Leaving a Legacy for Children and Families Across the Greater Richmond Area

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Jill Goldfine. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light. 

Jill Goldfine has dedicated over 20 years to the YMCA of Greater Richmond, spanning numerous roles – perhaps most notably as a member of the Board of Directors (BOD) and the Finance and Audit Committee, where her expertise as a CPA has been invaluable. She helped secure funding that enabled the YMCA to use an apartment in an underserved community for tutoring, a food pantry, summer learning programs and ESL classes. 

One of Jill’s most significant contributions has been her involvement in the YMCA’s summer-long Bright Beginnings program. This initiative provides at-risk youth with the essential supplies they need to start the school year on the right foot. Jill has played a crucial role in planning and executing 20 school-supply “shopping” events, helping to serve over 2,000 students each year. Her dedication to this program goes beyond just volunteering her time; she has also leveraged her fundraising skills and connections to secure critical investments that support the YMCA’s mission. 

In addition to her work with the YMCA, Jill introduced the organization to Dignity Grows™, a program that provides hygiene and menstrual products to those in need. Thanks to Jill’s efforts, the YMCA’s food pantry now receives a regular supply of these essential items, ensuring that individuals and families have access to the basic necessities that many take for granted.

Jill’s passion and energy are contagious, inspiring others to join her in her mission to improve the lives of those in her community. Read on to find out more about what drives her to show up consistently for the organizations committed to this work. 

Tell us about your volunteer role. 

I’ve been connected to the YMCA of Greater Richmond for 21 years. I’ve served on two different boards over the course of that time. The branch board I formerly served on is more advocacy – helping to raise money and promoting the YMCA, and the umbrella board I serve on now is more policy and procedure related. One of the programs we do is called Bright Beginnings, which is all about setting our elementary students up for success with school supplies, backpacks and clothing. I’ve been involved with this program for a couple of decades. 

Because I loved the program so much, I got more involved over the past six or seven years. So now, I’m not just working as a volunteer with the children, but I’m helping on the administrative side with the ordering and unpacking boxes – a lot on the process side of things. Especially during COVID, when everything was turned upside down, I was there with the chairs working my tail off packing boxes and boxes of coats and hats and gloves, and meeting with the children to help them try things on.  

I do a lot of working behind the scenes, especially with fundraising. We service about 2,000 children in the greater Richmond area across about 14 branches, and there are probably about 30,000 children who would qualify for this program, if we had the funds. 

What inspires you to volunteer? 

I find that 99% of the time, it’s the most wonderful experience when the children receive these items, and the parents are so appreciative. Prior to COVID, we’d actually take the children shopping in Target, help them try on and buy new clothes. That was always really fun, and I have so many wonderful stories about those experiences. Now, we order things in advance, or sit with the child and order the clothes online.  

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization? 

I’m on a new committee and we’re calling it Reimagining Bright Beginnings. We started the discussion about what Bright Beginnings will look like in the future. This particular summer, it will look like very similar to how it’s looked like in past years, but what we want to happen in the future is to eliminate some of the duplication of efforts. So we are looking to partner with multiple organizations in the community to provide various services. We’re building a database of partners within the entire greater Richmond area to work together and service more kids in the long run. 

One example is I’m currently trying to find a shoe vendor who can supply shoes at a discounted price for us. I’m working on corporate sponsorships that occur on a more regular basis. I’m working with other nonprofits in schools, nonprofits that are health services. Maybe instead of servicing 2,000 students, in future years we can service 5,000 children or more.  

We’re also trying to figure out alternative ways of contributing supplies. In January we may do some kind of mini program, as the teachers tell us that by mid-year, their supplies are often worn out. Additionally, a lot of times the kids aren’t necessarily bringing what the teachers are requesting them to bring in terms of school supplies, so we’re looking to potentially stock the teachers’ closets. We want the teachers getting exactly what they want, exactly what the classrooms need – headphones, for example. We’re currently looking for a sponsor to supply 1,000 pairs of headphones.  

As a board, we reads the book “Toxic Charity.” And we learned a lot about creating a more sustaining situation as we give these children school supplies. We want to get to the point where the program is something more sustainable, as well as making more educational moments. For instance, instead of giving them a coat, how about doing a math project with fake money, and then they learn about saving and purchasing? One of the things we’re trying to do is make more of a parent participation situation. We’re thinking outside of the box and trying to make this a long-term, sustainable situation. 

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work? 

When my kids were little, we would go to Walmart and buy all the school supplies, and at the same time pack a backpack for these children in the YMCA program. Knowing that these kids would have what my children would have on day one of school, knowing that these kids can have dignity when they go into the classroom, that they can come in feeling good, means so much. Knowing that you’re no different from any of the other kids, and having the same new supplies as the other kids in the class, is so rewarding.  

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about? 

Well, first, selfishly, it makes me feel really good to volunteer. We’ve been very fortunate in our family and we want to be able to help others. Obviously, we live in a world that has a lot of struggles. Why not share what we have? Why not share the good things you have with everybody else? If only this could be a better place for more people. 

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering? 

It doesn’t have to be a board position. It doesn’t have to be a lot of time. When you volunteer, don’t just think you’re going to do a task. Understand the mission of the organization. Ask questions so you understand why you’re doing it. It will make your work much more fulfilling. You’ll end up doing this because you really do believe in the organization.  

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Jill? Find local volunteer opportunities.