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August 19, 2021

Grant Copeland, 2011 40 Under Forty Winner

 

Year Won: 2011

Current Age: 45

Current Title: President / Chief Creative Officer

Current Company: WORX Branding | Digital | Marketing

Q: What is your biggest professional accomplishment since receiving this award?

A: To me, the 40 Under Forty award underscores how all of us can impact so much regardless of our age. Since receiving the award, one thing stands out as my biggest professional accomplishment; although it's very personal as well.  In 2018 and 2019, I co-chaired the United Way of Greater Waterbury campaign with my, then, 12-year-old daughter Ella. The campaign raised over $4 million — at the time, the second-highest fundraising amount in the organization’s 77-year history. While this was amazing, I wanted to do something more. Something big. Something that could start during the campaign year and grow. Something that might impact the United Way and the entire community forever.

So, I created a new United Way initiative called UPSTARTERS, which is aimed at giving every single young person aged 10 to 17 the opportunity to lead in the community. It’s for youth, by youth — meaning, the kids identify what their community needs, plan their own activities and work together to raise whatever resources they’ve set as a goal. Over 1,000 youth across a ten- town region have participated already — yet we’ve only scratched the surface. And my daughter and son remain actively involved, hopefully learning to be community contributors for life.