Jeremy Park ('99) is working to shift the focus of the business industry from company profit to community profit through philanthropy, positive news and volunteerism.
Park, who majored in marketing at UNT, is the vice president of communications at Lipscomb Pitts Insurance in Memphis, Tenn. However, he is most known for his work as president of the Lipscomb Pitts Breakfast Club, an organization made up of local and national businesses that work to positively impact Memphis and other communities in the mid-South.
"It's neat to see the transformation of corporate philosophy," Park says. "Money is a needed resource, but it doesn't physically solve a problem. People do."
Park produces and hosts a weekly radio show and a monthly television program, The SPARK. On the shows, he interviews business executives and community leaders about important trends and projects and how they are working to make a difference in their communities.
Park believes when companies and individuals work for the benefit of others, they benefit themselves.
"The more you get involved, the more opportunities you are going to have," Park says. "Giving back will get you ahead."
Park says some of the most powerful experiences of his life have come from developing relationships with people through service projects. For example, the Lipscomb Pitts Breakfast Club participated in a Samaritan's Feet event, in which he and other business executives washed the feet of children whose families can't afford shoes. Afterward, they provided the children with new shoes and socks.
"You can see the smiles on the kids' faces," Park says. "When they say, 'This is the best day of my life,' it means everything."
While Park was a student at UNT, he served as president of Beta Gamma Sigma, an international honor society for business students.
"UNT was a blessing because I got the best of all worlds. Between marketing projects for school, I was able to play music and act in Dallas. Everything I learned at UNT is being applied in my life," says Park, who was previously director of marketing for a Los Angeles television production company and serves on the board of the Motion Picture Hall of Fame, which he helped launch.
In addition to his work for The SPARK, Park also writes a weekly column for The Commercial Appeal of Memphis titled "Giving Back," and he has written two books, Giving Back With Purpose and Giving for Growth: Achieving Success Through Giving Back. The proceeds from the sales of both books benefit children's literacy programs.
Park says he has a source of limitless motivation for his work.
"I'm focused on genuinely helping people," he says. "You can honestly accomplish whatever you want by helping people."
