Courtesy of Jessie Coffman
Jessie Coffman
JESSIE COFFMAN, 37 / Director of Philanthropy, United Way of Roanoke Valley
Jessie Coffman, a native of Botetourt County and graduate of Hollins University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, is no stranger to volunteerism, as she spent summers splitting her time as a teen candy striper at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and volunteering at the Science Museum of Western Virginia. Even her college application essay was on the importance of volunteering and its impact on her life. Now the Director of Philanthropy for UWRV, Coffman utilizes staff and volunteer resources to enhance philanthropic opportunities, as well as organizes and implements special events for the organization. She is co-organizer and speaker coordinator for the Women’s March held in Roanoke in 2018, as well as the co-founder of Cook Your Culture, an organization that brings people of all backgrounds together to share meals and stories. “I love how much you can learn about and from our neighbors just by showing up to the wealth of community events in our region,” she says.
- Enrolled in the MALS Program at Hollins University, with a Social Sciences Concentration, with an anticipated 2020 graduation date
- Co-Founder of Cook Your Culture and the Roanoke International Moms Initiative
- Co-Organizer and Speaker Coordinator for the Women's March on Roanoke in 2018
- Serves as the Communications Vice President for the Junior League of Roanoke Valley and is on its Diversity and Inclusion Task Force
- Festival Steering Committee and Volunteer Coordinator for the Local Colors Festival
- Serves on the City of Roanoke Library Advisory Board and Foundation Board
- Serves as Recorder for the City of Roanoke’s Fair Housing Board
- A classroom reader for Star City Reads
- TAP YALE (Young Adult Life Enhancement) Mentor
- Serves as a Books and Breakfast volunteer for Turn the Page
- Served on the Roanoke City Public Schools Calendar Committee
- Currently participating in the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Roanoke Valley 2020
- Served as the Membership Vice President and Yearbook Coordinator for the Wasena Elementary PTA
- Member of Highland Park Elementary PTA
From the nomination: “Jessie Coffman’s dedication to non-profit service in both her professional and personal life sets her apart. She lives the values of nonprofit service every single day through her work at the United Way and her extensive volunteer service to various area nonprofits. She has innovative ideas that work to transform and develop the nonprofits that she works and volunteers for. An example of this would be an idea that she has to develop a social media campaign involving member engagement for the Junior League of Roanoke Valley. Her idea is to engage members by sponsoring a social media contest where members would post on social media and tag the League when they participated in Random Acts of Kindness in the local community. Her goal with the campaign is to promote both member engagement and community awareness.”
What do you love about Roanoke?
Coffman: “My husband and I kept circling back to home. All of the things we loved about other cities could be found here if we searched hard enough. We chose to plug into our community and truly immerse ourselves in what Roanoke has to offer. We have neighborhoods where friends feel like family, there is a strong spirit of giving in our community and an unparalleled outdoor scene. I love that Roanoke lets you give as much as you want to offer and gives back much more in community spirit than we could ever repay. Just by showing up to a grassroots gathering, I befriended a total stranger with a similar world view. That moment of happenstance led to Cook Your Culture where we fed over 100 strangers and experienced Roanoke’s willingness to show up for its neighbors, likeminded or not. Roanoke is small enough that if you see a gap and want to implement something, it provides support, but it’s large enough that you can also visit the grocery store and not recognize a soul.”
How does your passion impact our community?
Coffman: “My passion is giving my time in service to others. My husband and I actively seek to instill this value in our children, helping them learn by example. We see this work reaping benefits in the way they interact with their classmates and talk us into helping stray animals. My current employment at United Way of Roanoke Valley began with me reaching out and asking, “How can I help?” Through UWRV, I have the honor of working with over 50 partner organizations across the broad spectrum of human services. I raise money to elevate the quality of life for our neighbors, friends and family members to help them break the cycle of generational poverty. When I first began nonprofit work, a dear friend gave me a paperweight with the famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi, ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world.’ Every day, I strive to make and be that change for our community. I am not alone in that lofty goal and our collaborative effort is key.”