Spotlight On The Board, Volunteer Appreciation Week 2021

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2021 ​Board of Directors

The board is my boss. And like most people I've had a lot of bosses over my career, some good, and some not so good. But none of them come close to being as compassionate, courageous, resilient, and respectful as this group of people.

They are, if you ask me, the single most important group of people in our community. I think of them as the parents of the organization. And my philosophy is the parents are more important than the children. Yes as parents our mission is the children, but without engaged, equipped, and supportive parents, the children will never reach their full potential.

The board's role is to challenge and nurture Jack's and just like parenthood it is a job that is often filled with frustrating emotions. Feeling like you aren't doing enough, or you aren't doing the right things at the right times. And there are inspiring emotions too, like witnessing the organization pulling off something awesome for the first time.

I think it's also like the team of umpires on the baseball field. By that I mean as long as you do your job well no ever notices you or mentions you or even cares you're there! But when there's a misstep that's when the lights shine on you, that's when everyone suddenly knows your name.

I've heard from many of my peers who work in the the non-profit space that a disengaged board is their single biggest challenge. And I know stories of dysfunctional boards who have managed to bring an organization with a ton of potential to its knees. Hearing these stories brings me a great deal of sadness. But it's also a reminder of how blessed we are to have a diverse board who brings commitment, enthusiasm, energy, and creative yet simple solutions to highly complex problems.

I am grateful for their patience with me and my flaws. For their belief in my ability to lead this very important organization. For the time and space they have carved out of their busy lives to devote to our mission. And for their unrelenting  faith in the idea that Jack's will grow up someday and make sure that no guy ever feels alone on his caregiving journey!
-Kyle Woody, Founder & Executive Director, Jack's Caregiver Coalition-

Anyone who’s faced the challenge of caring for a loved one with catastrophic illness will tell you that it challenges you to grow. It’s made me a way better boss. A way better husband. A way better father. A way better person. I’m a lot more empathetic than I ever was. I continue to find more opportunities to just be humble and caring and compassionate.”
​-Richard Anderson, CEO, Imagine IT, Inc. – Chair & Treasurer-

I am on a mission to change how systems—healthcare, social service providers, government and private industry—view family caregiving. Caregiving can be a lonely experience. In many cases, caregivers are invisible in our society.  
 
When most people think of a family caregiver, they often think of a woman taking care of her aging parents or her children. What most people don’t know is that nearly 40 percent of the 48 million family caregivers caring for an adult in this country are men. These husbands, brothers, sons, sons-in-law, partners, friends, and neighbors are joining, either by choice or necessity, the army of family caregivers providing care across the country.  However, in most cases, they are invisible because our society and our systems don’t see them…because caregiving has traditional been viewed as a woman’s role.
 
I am inspired by Jack’s Caregiver Coalition mission and the innovative ways the organization is helping to support male family caregivers. I strongly believe that Jack’s Caregiver Coalition is a model as to how best to reach, support and empower men who finds themselves in a caregiving capacity. As I shared in a blog, I have been blown away by many of the engagements that have brought men together to talk about their experiences and even their fears..to showcase that while the caregiving journey can be tough at times, there are moments that are rewarding and that you don’t have to do this alone. There is a band of brothers, if you will, that you can lean on when times get weary.

​I want to learn, contribute and give back in a meaningful way. It is my hope that men will get the support they need and embrace the fact that asking for help is not an act of weakness but an act of strength.  Jack’s Caregiver Coalition is a living model and testimony of what strength looks like.
​-Jean Accius, PhD, Senior Vice-President of Global Thought Leadership & International Affairs AARP – Director-

I'm volunteering for Jack’s Caregiver Coalition because I believe in the vision to bring community, strength and support to every guy caregiver who needs it.
​-Susan Kerber, Business Development and Partnership Outreach Lead CaringBridge – Director-​

I love our mission and the guys that started it. Listening to all their stories is inspiring. I also love
that we’re serving a group that doesn’t always realize that they need help.
​-Breanne Ostrom, CEBS, Senior Benefits & Wellness Specialist, Kraus-Anderson – Secretary-