Game-Changer Spotlight: Bob Kimbro
We are more than the fundraisers. We are the hand raisers. The game changers. The-stop-talking-start-doing-band-together-and-take-on-the-impossible-task-masters.
The United Way of Southeast Louisiana Game-Changer Spotlight profiles on an outstanding donor, advocate or volunteer who fights tirelessly with us to eradicate poverty and create a better, brighter Southeast Louisiana for all. This month, meet UWSELA Board of Trustees Chair Bob Kimbro!
What is your role with United Way of Southeast Louisiana? What do you do in this role?
My current role with United Way is to serve as the Board Chair for the Board of Trustees. The board provides oversight to United Way and ensures that it is well positioned, not only today, but for the years ahead as we continue to progress in our fight to eradicate poverty in Southeast Louisiana.
The Board Chair presides at all meetings of the Board of Trustees, which has the role of providing programmatic and fiduciary oversight to the United Way. And of course, participating in the resource development side of the organization to help United Way provide funding to our partner agencies, collaborative partners, and other stakeholders in their role to eradicate poverty.
How long have you been involved with United Way?
It has been my pleasure to have been involved with United Way for over 25 years, having first gone through its Board Works program to help train volunteers to serve on nonprofit boards and working as a program review volunteer before joining the board.
What motivates you to give/advocate/or volunteer?
I believe that everyone who has the either the time or resources or both should give back to their communities through volunteer projects or philanthropy. Unfortunately, there will also be a segment of our community that will be in need for a variety of reasons. We are currently in a time period where nearly 50% of our neighbors are either in poverty or living pay check to pay check, one unforeseen incident - natural disaster, major health issue, or loss of transportation - from falling into poverty. I think, I know, that as a community we can do better for those who are living in that environment. But it will take all of us to make a difference.
What is one thing about United Way that you think people should know?
United Way is not the United Way that I grew up with. It is an organization that has taken a leadership position to tackle the one issue that we all know is holding our communities back from becoming vibrant economic communities - poverty! The cost of poverty is high and impacts us all. United Way, through its community outreach process identified this issue as priority one. And what we are learning is how interwoven the social issues that many of our neighbors deal with are with poverty or the ALICE population.
What’s your favorite karaoke song?
"Brown Eyed Girl" as sung by Jimmy Buffett.
What’s the #1 thing on your bucket list?
The eradication of poverty in our communities.