Jenn Loepker has demonstrated leadership potential and a commitment to philanthropy through her flexibility and willingness to accept new responsibilities, as well as a versatile skill set in her current role at the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation. Jenn was hired in April of 2020 as a Corporate Sponsorships and Events Specialist, just after COVID-19 lockdowns had begun. The onset of the pandemic and the timing of her arrival created the need for Jenn to immediately make a strategic pivot since the primary duty of her position was to plan and execute major in-person fundraising events, which were halted temporarily. Jenn did not hesitate to accept other duties to support ongoing annual giving and major gift fundraising activities, which was especially helpful during a period when many patients and families were expressing a desire to show their gratitude to frontline healthcare workers due to COVID-19. During this same time, Jenn also still led efforts to plan and execute fundraising events in an innovative and effective manner that allowed for appropriate social distancing. This included a drive-in movie event in the Fall of 2020 and a virtual gala to support Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent in the Spring of 2021. She was promoted to the position of Corporate Giving and Development Officer later that year. Additionally, Jenn has played a key role in the successful planning and execution of a major fundraising campaign to support the creation of a new Women and Children's Tower at Ascension St. Vincent. Working closely with foundation leadership and a campaign committee, Jenn was directly involved in leading the process of creating a campaign case for support and a campaign website. Jenn has also demonstrated leadership as the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation office in Indianapolis has begun collaborating more intentionally in the past two years with sister foundations that are also served by Ascension St. Vincent. This includes a current focus on developing and securing statewide event sponsorship opportunities for donors, especially corporate donors that have a presence in multiple markets in Indiana. Jenn's demonstrated ability to handle changes and take on new responsibilities professionally and effectively are clear examples of her leadership potential and her high level of commitment to philanthropy and its role in enhancing care for the patients served at Ascension St. Vincent.
While in college, I volunteered and interned with the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation, which was an experience that always stuck with me because of how they served others–it was exactly what I wanted to do. As I continued in my education and began my career, I found my footing in pharmaceutical marketing for a few years, but something didn’t seem right. When a position opened up with the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation, I knew exactly where I needed to be. I’m grateful that I get to come to work every day with amazing people and serve our patients, families, and staff.
When I walk down the hallways of Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital and I see the sick kiddos, I want to do everything I can to make their experience a little bit easier. Whether it’s working with a company to sponsor our toy drive at Christmas, partnering with a general contractor to hide a life-size Peyton Manning at a next door construction site, or raising funds for our school program, I want my career to focus on helping the good days outweigh the bad days for our patients and families.
I accepted a sponsorships and events position with the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation on a Friday in March 2020. The very next week the world shut down because of COVID-19, and I wasn’t sure I was going to have a job, especially one that was focused on sponsorships and events. The months that followed after I onboarded in April 2020 were filled with different projects and efforts that I normally would not have been exposed to if it were under normal circumstances. I am grateful for that time because it grew me exponentially and allowed me to become a diversified asset to the team.
I have two little boys that watch my every move. I want to show them how they can be the good in this world when it doesn’t seem so bright, and they can make a difference just by the little things they do every day. These little things ultimately lead to the big things that can change the world, and we can leave the world a little bit better than how we found it.
Never let the hard days win. Keep showing up. Keep asking questions, and keep taking on new projects. You never know where it may lead you.
Lifting heavy things is one of my favorite things to do. My alarm goes off at 3:50 am every morning, so I can start my day with a barbell and heavy weights before I go into mom mode with my two boys and philanthropy mode with work.