Your Hosts
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Education: Central Michigan University
Jordan is a Multi Media Journalist with WOOD TV8. Jordan was the first ever Face of 4, then jumped on board as a full time team member with WOOD TV8, and enjoys working on Eight West as well as with WOTV 4 Women. Jordan grew up in a family that valued the act of volunteering, and feels that it is an important way to give back, and help those who may be struggling through hardships.
In her spare time, she enjoys singing with her band, helping and volunteering with community events. A perfect day for Jordan would include chilling on the beach, shopping with the gals, and spending the evening with friends, family, and her adorable pup, Sammy.
Jordan is grateful to be able to connect with the people in the community that she loves.
Hometown: Kentwood, MI
Education: Central Michigan University
Whitney’s passion for giving back to the community started while she was an active member of Zeta Tau Alpha at Central Michigan University. As community outreach programs were the foundation to her sororities’ mission, she realized the impact one group could have on the community. While holding the role of President she orchestrated multiple philanthropic events in the Mt. Pleasant community. After graduating from CMU she accepted a sales position with Nestle USA in Grand Rapids.
While working for Nestle she started an Adopt a School program at an inner city school in Kalamazoo, MI. The program focused on the importance of healthy eating habits, exercise, and reading to school aged children through a monthly mentoring program. The program is now companywide and partners with Reading is Fundamental. When she had the opportunity to help launch the Social Charity Club of GR it felt like a perfect fit. Whitney currently holds the Charity Liaison role for the Social Charity Club of GR.
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Education: Hope College
Marjorie believes that giving back is a satisfying, fun, and productive experience. Since middle school, she has nurtured this passion and consistently seeks different ways to get involved in the community. Through volunteer experience with after-school programs and community theatre, Marjorie has witnessed the amazing potential these organizations have to make a difference. During college, Marjorie completed her student teaching through an off campus program called Chicago Semester. During this time, she had the opportunity to teach inner-city students and volunteer for urban Chicago programs. Currently, Marjorie teaches at EKHS and truly appreciates the diverse student body and opportunities EK has to offer.
In addition to teaching, Marjorie recently ran a marathon to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training and also coaches Girls on the Run. The idea of Social Charity Club actually originated in Chicago, and has become a huge success there. With it being such a strategic yet practical way to give back, it seems like a no-brainer for West Michigan. Marjorie is excited for the opportunity to channel her passion for giving through SCC!
Hometown: Canton, MI
Education: Eastern Michigan University
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Lauren’s career & life aspirations took a dramatic turn after an Alternative Spring Break trip to the South Carolina School for the Deaf, Blind & Multi-handicapped. It was after this experience that she knew the small affect volunteerism could have on others & herself.
Lauren’s passion for non-profit work stems from her professional life as Event Development Coordinator at the American Cancer Society to her personal life as Media & Marketing Relations with the Social Charity Club.
“From just an idea to where we are now – it’s been an honor to be a part of this organization. GR is so charitable & there’s no stopping us now!”
Hometown: Stanton, MI
Education: Professional School, and continued education
Ashley has always been driven to help others. As a child she volunteered at veterans homes and long term care facilities all over the state. At these facilities she would give back by helping to give the residents something to look forward to every month, this included her and a group of other girls would play bingo and bring them jello. During the holidays she would make extra visits in the evenings to play piano for those in the recreation room.
Ashley’s experiences with these monthly events, at such a young age had a very lasting impression on her. As an adult life tends to happen, working multiple jobs and trying to go to school she was distracted from her passion for helping people. Working in the cosmetology field she still got joy out of making people feel good about themselves but something was missing. It wasn’t until working for a company that was the third leading donor to the world AIDS fund did she realize what she had been missing. Ashley’s reintroduction to how much of an impact every dollar, or every moment of your time can make reminded her how passionate she was for helping people. After helping to plan an event this summer for the Grand Rapids Red Project she was introduced to The Grand Rapids Social Charity Club, who was looking for one final member to complete their team.
The passion and motivation that the five of these girls share is unstoppable. Ashley hopes that they become as contagious as they are driven! She loves the beauty of SCC in that it allows everyone a win. As a small business owner she loves that all of the bars/restaurants they work are locally owned. While raising money for a (local) charity, you are also stimulating locally owned businesses! At the end of the day every dollar matters and if you love to go out, you might as well give back while your doing it! “step up while stepping out!”
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Education: Michigan State University
Chelsea Slocum is a resident of Grand Rapids. She works as an educator and enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends. She has a passion for city life and loves finding new and interesting activities to check out in the Grand Rapids area. She loves to travel, stay active, and stay informed.
Since high school, Chelsea has found volunteering to be a very gratifying and humbling experience. She participated in multiple mission trips to the Dominican Republic as a teenager and lead two alternative spring break excursions to New York City while attending Michigan State University. Her passion for serving others took a professional twist when she accepting a full time teaching position at Kentwood Public Schools in 2006 and received her Masters of Arts in Curriculum and Design through MSU. She also works a freelance writer in the Grand Rapids Area for publications including West Michigan Woman Magazine, GR Now, Rapid Growth Media, and The Awesome Mitten.
Personally, Chelsea has been married to Ron Slocum for the past 6 years and has two children, Ashley who is 4 and Cosette age 2. She came onto the GR Social Charity Club team this past April and is excited to give back to the community in a consistent and meaningful way.
Follow her on Twitter @cslocum.
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Education: Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts
Mark has always enjoyed sharing his talents when and where they’re needed, learning at a young age the importance of helping others. Moving to the Grand Rapids area with his wife and two children from Detroit in 2001, due to a company merger, they quickly fell in love with the area and west Michigan in general. He and his wife Kris strive to stay involved with the community in one way or another, especially by volunteering and serving in the schools their children have attended.
As owner of C3Designs, LLC, Mark was approached by Marjorie Behm to create a logo for the Social Charity Club. By learning about the organization and its goals, Mark knew right away that this was an idea that could really make a difference in the Grand Rapids area. Therefore, Mark offered to create, host, and maintain the website for the Social Charity Club. Mark also creates the event graphics and flyers used for the monthly events. Through his many connections in the area, Mark has assisted the group in getting the attention and exposure it so richly deserves, through traditional and online media.
When Mark isn’t busy growing his business, he’s doing his best to stay up on the latest technology and internet/social media trends. In the rare times he’s not in front of a computer, he likes to create new and tasty things for his family to eat, as well as being an avid foodie, seeking out new and interesting places to dine.
Portraits by Robert Bowden Photography – http://www.robertbowdenphoto.com