Melanie Hoffman

Chief of Staff

Melanie is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in technology and management consulting. She has held senior positions at startups, medium-sized, and large organizations.

Recently leading the Southeast region for a prominent consulting firm, Melanie has successfully overseen countless large-scale technology implementations. With a deep expertise in operations, organizational effectiveness, change management, and relationship management, Melanie is known for driving operational excellence and fostering impactful organizational transformations.

Melanie has extensive experience across multiple industries including healthcare, telecommunications, financial services, and retail. Melanie earned her Bachelor of Science from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania and holds certifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Certified Scrum Master (CSM).

Melanie relocated to Florida almost three years ago with her family. She enjoys soaking up the Florida sunshine and any activity outdoors.

Kelly Jordan

Vice President of Philanthropy

Kelly Jordan has been a fundraising professional for over 20 years. In January of 2016 she moved from Washington D.C. to Florida to become the Chief Development Officer at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. In this position, Kelly provided leadership, direction, and coordination of fundraising strategies and activities that enabled CMA to make critical investments to ensure the institution remains a leader in marine life education, research, rescue, rehabilitation, and release. This included overseeing CMA’s successful $15-million-dollar capital campaign for its $80-million-dollar expansion that opened in October 2020. Previously Kelly served as the Major Gift Officer for 8 years at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.

Anthony Saccento

Chief Financial Officer

Anthony joined Gulf Coast JFCS as Chief Financial Officer in October of 2024. His experience in Public Accounting includes tax, auditing, and general accounting. His Private Accounting experience includes being CFO and holding senior positions in investment, publishing, oil & gas, architecture, and non-profit industries. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from St. John’s University. He received both an M.B.A. in Finance and an M.S. in Taxation from Fordham University. Anthony is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of New York. He has periodically led accounting seminars through a major financial newspaper and has occasionally taught accounting and finance classes at the university level. He volunteers on the Deacon Board at his home church and has performed certified audits for a children’s mission in Kodiak, Alaska. He loves the outdoors and moved to upstate New York over a decade ago, from New York City, to pursue those opportunities. He now looks forward to expanding those experiences by having relocated to Florida.

Join the Celebration.
Be Compassion in Action!

Saturday, January 24, 2026

The Floridian Social, St. Petersburg
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Cocktail Chic with Elton John Flair!

Lives Uplifted! is the Gulf Coast JFCS annual celebration and fundraising event recognizing our impact on the most vulnerable individuals throughout our community.

From babies to seniors, the life-changing resources we provide helps them find safety, comfort, and a path toward a fulfilling life.

Your support allows us to continue providing a broad range of human services reaching more than 30,000 people annually throughout Greater Tampa Bay and beyond.

Click Here to Purchase Sponsorships

Click Here For our Sponsorship Packet

If you have questions about Lives Uplifted! 2026,
please contact the Marketing and Development department at marketing@gcjfcs.org or 727-479-1805.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING • BEHAVIORAL HEALTH • CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES<br />
ELDER & DISABLED SERVICES • JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES • REFUGEE SERVICES • WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT with photos of people illustrating the pillars

Lives Uplifted! 2026

Gala Co-Chairs:
Marti and Rick Kurland
Elizabeth and David Samuelson

Corporate Sponsorship Chairs:
Elisa Caro and Jarrett Wolfe

Gala Sponsorships

Uplift lives through your sponsorship of the
Lives Uplifted! 2026 Celebration Gala

Sponsorship Levels:

- - Friend Sponsor: $1,250
  - Humanitarian Sponsor: $2,500
  - Valet Parking Sponsor: $3,600
  - Bar Sponsor: $3,600
  - Green Screen & Photo Booth Sponsor: $3,600
  - Media Sponsor: $3,600
  - Protector Sponsor: $6,000
  - Hero Sponsor: $18,000
  - Champion Sponsor: $25,000
  - Visionary Presenting Sponsor: $50,000