Meet Jackie Chambers, Chief of Philanthropy & Strategic Communications for Gateway to Hope!
How long have you been with Gateway to Hope?
I joined Gateway to Hope in September of 2024. The time has flown!
What originally drew you to the organization?
After my own experience with breast cancer, I wanted to take action to make that experience easier for other women. I don’t have the skills of a doctor, nurse, or social worker, but I have more than twenty years of experience in fundraising and non-profit management that I can put to work for women who need access to breast healthcare! Gateway to Hope is unique in the type of support it provides, and it’s an honor to help make that mission possible.
In your experience, what makes Gateway to Hope unique?
Gateway to Hope navigators occupy a special place in the lives of our patients: they are a trusted, unbiased source of information and encouragement. They aren’t doctors, insurance representatives, or anyone else directly involved in care. And they can provide insights that even the most loving and dedicated family members and friends may not be able to offer, since the cancer experience is often new to them, too.
What does a typical day at Gateway to Hope look like for you?
There’s no such thing as a “typical day!” Today, I might be meeting with a donor or talking with our program team about how we fund their work. Tomorrow, I might be planning an event or working with my team on our communications and public relations. Every day, I get to hear stories of the women we serve and share those stories with the supporters who make the work possible.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I love all things related to fiber arts. When I’m not entangled in thread, I’m reading a book, working on DIY projects around my historic home, or playing board games with family and friends. You might see me at a rock or folk concert every now and again, too.
What’s your favorite local spot in your community, and why?
I love so many aspects of Forest Park in St. Louis, from walking trails to the Great Forest Park Balloon race. We just enjoyed a performance of The Tempest in Shakespeare Glen, after a stroll through the Art Museum. St. Louisans are fortunate to have so many free cultural experiences in the midst of a gorgeous park!
If you weren’t in your current role, what career path do you think you might have pursued?
I fully expected that I would become an English teacher. And I did teach while I earned my graduate degrees. Though I no longer teach “officially,” that experience in writing, researching, planning, and connecting with students serves me well every single day in my current role.
Can you share a moment that reminded you why Gateway to Hope’s mission matters?
I believe whole-heartedly that the best way to show and explain what we do is to go straight to those who have been supported by our navigators and hear their stories in their own words. My team recently hosted a group of patients for a photo and video shoot. It was a powerful, deeply moving experience to hear each woman talk about her journey, and about thriving today. I’m grateful that these women and their families found comfort, strength, and hope in their experiences.
What excites you most about Gateway to Hope’s future?
The way Gateway to Hope approaches breast healthcare equity through advocacy, community engagement, patient navigation, and direct financial support is truly distinctive. And with the right resources in place, we can bring this kind of support to more women every year. We started as a local St. Louis organization; now, we serve all of Missouri and parts of Illinois and Kansas. It’s within our grasp to bring these services to every woman in our region who needs us — and we have the potential to keep widening that reach.
