Melanie Hoffman

Chief of Staff

Melanie is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in technology and management consulting. She has held senior positions at startups, medium-sized, and large organizations.

Recently leading the Southeast region for a prominent consulting firm, Melanie has successfully overseen countless large-scale technology implementations. With a deep expertise in operations, organizational effectiveness, change management, and relationship management, Melanie is known for driving operational excellence and fostering impactful organizational transformations.

Melanie has extensive experience across multiple industries including healthcare, telecommunications, financial services, and retail. Melanie earned her Bachelor of Science from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania and holds certifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Certified Scrum Master (CSM).

Melanie relocated to Florida almost three years ago with her family. She enjoys soaking up the Florida sunshine and any activity outdoors.

Kelly Jordan

Vice President of Philanthropy

Kelly Jordan has been a fundraising professional for over 20 years. In January of 2016 she moved from Washington D.C. to Florida to become the Chief Development Officer at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. In this position, Kelly provided leadership, direction, and coordination of fundraising strategies and activities that enabled CMA to make critical investments to ensure the institution remains a leader in marine life education, research, rescue, rehabilitation, and release. This included overseeing CMA’s successful $15-million-dollar capital campaign for its $80-million-dollar expansion that opened in October 2020. Previously Kelly served as the Major Gift Officer for 8 years at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C.

Anthony Saccento

Chief Financial Officer

Anthony joined Gulf Coast JFCS as Chief Financial Officer in October of 2024. His experience in Public Accounting includes tax, auditing, and general accounting. His Private Accounting experience includes being CFO and holding senior positions in investment, publishing, oil & gas, architecture, and non-profit industries. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from St. John’s University. He received both an M.B.A. in Finance and an M.S. in Taxation from Fordham University. Anthony is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of New York. He has periodically led accounting seminars through a major financial newspaper and has occasionally taught accounting and finance classes at the university level. He volunteers on the Deacon Board at his home church and has performed certified audits for a children’s mission in Kodiak, Alaska. He loves the outdoors and moved to upstate New York over a decade ago, from New York City, to pursue those opportunities. He now looks forward to expanding those experiences by having relocated to Florida.

From Stranger to Neighbor

Refugee Assistance Fund

Belonging Begins With Us

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They’ve survived the unimaginable to pursue new beginnings.

Fleeing danger, fathers, mothers and entire families arrive in Florida, often with little more than the clothes on their backs, from thousands of miles away equipped with hope, determination, and employable skills…

…they just need OUR hand up.

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Help Welcome Refugees Today

Your contributions will help fill gaps in funding immediate and essential needs for all refugee families as they build their life in the United States.

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Ways to Assist

Host a Supply Drive - Download Flyer

Read Gulf Coast JFCS Response to Cease Services Directive

Gulf Coast JFCS is proud to partner with HIAS and ORR to welcome and assist refugees to successfully and safely resettle in our community. Financial contributions directed toward the Refugee Assistance THIVE Fund will assist these individuals and hundreds of others from other countries with vital food, housing, employment, and child care or school-entry support. Together, we “welcome the stranger as our neighbor.”

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The Refugee Assistance THRIVE Fund

Together Helping Restore Independence, Vitality, and Empowerment

Gulf Coast JFCS has assisted new beginnings for some 3,000 refugees and victims of torture, war, and conflict in the past two years. And, while many have achieved self-sufficiency, some require additional support to thrive.

Contributions to the Refugee Assistance THRIVE Fund will provide:

vital additional months of temporary housing:
home furnishings, clothing, food, transportation assistance
legal support to expedite work authorization documentation
vocational training and/or job placement assistance
healthcare, schools, daycare, cultural competency support

Sponsor an Individual or Family to THRIVE

Your gift today provides the bridge to self-sufficiency for these courageous refugees and their families. Their determination and perseverance together with your generosity will empower them to self-sufficiency and a productive life in our community.

This campaign not only uplifts refugee lives but strengthens Gulf Coast JFCS' ability to respond effectively during the ongoing refugee crisis. We intend to continue to meet refugees’ most basic needs in the wake of federal funding reductions. Every contribution is impactful.

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Make an Impact:

$10,000 – Sponsor a Family: Supports a family of 4 with housing and daily living essentials to obtain self-sufficiency for 4-5 months.
$5,000 – Sponsor an Individual: Supports one individual with housing and daily living essentials to obtain self-sufficiency for 4-5 months.
$3,000 – One Month Housing + Living Essentials: Provide a family of four with one month of housing, utility, and food for one month.
$1,800 – One Month Housing + Living Essentials: Provide for one individual’s housing, utilities, and food for a month.
$1,000 – Groceries for one month for one family
$500 – School clothes/supplies for two children
$250 – English classes for one individual

These funds will be directed to the most urgent needs of our newcomers, prioritizing those most in need.

How To Make Your Contribution:

Donate directly online OR

Direct your contribution by written correspondence, either email or letter, to:
Gulf Coast JFCS Refugee Assistance THRIVE Fund,
14041 Icot Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33760

Kelly Jordan, Vice President of Philanthropy
727-416-2462 | kelly.jordan@gcjfcs.org