January 10, 2022 – Pierce County, Wash. — United Way of Pierce County is pleased to announce the hire of Dr. Jarrett Brunny as Vice President of Community Impact. Brunny is a new Pierce County resident who joined the team in December.
As Vice President of Community Impact, Brunny will play an integral role in helping the organization bring people together to break the cycle of poverty with a coalition of advocacy and human service partners, including the Center for Strong Families, South Sound 211, Growing Resilience in Tacoma (GRIT), and an expansive network of public and private partners serving with a common purpose.
Brunny brings a wide variety of skills and depth of knowledge to the position, including more than 20 years as a volunteer with United Ways across the country, executive experience in nonprofits, and 12 years of professional accomplishments in public health informatics, program development and evaluation.
"The Vice President of Community Impact is a critical member of our team," said Dona Ponepinto, President and CEO. "He will be a tremendous asset to both United Way and our community as we continue to engage, convene and mobilize resources to lift 15,000 families out of poverty by 2028."
Brunny is responsible for leading the impact team and stewarding community stakeholders devoted to advancing equity and co-creating pathways out of poverty directly with Pierce county residents, many of whom have faced historical and systematic disenfranchisement that continues today.
Before joining United Way of Pierce County, Brunny directed neighborhood-level collective impact efforts with United for Children at United Way of South Hampton Roads in Norfolk, Virginia, focusing on educational equity and economic mobility.
Brunny earned his doctorate in public health at the University of Florida and a Master of Public Health degree at the University of South Florida. While there, Brunny received research and practice awards for childhood lead poisoning prevention in medically underserved areas, suicide prevention, and family caregiving for chronic disease and disability. He frequently serves as a consultant to the Office of Minority Health (OMH) and the Office of Adolescent Health (OASH) at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
"United Way of Pierce County is committed to advancing anti-poverty initiatives in our county," Brunny said, "I am fortunate to join a team of professionals that are devoted to the science, the art, and the relationships that make our vision a reality and help uplift so many people each year."
About United Way of Pierce County United Way of Pierce County has served our community since 1921. Our history is rooted in partnerships—bringing people from different walks of life together to improve conditions for children, families and individuals. While that will never change, our role as a community fundraiser has shifted as the United Way movement has sharpened our focus to solve critical community issues preventing people from meeting their full potential. Today we are leading change by breaking the cycle of poverty in Pierce County. UNITED, WE WILL LIFT 15,000 FAMILIES OUT OF POVERTY BY 2028. Learn more at https://www.uwpc.org/