Hartford Business Journal

26 Hartford Business Journal • July 20, 2015 www.HartfordBusiness.com 40 Under Forty 2015 40 Under Forty 2015 Jennyfer A. Holmes J ennyfer A. Holmes is the scholarship and donor services officer of the Hart- ford Foundation for Public Giving. She is responsible for supporting over 600 Greater Hartford students through scholar- ships. She works with scholars, parents, counselors and generous donors, helping students afford college. Previously, she was a manager of INROADS New England Region, securing student internships with corporate spon- sors. Before INROADS, she worked in underwriting for Chubb Insurance. An active community volunteer, Holmes served as sec- retary on the board of the American School for the Deaf and the board of Aurora Women and Girls Foundation. She was grants committee chair and secretary of the Junior League of Hartford Inc.; she is currently a sustainer. Holmes is a member of the Farming- ton Valley Chapter of The Links Inc. and co-chairs International Trends and Ser- vices. Holmes is a Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. A magna cum laude graduate of Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Holmes is a charter member and serves as treasurer of the New England alumnae chapter. A life- long member of the First Baptist Church in Milford, Holmes chairs the Historical Society. Q&A What three factors contributed to your suc- cess today? Faith, family, and fundamental education. My faith in God propels me to always find the best solution to any problem and know that all things, in the end, will work out to the best possible outcome. My family provides me with tremendous love and support. My parents are educators and I know their personal and professional standards gave me the fundamentals to achieve academically. I am a product of public school and liberal arts education. I know that my view of the world and people is shaped by all that I learned from infancy through college. The most important journey I have ever taken is….. My first road trip driving alone from Connecticut to Virginia. I realized that I had a tremendous responsibility to myself and others. My parents entrusted me to dis- play all the skills and values that I had been taught: kindness, courtesy, good judgment and patience. As I spent time alone driv- ing, I reflected on the beauty and wonder of the world. I caught glimpses of places and things I passed all the time as a road trip passenger, but with new perspective as the lone driver. It has become a metaphor for my life. I am in the driver seat and can steer the course of my life, knowing that there are bumps and hills, turns and curves, detours and some delays. Life's Journey: During my time off, I am most passionate about... Spending time with my family. What is the most exciting destination you've ever traveled to? Cape Town, South Africa Where is one place you want to travel in your lifetime? Bethlehem and a Nile River cruise Dream Car? 1950s red convertible Cadillac Favorite Connecticut destination: Gulf Beach in Milford, Elizabeth Park in Hartford and Mohegan Sun Holmes with her friends in South Africa, the most exciting destination she has ever traveled to. Age: 39 Title: Scholarship and Donor Services Officer Company: Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Location: Hartford Hometown: New Britain College: Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga. Holmes is responsible for $1.3 milion in scholarship funds. Jaclynn Hart J aclynn Hart began working with Hartford Performs in 2010 as the organization's first full-time employee. As programming director, she supports the organization's mis- sion to ensure that all students in Hartford Public Schools have equitable access to quality arts education by overseeing student programming and designing and producing trainings around arts educational strategies for both Hartford public school teachers and arts providers. Originally starting with a pilot group of six schools in 2010, Hart has helped rapidly expand Hartford Performs' program- ming every year and now oversees more than 700 programs annually, which serve approxi- mately 13,000 students in 28 of Hartford's pre-kindergarten through eighth grade public schools. Prior to joining Hartford Performs, Hart worked for Access Agency, where she supervised youth development programs for children in the Connecticut Department of Children and Families' system of care. Her love for working with children and advocating for arts education began during her undergrad years at Eastern Connecticut State University where she studied theatre and had her first gig work- ing with children as an assistant director in a production of "Anne of Green Gables" at Hartford Children's Theater. She then went on to teach introduction-to-acting and improvisation classes. Q&A If you gave the next commencement speech at your alma mater, what would the message be? Do not plan on using your major in a way you originally intended (if at all) and embrace the unknown! How will you change the world? I plan to change the world by advocating for the arts to be an integral component of child- hood learning. I hope to be a part of the educational movement where the arts are no longer a luxury for some students but become an assumed/prioritized subject in every child's education. If you could climb Mount Everest, win a Nobel prize, or have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which would you pick and why? My major in college was fine arts with a focus in theatre. I then went on to study acting at Circle in the Square in New York City. I haven't spent much time acting lately so I would have to go with a star on the Holly- wood Walk of Fame, mostly to prove I still have some acting chops. Life's Journey: During my off time, I am most passionate about ...Crafting, traveling, and embracing the arts scene in Hartford. What is the most exciting destination you've ever traveled to? Japan Where is the one place you want to travel in your lifetime? South Africa Favorite Connecticut destination: Mystic Hart visiting Japan, the most exciting destination she has ever traveled to. Age: 31 Title: Programming Director Company: Hartford Performs Location: Hartford Hometown: Hartford College: Eastern Connecticut State University Hart 's favorite thing to do on vacation is spend as much time outdoors as possible, especially when it includes mountains or searching for seashells.

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