Jenni Carr, Centra Credit Union’s community involvement officer, was recently named the 2020 Advocate of the Year by the United Way of Bartholomew County.
The award was announced by United Way Volunteer Action Center Director Alicia Monroe during the United Way’s virtual annual meeting.
According to Monroe’s introduction, the Advocate of the Year award recognizes those who support the United Way and “use their voice to educate and empower fellow community members to get involved.”
Carr has been involved with the United Way for nearly four years. She attends all the United Way events, volunteers with partner agencies, and continuously works to inspire others to get involved as well.
Her favorite opportunities include events like the Day of Caring and Day of Service, “the ones where you walk away seeing and feeling the real difference you have made.”
As Centra’s community involvement officer, Carr also connects Centra team members with volunteer opportunities and manages programs such as Centra’s annual United Way workplace campaign.
This year, she also encouraged team members to sign up to be United Way Champions for their locations and departments. She worked closely with these Centra team members to offer advice on engaging other team members, especially during the unique situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Carr’s leadership and engagement with Centra has led to the United Workplace Campaign consistently growing during the last few years. In 2020, Centra’s workplace campaign donation to the United Way of Bartholomew County reached $58,070.
Carr was also quick to recognize the immense need that the COVID-19 Pandemic created in the communities Centra serves.
She quickly engaged the Centra Foundation board and the United Way to set up a matching opportunity for donations to the COVID-19 relief fund. Local donors then stepped up and met the $20,000 match.
Carr’s role as a United Way Champion at Centra also led to the organization being recognized for the 2019 Live United Award.
