The Joy She Gives, the Hope She Builds: Jenise’s Monthly Impact
For Jenise Green, spreading joy isn’t just something she says; it’s how she lives. In fact, she signs every email with the same line: “Just a girl who loves to spread joy.”
That spirit of generosity is part of what led her to become a monthly donor to YWCA Metropolitan Chicago. But her story goes much deeper.
A Life Rooted in Showing Up for Others
Originally from St. Louis and a longtime Chicagoan, Jenise has built a career in marketing at iHeart Media. But beyond her remarkable professional life, she has built a personal legacy defined by compassion, resilience, and service.
Over the years, Jenise has stepped in to support women and children escaping unsafe situations, sometimes with only a moment’s notice. In 2023, when a young mother of four reached out to her for help, Jenise didn’t hesitate. She gathered her community, purchased flights, and brought the family safely to Chicago, housing and supporting them for six months while they rebuilt their lives.
“It was a house full of shoes, purses, and big rooms,” she joked. “But that all changed. It became a home for four little boys and a pregnant mom. I look back and wouldn’t change a thing.”
Her village showed up too, donating diapers, clothing, food, and even shoes for the children. Jenise coordinated it all, welcoming the family into stability and hope.
Why YWCA’s Mission Speaks to Her
Because of her lived experience, Jenise feels deeply connected to YWCA’s work, especially our legal advocacy, crisis intervention, and support for survivors of gender-based violence.
“That legal advocacy work is so important,” she says. “So many women think they have to stay because they don’t know help exists. I want my money going toward programs that show up for women and children when they need it most.”
At YWCA’s 53rd Annual Leader Luncheon, Jenise was profoundly moved by the story shared by one of our medical advocates and her young daughter. The daughter had begun advocating for others, inspired by her mother’s work.
“That little girl made her mom so proud,” Jenise said. “It reminded me how powerful it is to teach the next generation to give back.”
Monthly Giving as a Practice of Hope
For Jenise, becoming a monthly donor wasn’t about the size of the gift, it was about the consistency.
“Monthly giving matters because the work is ongoing,” she explains. “YWCA has monthly bills. Programs can’t stop. Even small gifts help keep the people doing this lifesaving work supported.”
Her giving ensures:
Children have food and stability
Women can safely leave harmful situations
Frontline advocates have the tools and training to continue their work
And Jenise contributes beyond her monthly gift, using her professional network to help source donations, organizing care packages, and even planning to deliver bread and essentials to YWCA sites.
What Gives Her Hope
In a world that feels heavy, Jenise keeps her answer simple: Faith.
“Sometimes I get angry about what’s happening around us,” she said. “But we made it through the hardest parts of the pandemic. We didn’t know where we were going, but we kept getting up every day. Faith gives me hope.”
A Legacy of Joy, Care, and Community
For YWCA, Jenise embodies the spirit of Hope as a Practice. Change as a Legacy.
She practices hope in the ways she shows up for others.
She creates change through her generosity, leadership, and belief in community.
And she reminds us of a truth we hold deeply:
Even small acts, done with great love, build the world we want to live in.