As the director of major gifts for the Capital Area United Way, Melissa Parmelee tries to give just as generously as she received.
“Once you get involved,” she says, “it’s hard to take yourself away from it.”
Parmelee grew up in Zachary and graduated from LSU in 2005. While in college, she completed a string of internships in Los Angeles that included several high-profile TV production companies and awards shows.
She borrows from that experience for the annual Shaken or Stirred fundraiser, which she started four years ago. It has raised more than $60,000 to date.
“It’s that same kind of entertainment atmosphere,” she says. “It might not be the red carpet, but it’s the who’s who of Baton Rouge.”
When it comes to fundraising, Parmelee seeks the superstars of the Capital Region’s business scene, and she strives to uphold United Way’s reputation.
“I’m very grateful that I’ve been able to come into an organization with such history that, theoretically, we can call on anyone in the community and it wouldn’t be that far-fetched,” she says. “I get to sit with business leaders and learn about business, and then I get to tell them about the nonprofit and see how we can connect the dots.”
But for Parmelee, charity is not just about fundraisers and recognition; it’s an extension of simply being a resident of Baton Rouge. Living downtown, she often sees firsthand the troubles that many of her neighbors face, especially those struggling with mental or addiction issues.
“I have respect for them,” she says.
