise, former governor of West Virginia, is a national authority on the economic impact of high-school dropouts and will be the keynote speaker. The Summit, at the Hyatt Downtown, begins with registration at 9:30 a.m. and runs until 1:30 p.m. For more information, contact Jan Morse at [email protected] or 390-3267.
Contact information
www.LiveUnitedNortheastFlorida.org
390.3218