The Heart, Hustle, and Human Behind Our Fundraising
It has been a full year since I began in my role as Development Coordinator, and it’s been a meaningful season of learning, growing, and settling in. The Santiago Partnership truly feels like a dream job — a place where I can serve in beautiful and impactful ways every day.
As I head into my second year, I’m especially excited to focus on getting to know our donors more personally — your stories, your passions, and what inspires your support. I’m truly looking forward to connecting with you, whether it’s via email, phone, or Zoom. Be on the lookout for an email from me about connecting with you. Building these relationships is one of the parts of this work I value most, and I can’t wait to learn more about the heart behind your generosity.
Since I’ll be learning more about you, I wanted to share a little about myself as well.
I was first introduced to the Santiago Partnership in 2018 through a good friend, and our family soon became One Day in Ecuador supporters. In June 2023, my daughter and I traveled to Ecuador for a week of learning and serving, leaving part of our hearts behind. I joined the Board of Directors in 2024 and accepted the Development Director role in February 2025.
Fun Facts about jessica:
What’s a food you could eat every day and never get tired of?
Gelato! Sadly, I can’t get that in the middle of nowhere, Illinois, but we do have a place in Quincy, called TCBY, where the employees would report me missing if I didn’t show up multiple times a week.
What’s the most random talent you have?
I read incredibly fast. On my last vacation, I read 5 books over 5 days. (And I didn’t even spend more than a couple of hours each day reading.) My children love this because I can quickly scan a large segment of text and help them find answers to homework questions.
What’s a dream you’ve had since childhood?
Thanks to my grandma, I have a deep desire to travel the world, and thanks to my grandfather, I have always wanted to follow in his footsteps and make a real difference.
What’s your comfort movie or show?
Every time my daughter is home from college, we watch Gilmore Girls. We know every line of the show.
What’s a place that has changed you?
Besides Ecuador, Venice, Italy! Standing in 1,000-year-old buildings is indescribable!
Beach, mountains, or city vibes?
Why is there not a beach at the base of a mountain in the middle of a city? If I have to choose only one, the beach will win every time.
People always seem to be surprised that I’ve….
Been Zip Lining - multiple times!
What’s a value you try to live by?
Love. Always love. You never know what someone is going through or has experienced in their life.
What first drew you to this organization?
The idea we are coming alongside the Ecuadorian people, letting them lead and become self-sustaining.
What moment made you feel “this is where I’m meant to be”?
During the reverse mission trip last fall, sitting with our Ecuadorian leaders as we shared our stories and hearts, that’s when I knew for sure. I was “home.”
What’s a small thing that instantly makes your day better?
A message from one of my kids, a silly text message from my husband, being aggressively greeted by my dog, Louie (one would think I was gone for days instead of hours).
Jessica lives in Quincy, IL, with her family. She has been married to Chris for the past 23 years, and they have two children: a son, Alexander (17), and a daughter, Olivia (19). Their niece Kyndall (21) is part of their home while she attends college. Louie (1), their playful, energetic, and extremely clingy mini-goldendoodle, adds just the right amount of spice that their lives had been missing.
If you want to learn more about Jessica, you can read the blog post from when she first joined the Santiago Partnership.