Central Florida Humanitarian Robert Jordan: ‘Helping Others Will Define You’

By  //  October 21, 2015

'God always looks at your heart'

ABOVE VIDEO: Robert Jordan – “My dad always said our duty was to help and that the worst thing anyone could do in life was not help. It was ingrained in me.”

From the time he was a little boy in the paper mill town of St. Mary’s, Georgia, Robert Jordan remembers his parents’ words of advice: go to school, work hard and help others.

JORDAN-ROBERT-580-1Jordan took the advice to heart, using it as a beacon to guide him through life.

“My mother and father always instilled in us the need to serve,” said Jordan, president and CEO of Genesis VII in Titusville.

“My dad always said our duty was to help and that the worst thing anyone could do in life was not help. It was ingrained in me.”

Jordan’s father, who had to quit school in the eighth grade to be the breadwinner in the house after his father drowned, was also adamant that Jordan get a good education.

“He made sure all of us went to college, including my mother, who started out as a nurse’s aide and went on to become the assistant superintendent of schools for our district,” said Jordan.

“Mom would go to Savannah State in the summers to study and my dad would take care of us while she was gone.”

Jordan followed his mom to Savannah State University for his bachelor’s degree and received his master’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach.

It is not surprising that with such an emphasis on the value of education, Jordan felt drawn to educational organizations.

In 2002, he was elected to the board of Brevard County schools, making Jordan the first African-American to hold a countywide seat and subsequently the first African-American to serve as chairman of the school board in county history.

COMMUNITY HERO

Jordan’s civic resume is long and includes service on the board of a wide-ranging breadth of nonprofits, including the United Way of Brevard, Brevard Workforce, Circles of Care, Parrish Medical Center, Titusville YMCA, Brevard Cultural Alliance, Jess Parrish Foundation, the Public Access Committee and the Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Titusville and the North Brevard Economic Development Zone.

ROBERT JORDAN, right, with Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli of Merritt Island.
ROBERT JORDAN, right, with Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli of Merritt Island.

NASA has awarded Jordan a Public Service Medal and a Community Hero Award, among many other kudos.

Jordan and his wife of 34 years, Karen, have raised their two children to have serving hearts. Robert III works with Jordan as manager of operations at Genesis VII and Kristina is a senior studying industrial engineering at the University of Central Florida.

Helping others will define you, says Jordan.

“God always looks at your heart,” he added.

“I try to do the best I can for others.”

ABOUT THE 2015 CENTRAL FLORIDA HUMANITARIAN AWARDS

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The 2015 Central Florida Humanitarians have been announced and include outstanding individuals and organizations from the medical, business, education and governmental communities. Also announced today was the honoree for the Lifetime Achievement.

Recognizing Outstanding Individuals & Organizations Who Dedicate Their Time, Talent and Treasure

The 2015 Central Florida Humanitarians include outstanding individuals and organizations from the medical, business, education and governmental communities. 

The Central Florida Humanitarian honorees will be recognized during a Gala event on Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place in Melbourne, Florida.

The Central Florida Humanitarian Awards were created six years ago by Maverick Multimedia, publisher of Space Coast Medicine & Active Living magazine and Space Coast Daily, to recognize outstanding individuals and organizations that dedicate their time, talent or treasure to help people in need locally – and around the world.

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The 2015 Central Florida Humanitarians have been announced and include outstanding individuals and organizations from the medical, business, education and governmental communities. All Humanitarian alumni are presented a specially commissioned medallion.

TIME: In this category consider candidates who have selflessly and consistently devoted their time as volunteers at hospitals and nursing homes, in activities for the less fortunate and as organizers, administrators or operatives in the many other altruistic endeavors in our community.
TALENT: In this category give consideration to those who have volunteered their special talents and expertise to address specific circumstances in which the lives of those in need are improved.
TREASURE: The humanitarians in this category will include those who have generously shared their monetary good fortune and/or volunteered their time and efforts in fund raising for the advancement of a philanthropic cause.

All 2015 honorees will be featured in the Oct/Nov 2015 edition of Space Coast Medicine & Active Living magazine and SpaceCoastDaily.com.

