board member spotlight:
AR N O L D J O H N S O N – O F F ER I N G N E W PER S PE C T I V E S
Arnold Johnson joined the ACHIEVEability
Board in 2011. As a business executive,
he has brought a wealth of knowledge
and experience that has helped the board
in revamping our strategic planning and
organizational effectiveness. Arnold is
currently Chair of the HR Committee.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I have been married 24 years and have
two wonderful children. I have worked in
senior level positions at Prudential Financial
Services and I am currently a Senior Vice
President/Consumer Market Manager for
Bank of America. I am also the Chairman
of the Deacon Board of Star of Hope
Baptist Church.
How did you first get involved
with ACHIEVEability?
I was graciously given the opportunity
by the Market President Office of Bank of
America to represent the bank on the board
of ACHIEVEability.
What’s your personal philosophy on
what should be done about poverty
and homelessness?
I believe that poverty and homelessness
is everyone’s responsibility. I believe in my
heart that if you can help someone get
ahead and improve their situation, you can
show others what is possible.
What is it like to be on the ACHIEVEability
Board of Directors, and why are you
supporting ACHIEVEability as opposed to
other groups working on these issues?
It has been an absolute pleasure being
on the Board of Directors, knowing that the
decisions we make impact many lives.
The ability to help someone get ahead and
improve their current living situation is a
powerful and life changing opportunity.
I am fully supportive of ACHIEVEability
because I was able to overcome the pitfalls
of growing up in a single parent home and
I want to be an example to others in the
program. There is no need to give up.
What has impressed you most about
ACHIEVEability, and what do you want
people to know about the agency?
I am truly impressed by the impact that
the organization has had on so many people
over the past 30 years. Prior to interviewing
for the Board, I was not aware that this
organization had been doing great work for
so many years. I wish that others knew of
the many success stories and the many
lives changed.
What would you tell someone who is
thinking about donating or volunteering
at ACHIEVEability?
I would state that ACHIEVEability is a
great and productive organization that is
working hard to change lives and improve
the community. ACHIEVEability not only
gives hope to people, but it provides
opportunity for people to make a long
lasting and positive difference in their lives.
CORPORATE DONOR SPOTLIGHT:
MORGAN LEWIS
ACHIEVEability is fortunate to have the
support of generous donors including
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. With nearly
1,400 lawyers in 24 offices around the world,
Morgan Lewis is consistently ranked among
the leading law firms due to their ability
to deliver effective solutions. For more than
100 years, Morgan Lewis attorneys have
committed their time and resources to
serving the public good. Morgan Lewis has
an extraordinarily diverse and innovative
pro bono practice and devotes substantial
resources to other community service and
charitable activities.
Morgan Lewis and ACHIEVEability first
partnered in early 2011 as a result of a
connection made through the United Way
of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New
Jersey. Since that time, Morgan Lewis
has been actively involved in supporting
ACHIEVEability by providing pro bono
services for ACHIEVEability participants
and professional development training
for ACHIEVEability staff. The firm also
provides sponsorships for ACHIEVEability
fundraising events, and volunteers their
services for the families in our program
each year on Morgan Lewis Impact Day.
These efforts earned Morgan Lewis the
distinction of being the Volunteer Group
of the Year.
ACHIEVEability would especially like
to thank the following individuals from
Morgan Lewis who have been valued
supporters of our mission and instrumental
in cultivating our partnership:
ACHIEVEability Newsletter
FALL - WINTER 2013
E D U C A T I O N . H O U S I N G . S E L F - S U F F I C I E N C Y.
Partner and Chair of Firm Fran Milone,
Director of Administration Michelle
Conn (pictured second from the right),
Administrative Assistant Karen Caldwell,
Associate Jack O’Brien (pictured at far left
above), Partner Brian Shaffer and Managing
Partner of Philadelphia office J. Gordon
Cooney, Jr.
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