Jim Gallegos, a purchasing manager for 7-Eleven, has been a United Way volunteer for more than 25 years in 3 different states. Jim grew up watching his father serve the community by helping friends and family, and the importance of volunteering was instilled in him.
"It has always been very satisfying to be part of efforts that positively change the lives of people, and to associate with those that have the same passion to give back," Jim said. "It is our responsibility to bring more people in to expand our success throughout the community."
In 1975, while working for IBM in Boulder, Colorado, Jim volunteered for several years to distribute and collect United Way employee pledge cards during their annual workplace campaign. Jim continued to volunteer for United Way after he moved to Tucson, Arizona in the '80s, and later when he moved to Lewisville, Texas in the '90s. As a volunteer for the Greater Lewisville United Way, Jim served in multiple capacities, such as Board Member, Campaign Chair, and Board Chairman.
In 2006, Jim joined United Way of Metropolitan Dallas' Board of Directors, and he has since become a member of the Community Investment Committee, Latino Leadership Initiative, and the Public Policy Committee. It was recently announced that Jim will be chairing the Public Policy Committee for 2009-2010.
While serving as an IBM volunteer in Tucson, Arizona, Jim appeared in an IBM campaign video, featuring information about the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. After the video was distributed to employees nationwide, Jim states he was unable to begin a meeting without someone asking, "Aren't you the guy in the United Way video?"
"That was the start and end of my 'film' career," Jim joked.
Jim is also a member of St. Ann Catholic Church of Coppell, Chair of the City of Lewisville's Capital Improvements Advisory Committee, Vice-Chair of the City of Lewisville's Planning and Zoning Board, and recently became the assistant coach for The Mustangs, a 10-year-old boy's baseball team through the Lewisville Baseball Association.
