Justine Aycock- continued from page 8
professional and personal life, that it’ s about progress, not projection. Focusing on progress has helped me celebrate the journey, embrace growth, and enjoy the process more than fixating on the outcome.
I owe it all to.... Those who came before me. I believe everything happens for a reason, and God has been at the center of my life, guiding me through every step. My husband, Collin Aycock, and my children inspire me every day to work harder and be better for myself and for them. My parents, Tracy Ernstberger Loi and Michael Oppelt, and my grandparents, Paul and Laverne Ernstberger, have provided love, encouragement, and unwavering support that shaped who I am.
I am grateful to mentors and friends who have left a lasting impact. There are a few whose influence stands out. My life would not be the same if our paths had not crossed. Jesse and Beulah Cox, whose generosity provided my full-ride college scholarship which truly transformed my life. Shane Stuber, who was at the time the then Executive Director of Leukemia and Lymphoma Societies( LLS), taught me that fundraising is both an art and a science and inspired me to pursue it as a career. And lastly, a dear friend with the initials, JET, profoundly changed my life.
Fun fact about you: When I was in high school, I raised money for both St. Jude and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on two separate occasions. I even shaved my head to support the cause and the survivors as a 15-year-old after reaching my fundraising goal for St. Jude.
Where do you find your inspiration? I’ ve always been an independent person; always have been, always will be. Along the way, people, places, and experiences have inspired me, but ultimately, it’ s up to me to show up and get things done. I’ ve found that confidence and perseverance are the keys to making progress. I keep moving forward, learning and growing, and that’ s when what I call“ fake it until you make it” comes into play. Over time, the faking fades, the confidence becomes real, and you realize you’ ve truly made it.
Where do you volunteer? As a board member for Impact100 Southern Indiana.
Why do you volunteer? Impact100 Southern Indiana is a group of 100 + women who pool their $ 1,000 donations together
each year to make transformative grants in Clark, Floyd, or Harrison Counties. By combining our giving power, we fund projects that create lasting, tangible change. Over the years, we have renovated the kitchen of an emergency shelter, purchased vans for a youth shelter, funded technology programming so organizations could feed more hungry children, and helped complete a building for a recovery facility. Through these projects and more, we have made a real difference, one grant at a time.
I volunteer with Impact100 Southern Indiana because, in my professional role, I ask people every day to go above and beyond with their giving, and I wanted the chance to be on the other side to experience the joy of giving and practice what I preach.
Serving on the Board of Directors, I help strategize how to grow membership so we can continue funding transformational projects. Like most people in Southern Indiana, this place is special to me. I have a deep love and adoration for our town and its people, and I want to do everything I can to help our neighbors and strengthen our connections. Even working in the nonprofit sector, I’ m often amazed by the incredible organizations right in our backyard doing excellent work that I didn’ t known about before.
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News and Tribune | Twenty Under 40 Class of 2026
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