SRQ Magazine | October 2021 | Women Who Roar Special Feature

WOMAN WHO ROAR | FALL 2021

JESSICA ROGERS

VICE PRESIDENT OF PHILANTHROPY, CHILDREN FIRST

JESSICA ROGERS BELIEVES ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL IS THE BASE FOR BUILDING A STRONG COMMUNITY. This belief has transformed her passion for helping women, children, and families into a professional career focused on the well-being of humankind. As a mother, she raises her daughter the way that her mother taught her, to strive to make a difference in the lives of those within her community.

With nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, finance and education, Jessica Rogers serves as Vice President of Philanthropy at Children First, Sarasota County’s exclusive Head Start Program, which ranks in the top 1% of Head Starts nationwide. She represents the agency in advocating for the support of early childhood education and breaking barriers of poverty. During her tenure, she has transformed fundraising and outreach efforts allowing the agency to serve the greatest number of children and families in its 60-year history and being named WEDU PBS’s Nonprofit of the Year. Rogers’ volunteer and philanthropic engagement is wide ranging. She serves on the Sarasota County NAACP’s Freedom Fund Awards Gala committee and is a former board director for the Junior League of Sarasota, most recently receiving their 2020 Sustainer Community Service Award. Jessica is a member of the National Council of Jewish Women Sarasota-Manatee chapter, the USF Tampa Digital Marketing Certificate Program Steering Committee, and past Troop Co-Leader for the Girl Scouts of Southwest Florida. She is a proud graduate of both the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Executive Academy, and the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership program where she currently serves on their Leadership Alumni Committee.

PERSONAL

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make."—Jane Goodall.

DAILY LIFE

“Never underestimate yourself. Who is going to stop you?” PROFESSIONAL “Looking ahead is important. It helps you determine your steps now to get there."

1723 North Orange Ave. Sarasota, FL | 941-953-3877 Childrenfirst.net