As soon as Pat Conner arrives at a United Way of Sumner County fundraising event, community drive, board meeting, or even a UWSC holiday open house, she greets us with the same question: “What can I do to help?” And, she really means it. Pat always shows up ready to work.
Her affiliation with United Way of Sumner County began years ago. “While at Sumner County Schools, I was the United Way campaign coordinator for the schools and received funds from United Way when the Just Say No organization was still in existence.”
Pat, now an educational consultant, spent nearly three decades with the Sumner County School system. “I worked for Sumner County Schools for 27 years as the Coordinator for Safe and Healthy Schools. I left to work for the Tennessee Department of Education for seven years as the Director of Student Supports from which I retired. I am now working part time for the past 3.5 years as the Senior Policy and Practice Consultant with CASEL (Collaborative for Academic and Social Emotional Learning) a non-profit based in Chicago.”
In 2017, Pat joined the UWSC Board of Directors and then served as Board Chair for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 years. Her Board term will end in another year.
Without question, Pat leads by example. Preparing for the UWSC Fall Classic Golf Scramble, Pat serves on the Golf Committee helping line up golfers and plan the fundraising event. At the tournament she is greeting golfers and restocking coolers.
If there is a pause in the flurry of activity, you can hear Pat saying “I don’t feel like I’m doing anything.”
For the Gala in the Vineyard she helps secure items for the silent and live auctions and she’s there to decorate the venue before the event begins. After the evening ends, she (literally) steps out of her shoes to move tables and pack up UWSC supplies. For the community drives, Pat is always front and center, ready to help sort and pack food boxes for United We Feed or pack diapers and personal care items for the Mom & Baby Care Drive.
When she’s not giving her time to UWSC, Pat can be found volunteering for her Sunday School class at First United Methodist, Hendersonville whenever possible.
“I have always been a champion of United Way. The model for United Way is community-based solutions at their best,” Pat said. “Funding for education, health, rebuilding lives, financial stability (representing now more than 35 agencies and programs) covers the needs of every community member. From raising funds to using ALICE data to support the allocations process, the United Way is a model of excellence and caring. I am proud to be a volunteer for United Way.”
Pat, thank you for your leadership and sterling example of what it means to roll up your sleeves and get the job done!