A Q & A with Kirstyn Waldron, Corporate Philanthropy Manager at Jackson

Tell me a little bit about your passion for giving back.

Growing up, I spent a lot of time volunteering. I learned from a young age that I was really fortunate and not everyone had the same opportunities as me. As I grew older, I found I became more and more motivated to help people, and my work at Jackson has only served to further strengthen that motivation. It is so incredibly fulfilling working day in and day out with nonprofits in the community to further their important work. I am so lucky.

How do you personally give back to your community and what groups are you involved with?

Through my work at Jackson, I have had the opportunity to volunteer with so many different nonprofits supporting the Lansing community. This has led to longstanding personal volunteer roles such as serving on event committees for Big Brothers Big Sisters and Junior Achievement, helping plan and execute their annual fundraising events. I have also served on the Ele’s Race committee for seven years, helping raise money to support the important mission helping grieving families in our community.

In addition to the work I do with local nonprofits, I also served on the Central Michigan Public Relations Society of America board of directors as a director at large and as membership chair. Finally, I have been given the opportunity to serve as a creative strategist for Lansing 5:01, helping to showcase the opportunities Lansing has to offer and retain young talent here — something I am particularly passionate about. All these roles have allowed me to better connect with the Lansing community while meeting other like-minded mid-Michigan enthusiasts. I look forward to continuing to get involved with more organizations and initiatives in the future.

How do you feel about winning a 10 Over the Next Ten Award?

Winning 10 Over the Next Ten was truly an honor. There are so many incredible young people doing amazing work in the Lansing community, including my fellow award recipients. To have even been nominated is an achievement, but to actually win is really exciting and motivates me to contribute even more in the community.

What plans do you have for the future?

I look forward to continuing to support the Lansing community through both my work at Jackson and also personally through service. I am eager to continue to integrate into the Lansing community and become more involved.