UNITED WAY PROMOTES JENNIFER DARSEY

SAVANNAH, GA (June 24, 2020) – United Way of the Coastal Empire announced today the promotion of Jennifer Darsey to Vice President of Direct Services and Impact. Darsey is responsible for overseeing the organization’s offering of direct services, expanding funding for those initiatives, and leading the United Way 211 helpline.

United Way’s mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities to advance the common good. United Way of the Coastal Empire does that by raising money and awareness to offer immediate direct services to residents of Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties, in addition to providing long-term support to its 53 highest performing partner agencies. The organization’s direct services arm responds to unique needs that often exist in smaller communities where there are fewer resources or needs that arise out of disasters or crisis.

Working with numerous partners through its community service centers, United Way provides backpacks for weekend food distribution to underprivileged children, mobile food pantries for low-income families, financial assistance and food resources for active-duty military members through the administration of the Landings Military Family Relief Fund, case management for emergency financial assistance, and more.

“Jennifer has been a key part of our United Way’s success for the past 10 years, and we are thrilled to promote her to this newly created position,” said Brynn Grant, President and CEO of United Way of the Coastal Empire.  “The United Way Board of Directors recognized the need for this position last year. Jennifer’s new role is a key to ensuring seamless, consistent, and high-quality delivery of services across our region as well as measuring and reporting that impact comprehensively as is our responsibility to our donors and the many people we serve.”

Darsey’s career with United Way of the Coastal Empire began back in 2010 when she joined the organization as Area Director for the Liberty County office. Darsey brings extensive experience in program development, direct service delivery, case management, data tracking, volunteer coordination, and community impact initiatives. She has successfully led the Landings Military Family Relief Fund, Backpack Buddies program, and Read United program. She is also responsible for assisting with the development and success of Coordinated Entry Program, Homeless Management Information System and Continuum of Care to help address homelessness in the region.

Before joining the United Way, Darsey spent more than 10 years working in various capacities in the Criminal Justice System. She was a chief probation officer in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit, a deputy law clerk, a child victim advocate, and a Chief Duty Law Clerk to the District Attorney, Tom Durden.

A proud resident of Liberty County, Darsey is passionate about empowering others to overcome barriers and elevating the work of United Way in building partnerships with community partners to improve the quality of life for all.

Darsey and her husband of 24 years, Pastor Alan Darsey, have two daughters, McKaylin, who is in graduate school at Emory University, and Lily, who attends Georgia Southern University.

To learn more about United Way of the Coastal Empire, visit www.uwce.org.