Jeff Neil, Board Member
At Little Brothers- Friends of the Elderly, we have a Highlight of the Week series where we shine a spotlight on members of the LBFE community including board members, older adults, volunteers, students, staff, CitySites (and more!) to learn about them and their experiences with LBFE. This week’s highlight is of one of our board members, Jeff Neil.
Please tell us a little about yourself- what background/professional experience do you have?
For over 20 yrs I have worked in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry in various roles from sales, marketing and most recently sales training. I currently work at Shire, a biopharmaceutical company, that focuses on rare diseases. I am currently the Lead on the Learning and Development team for the Hematology Franchise.
How do your values align with LBFE’s mission and what made you want to get more involved?
I was fortunate to witness LBFE’s mission of being “committed to relieving isolation and loneliness among the elderly. We offer to people of goodwill the opportunity to join the elderly in friendship and celebration of life.” You see, my great-aunt who lived to be almost 106 yrs old had a friend from LBFE named Brett. She sincerely enjoyed his visits and I saw how it made a difference in her life. Knowing the impact that Brett had on my Aunt Sarah was the motivation for me to get involved.
What are 3 words you would use to describe LBFE’s intergenerational programs and why?
“Who’s helping who?” I believe that these programs not only give back to the elderly but there’s meaning and learning for the volunteers. The younger generation not only gains knowledge and experience from the elderly, but a level of empathy for the challenges of that generation.
What has been the most interesting thing you’ve learned about LBFE since volunteering/serving on the board?
Please share your favorite memory with an older adult in your life.
Remember to check out next week’s blog to see who will be highlighted then!
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