Meet our 2023 Back to School Breakfast fundraiser Co-chairs 

At PENCIL, this time of year is more than getting new school supplies, reuniting with old friends, and heading back to the classroom. It means that our Back to School Breakfast fundraiser, presented by Elliott Davis, will soon take place. Before that happens, we want to introduce you to our three fabulous co-chairs Todd Figler, Jacky Gomez, and Jacqueline Hayes. These PENCIL board members have planned an inspiring morning where guests will hear from our Partners and Metro teachers and students; network with fellow business and community leaders; and invest in our work to support students and teachers.  

Todd, a Senior Vice President at AllianceBernstein, first learned of PENCIL the way many people do – through work. When the global asset management firm relocated to Nashville in 2019, it quickly became a supporter of PENCIL’s programs. Todd realized that he wanted to be more involved and joined the board in 2020. He believes in PENCIL because it is an established, trusted organization with a decades-long record of positively impacting MNPS students.  

Jacky was familiar with PENCIL’s services long before she was Asurion’s Leadership and Development Programs Manager. An Antioch High School graduate who benefitted from our programs, she is now deeply engaged in the Partnership work mentoring the next generation of IT professionals at John Overton High School and speaking to students in classrooms across the district. Anyone at PENCIL will tell you that whenever one of us calls, Jacky’s response is always, “Yes, what can I do for you.” 

Jacqueline is the Principal and Chief Marketing Strategist at her company, Crayons & Marketers, and has a history with PENCIL that dates to 2009 when she first started volunteering. In fact, she received the PENCIL Volunteer of the Year Award in 2013 in recognition of her hard work and dedication to several of our programs. Jacqueline’s mantra is to “be in service to others,” and PENCIL is fortunate to be on the receiving end, especially with this year’s Back to School Breakfast. 

Now that you’ve met them, will you join Todd, Jacky, and Jacqueline in celebrating and supporting our schools through PENCIL’s Back to School Breakfast fundraiser on August 24th. The Back to School Breakfast fundraiser raises financial support for PENCIL’s mission of linking community resources to Nashville public schools.