Following in his father”s footsteps led Chris Jenkins, 37, to be named the 2008 Volunteer of the Year by the United Way of Lowndes County.
“Chris and I had been talking, and he had been telling me how his dad was so involved in the community and he said, ”I really want to be more like him and get more involved,”” Community Volunteer Center Project Coordinator Meagan Coughlin said this morning. “(Chris) started using his time, talents and resources to take pictures for our brochures, Web sites, etc. He served on our allocations committee, communications committee and our campaign cabinet. I thought it was awesome for him to want to be more like his dad and start giving back to the community.”
A veteran photographer, as the assistant director of public affairs at Mississippi University for Women, Jenkins handles all photography for the university”s marketing activities, including billboards, brochures, the school Web site and MUW”s alumni magazine, Visions.
Jenkins, who also handles some video production work for MUW, additionally is a freelance photographer whose work has been published in Mississippi magazine, the New York Times Magazine, TV Guide and as the cover of “Grits and Greens and Mississippi Things,” a nonfiction book by local author, Sylvia Higginbotham.
Jenkins” volunteer work began when he met Coughlin, through his involvement with the Public Relations Association of Mississippi.
“She asked me if I would take photos at their annual Day To Care event, back in the fall of 2007,” he recalled Thursday. “In 2008, I did it again and I also shot photos of several of (the United Way) organizations for some new brochures, as well as served on their allocations panel.”
Inspired by his father, Howard, Jenkins is committed to doing his part — and more — for the community he loves.
“My father has been a member of the Lions Club for as long as I can remember,” he said. “He recently served a two-year term on the board of directors for Lions Club International, where he and my mother, Linda Jenkins, got to travel the world and set the policies and bylaws for Lions Clubs all over the world.
“I have always sort of quietly admired my father for all his time that he gives so freely to help others, and I always said that if I could be one-tenth the man that he is, I would be doing all right,” he added. “I don”t have to look to athletes or rock stars for my heroes; I have been around one all my life. Now, I just want to do my part and give back some of what has been so generously given to me.”
“This is the fourth year we”ve honored someone as the volunteer of the year and Chris is very deserving,” Coughlin said. “And we are always looking for more people. All the organizations in Columbus and Lowndes County are looking for volunteers, especially now. (Considering the current state of the economy, organizations) are receiving less contributions and seeking out more volunteers to do the work. I hope Chris and his dad are an inspiration to others, and I hope people will give me a call and see how they can use their time and talents and be an inspiration for someone else and possibly their children.”
To volunteer or for more information on the Community Volunteer Center, call Meagan Coughlin at 662-327-0807.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 44 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
