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As a small boy, Chad Brown collected coins in a mayo jar for the Jerry Lewis Telethon.

Thirty years later, he raises much more than will fit in a case of those jars, as a major gifts officer at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota and as a long-time United Way volunteer and member of United Way Emerging Leaders™.

Through his former job running the United Way campaign at the Star Tribune, Chad has been involved with the organization in many ways. He’s a campaign speaker, helps out as an emcee at events and has worked on volunteer committees that review partner programs.

His favorite part of working with United Way is the Emerging Leaders events, especially the annual mid-winter celebration. “They’re fun, and I’ve met a lot of interesting people. The networking is great,” he says.

He’s very animated when he talks about having a genuine impact on others. As he shares the story of a volunteer event at a local shelter, his passion comes through—“I love doing something that I hope will transform a person’s life,” he says.

And he describes a little girl’s picture in his office—an unlucky little girl at the shelter, whose troubled eyes Chad’s camera caught at exactly the right time for a rare smile. “That’s what gives me hope and inspiration to continue to help our community,” he says.