Donor Spotlight: Jayden H.C. Sampson, Esq.
Jayden Sampson is a member of Mazzoni Center’s Board of Directors and has also been a planner for the Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference (PTHC) for eight of its ten years.
Originally from Evanston, Illinois, Jayden obtained his law degree from Madison-Wisconsin Law School and came to Philadelphia to practice as a Public Defender in 1992. He thought he would only stay for three years, but nearly 20 years later he is still here – and still busy! While his career path has changed a few times, his commitment to non-profit work has not.
In addition to Mazzoni Center, he also serves on the Boards of the Attic Youth Center and the Gender Reel festival. Jayden is single and lives in Norristown with Popeye, his Chihuahua-pug mix dog that he acquired from the SPCA about two years ago.
Jayden first came to know about Mazzoni Center while serving as committee member of the PTHC. At the time he was working in the pharmaceutical industry, and felt he could merge his interest in health care with his desire to support Mazzoni’s mission. We recently sat down with Jayden to learn more about his interests, his ongoing community involvement, and how he has created a financial legacy to support Mazzoni Center's work.
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Mazzoni Center (MC): How might someone be surprised by you?
Jayden Sampson (JS): I’m a reader, a quiet person that enjoys my off time. I am currently reading Vampire Academy, a fantasy fiction novel.
MC: What do you like most about board involvement?
JS: I like to develop relationships for community-based organizations. I like having a voice to aid in the direction of Mazzoni Center. I like how Mazzoni is staying focused on supporting the different representations of the L, G, B, and T communities. I also love the work of the Transgender Health Conference. One of the major reasons to support it is that Mazzoni Center offers the conference free to attendees.
MC: What should the community do more of?
JS: We have a lot of work to do around race, class, and transgender issues. Also, taking care of our older brothers and sisters. What will we do about aging in our community down the road? We need to continue to prepare now.
MC: How are you making a commitment to the agency?
JS: If you don’t have a lot of money, one of the least expensive ways to support an organization you love is through insurance, through which you can create an estate. First, think about your family and friends that you might way to support, and also think of your favorite nonprofit. For nonprofit organizations, often money is low, and so, ask yourself, what kind of legacy might you want to leave? Creating an estate plan is important for us to do, especially in the LGBT community.
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Jayden himself has taken the steps to include Mazzoni Center as a beneficiary for his insurance plan, essentially placing the agency in his estate. This legacy gift to our organization is an opportunity, down the road, for Mazzoni Center to support programs and services in his name. We thank Jayden for his generosity!
