Jennifer Stimpson takes volunteerism from beauty to banking
Jennifer Stimpson’s volunteerism pays forward all the support and help she’s received from family, friends and her community during her times of need. “My personal experiences have instilled a deep desire to be there for those going through difficult times and needing support,” Synovus’ northeast Georgia and South Carolina regional community development manager says. In 2023, she volunteered more than 300 hours. In her role, she encourages others to give back to the communities where they live and work.
Stimpson’s current position came to her during a time of career transition. As she prepared to start another role within Synovus, she became aware of the community development manager position. It was the perfect pairing of integrating her love for volunteerism into her daily work.
A part of Stimpson’s responsibilities is identifying and coordinating volunteer opportunities, advising fellow team members within each assigned market in creating comprehensive strategies that support CD Loans, CD Contributions and CD Services. Volunteering plays a significant part in her personal life, and she identifies with those facing difficult circumstances and needing assistance. She holds the Synovus purpose of enabling others to reach their full potential close to her heart.
“Having faced my fair share of challenges in the past, I understand the struggles people go through, and I empathize,” the mom shares. “I want to be the person who can make a true difference in someone's life by offering hope, encouragement and assistance when they need it most. Volunteering allows me to channel my compassion and drive to create meaningful change.”
Today she splits her personal time volunteering with organizations like Our Daily Bread, Operation Rally Point, Relay for Life, and other nonprofits. She often includes her now 20-year-old son, JT, in some of her volunteerism for Relay for Life where they honor family members diagnosed with cancer or who are cancer survivors.
“Finding the time to give back is a combination of effective time management, personal discipline and a genuine desire to make a difference. It’s a commitment I prioritize because I believe in the transformative power of helping others.”
“Finding the time to give back is a combination of effective time management, personal discipline and a genuine desire to make a difference,” says the 2024 Athens Kiwanis Club president. “It’s a commitment I prioritize because I believe in the transformative power of helping others.”
Stimpson began sharing her love of volunteering when she was crowned Miss Georgia Teen USA Continental as a teenager. She chose volunteerism as her pageant platform for the remainder of her pageant career. “Whatever your platform was, you were expected to be a leader, regardless of your age, and to give back to your community,” she shares. “So, that's really where it started. But it continued because I truly saw a need.”
More than 20 years ago, she met her best friend, Melissa Brown, during a pageant competition. Brown created the American National Miss (ANM) pageant eight years ago and tapped Stimpson to help. “Jennifer has worn every hat,” Brown confirms. “She’s done my tabulating, been my judges’ coordinator, stagehand and helped with orientation and registration. Everything I’ve needed her to do, she’s been there every step of the way.”
Stimpson has coordinated volunteer opportunities for the contestants to help them learn the value of strengthening communities. “She’s provided different outlets for the girls to volunteer, like passing out water for Relay for Life participants,” Brown shares. “She’s an all-around great person with a huge heart.” Through the pageant contestants, her former pageant life and her son, Stimpson is creating a legacy of helping others that led to her purpose.
“I want to be remembered for being loving, caring and compassionate – not the organizations I was a member of,” Stimpson shares.
