Long-term connections
In and after college, Jennifer Jopson '00, '09G, has bonded with others by contributing time, expertise, and funds
The welcoming feeling Jennifer Jopson ’00, ’09G (economics, human resource management) sensed as she entered the Nazareth College campus drew her to study here. Nazareth made her feel like part of a family, and she developed strong ties to students, professors, staff, and the off-campus Rochester community by getting involved.
Freshman year, Jopson attended a volunteer fair on campus and learned of St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center in Rochester, which provides health care, counseling, and social work services to low-income people. She helped in the office two afternoons a week, answering phones, escorting patients to see clinicians, and lining up workers to do repairs. Over four years, she really got to know patients.
“I got to see a side of Rochester I hadn’t seen before,” says Jopson, whose mother was a nurse. “You don’t always see poverty and you don’t always see people who don’t have health insurance.”
She continues to support the non-profit organization as a manager of retirement services at Paychex, where her team chose St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center as a charity to support during the holidays in 2014 with items from their wish list. Jopson also serves as a caregiver and fundraiser for Aurora House hospice program near her home. After losing her mother to cancer and seeing how hospice care helps patients and their families, she wanted to give back to the community that helped her family so much during their time of need.
Jopson has stayed in touch with several Nazareth professors over the years, creating connections that continue to enrich her life. She continues to give back to the College as well, by contributing time and expertise to the alumni board and special campus events, using her project management, communication, and leadership skills. She guides today’s students by speaking in classes and participating in Nazareth career networking events. She also donates regularly to the Nazareth Annual Fund, wanting today’s students to benefit as she has.
She has co-chaired the School of Business and Leadership’s annual golf tournament since it debuted about eight years ago. The event raises money that endows a scholarship fund. “I know that all the proceeds go to the scholarship that’s going to help someone the following year attain their degree at Nazareth,” Jopson says.
“Being a volunteer doesn’t mean you need to give a lot of time,” she adds. “I’m very busy with work and family but I love finding time to help others and help Nazareth. You can volunteer for just one event or one thing. You don’t need to make a long-term commitment. You can give what you can and it will make a difference.”
Bottom line: Giving back “is very rewarding. I’ve met so many different people and learned so much. I’ve made life-long friends volunteering and learned many new life skills that I use both at work as well as in other areas of volunteering.”
Learn more:
Jennifer Jopson '00 '09G
How Jopson Gives Back
- Member of the Alumni Board Executive Committee
- Chair of Networking@Naz committee of alumni board
- Volunteer at School of Business and Leadership networking events supporting students
- Volunteer at Career Connections Breakfast event supporting students
- Planning committee volunteer for School of Business and Leadership golf outing for multiple years
- Golden Flyer Egg Hunt volunteer
- Donor
School of Business and Leadership golf fundraiser