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2015 Central Florida Humanitarian Sponsors

The first Gala was held in 2010 and is produced by Brevard Productions.

ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS SELECTED TO BE HONORED INCLUDE:

• Brevard Family Partnership
• Brevard Neighborhood Coalition
• Brevard Special Olympics – Debbie Spence
• Lila Buescher
• Canine Companions for Independence
• Childrens Hunger Project
• Circles of Care
• Ginger Davis
• Cove Merchants Association
• Dr. Brian Dowdell
• Early Learning Coalition of Brevard
• Betsy Farmer
• Darcia Jones-Francey
• Harris Corp. Foundation
• Malak Hammad
• John & Cynthia Handley
• John Harper
• Mike & Stephanie Haridopolos
• Sheriff Wayne Ivey
• Robert Jordan
• Dr. John Lovejoy Jr. & Dr. John Lovejoy III
• Victor Luebker
• Rita Pritchett
• David Schmitt
• Oscar & Turney Sieveking
• The 2015 Central Florida Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement honoree is Dr. Anthony Catanese.

HONORING SELFLESS VOLUNTEERISM

As always, the Central Florida Humanitarian committee will also honor hospital and hospice volunteers from Health First Hospice, the Dr. Jey Pillai Center for Hospice Care at Wasdin Woods, VITAS, Hospice of St. Francis, Health First Cape Canaveral Hospital, Health First Viera Hospital, Health First Holmes Regional Medical Center, Health First Palm Bay Hospital, Wuesthoff Medical Center – Melbourne, Wuesthoff Medical Center – Rockledge, the VA Clinic in Viera, and Sebastian River Medical Center. 

Dr. Jim Palermo
Dr. Jim Palermo

“Over the years, our editorial team has had the distinct honor and pleasure of identifying and featuring the many members of our community who give back so much and are dedicated to reaching out and helping others, here and throughout the world, in a multitude of ways,” said Maverick Multimedia Editor-In-Chief Dr. Jim Palermo.

“For the sixth consecutive year, we will once again produce the Central Florida Humanitarian Awards Gala on the first Thursday of November. This year, more than 42 deserving humanitarians will be honored during the Gala.”

The Central Florida Humanitarian Awards will be part of Space Coast Medicine Week, a comprehensive series of health and educational events produced by Space Coast Medicine & Active Living magazine and Space Coast Daily.

JOIN US FOR AN INSPIRATIONAL EVENING

This inspiring and compelling event is sponsored by M.H. Williams Construction, Parrish Medical Center, SOAR, Brighthouse Networks, Wuesthoff Health System, First Choice Medical Group, Clear Choice Health Care, Florida Pain Institute, Brevard Geriatrics, Knudson Brain & Spine Law Injury Office, Dr. Mark Pinsky, Space Coast Medicine & Active Living magazine and SpaceCoastDaily.com. Each honoree or organization will be presented the Central Florida Humanitarian Crystal Globe.

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Giles Malone

“We would like to thank our long list of sponsors who support the Central Florida Humanitarian Awards and who make this wonderful event possible,” said Giles Malone, a partner with Maverick Multimedia and Brevard Productions, who annually produce all the events of Space Coast Medicine Week.

COMPELLING MULTIMEDIA TRIBUTE VIDEOS & STORIES

Stay tuned to SpaceCoastDaily.com and Space Coast Medicine & Active Living magazine for exclusive and comprehensive multimedia coverage of each honoree as we present their compelling stories.

Tom Palermo
Tom Palermo

“Please join us on Thursday, Nov. 5 to celebrate and be inspired by these incredible individuals and groups,” said Maverick Multimedia President & Publisher Tom Palermo. 

“In the meantime, please click the link below that showcases the distinguished Central Florida Humanitarian Alumni.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CENTRAL FLORIDA HUMANITARIAN ALUMNI

FOR MORE INFORMATION or to make a reservation to attend the Central Florida Humanitarian Awards Gala call 321-323-4460 or 321-615-8111 or e-mail MaverickMultiMedia@gmail.com

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

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ABOVE MAP: The 2015 Central Florida Humanitarian Awards will take place Thursday, Nov. 5 at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Place, located at 200 Rialto Place in Melbourne, Florida.