Rainbow Village Board Member Spotlight
One thing is for certain. Wayne Ellison is a busy man. In addition to his role at the helm of his own highly successful insurance agency – Norcross-based Ellison Insurance Agency – this Virginia-born Atlanta transplant serves on the boards for Junior Achievement, New Mercies Christian Church, Gwinnett County United Way (as its incoming chair), Rotary Club of Gwinnett, 100 Black Men of North Atlanta and his fraternity – Phi Beta Sigma. As if all of that wasn’t enough, the married father of three ALSO devotes his time, treasure and talents to selflessly serve the families of Rainbow Village as a Board Member.
Ellison first learned about Rainbow Village while taking part in Leadership Gwinnett in 2005 alongside our organization’s former CEO, Reverend Nancy Yancey. In 2017, he took a tour of the 2.5-acre campus and facilities before being invited to join the board. After witnessing firsthand what our nonprofit organization had to offer homeless families, he took a leap of faith and has served as a cherished and compassionate member of the board ever since.
“I was immediately impressed by what Rainbow Village has to offer families-in-need – from housing and early childhood development to self-sufficiency skills training and financial counseling,” said Ellison. “Money management and parenting don’t come with instructions and what you learn along the way may be good, bad or indifferent. Rainbow Village not only provides these families with the tools they need to succeed, but it also offers them peace and stability. A consistent place to lay your head from night-to-night is a powerful thing, but Rainbow Village gives them so much more than that.”
Ellison relayed that there are a lot of impactful ways for businesses and members of the Metro Atlanta community to serve the families of Rainbow Village – such as becoming a corporate or community partner, volunteering or making a donation, but for those who are considering a place on the board he offered a few words of advice.
“Come with a servant’s heart, willing spirit and open mind,” suggested Ellison. “There are some people who serve on a board merely to pad their resume. That won’t work here. When you see the difference Rainbow Village makes in peoples’ lives and realize that you’ve had a hand in it, that simply motivates you to give more. Not to mention the fact that the staff here is A-1 and so rewarding to work with. Involvement with Rainbow Village is a great investment of time, energy and money. You can literally SEE the ‘life-changing’ taking place every day. It’s not our place to judge or question what brought a family to Rainbow Village, but it is our duty to focus on their futures and help transform their lives for the better. None of us got to where we’re at without the help of another. Adversity knocks on everybody’s door at one point or another.”
Melanie Conner – CEO of Rainbow Village – had this to say about Ellison, “Wayne has proven to be the consummate board member. He is totally involved and supportive of Rainbow Village, and he regularly introduces our organization and its all-important mission to others within his circle of influence. My team and I truly appreciate his generosity, as well as his genuine and infectious personality.”
If you wish to be considered for a seat on Rainbow Village’s board in the future, please contact Rainbow Village at (770) 497-1888 or info@rainbowvillage.org. To make a donation, register as a volunteer or explore ways that your organization or company might partner with Rainbow Village, be sure to visit www.rainbowvillage.org.
