Jane Browning of Hot Springs Village
Life of service leads woman to United Way of Garland County
Jane Browning has been a champion of nonprofit organizations for most of her life. She is the new executive director of the United Way of Garland County. “I started my career as a volunteer coordinator and never looked back,” she writes on the United Way of Garland County’s website, unitedwaygarland.org.
Browning, 66, was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and left there in 1966 for Chicago, where she studied theater at Northwestern University until 1968. It would be another 10 years before she completed her college degree, graduating cum laude in 1978 from the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor’s degree in English literature.
“When I was away at college, my parents ran away from home,” she said with a laugh. “They moved to Estes Park, Colorado. I started my career in Denver with what was then the Association for Retarded Citizens. It was a citizens’ advocacy organization where volunteers worked one on one with young adults who had developmental disabilities.
“That is the ideal social program, … working one on one,” she said.
Browning said the National Association for Retarded Citizens was fairly new at that time and wanted
My great-grandmother was the first paid social worker in Nebraska, and my sister was a social worker during her life. My brother was an investigative reporter, which is a community-oriented job. It’s in my blood.”
Jane Browning
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED WAY OF GARLAND COUNTY ON HER BEING DESTINED TO WORK IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL SERVICES
to spread the program, so she went to work for the national headquarters in Arlington, Texas, which is near Dallas.
“I traveled a lot then. That’s when I met my husband,” she said.
“We met on an airplane,” she said. “He said, ‘Hi,
I’m John,’ and I said, ‘Hi, I’m Jane.’ We were both working in the Dallas area. He had lived in Little Rock and had always wanted to go back, so we moved to Little Rock and started a family.”
While in Arkansas the first time, Browning served as executive director of the Arkansas Endowment for the Humanities from 1982 to 1989.
The Brownings moved to the Washington, D.C., area, where she would develop a 22-year career in the field of nonprofit organizations.
She was director of program development for the Arc of Maryland from 199096; director of the division of membership services and publications for the National Association of Social Workers in D.C. from 1997-98; executive director of the President’s Committee on Mental Retardation in D.C. from 1998-2001; executive director of the Learning Disabilities Association of America in Pittsburgh from 2001-2005; and executive director of the International Community Corrections Association from 2005 to 2011 in D.C.
After moving to Hot Springs Village 3 1/2 years ago, she served as executive director of Compassion Works for All in Little Rock from 2012 until she accepted the job with the United Way of Garland County.
“As a kid, I was active in church,” Browning said. “My ambition in high school was to become a youth-education minister in a church.
“My great-grandmother was the first paid social worker in Nebraska, and my sister was a social worker during her life. My brother was an investigative reporter, which is a community-oriented job.
“It’s in my blood,” Browning said of working in the field of social services.
Jane and her husband, John William Browning III, have two sons.
“The big boy, Jack (John William Browning IV), is 34, lives in New York City and is in the investment business,” she said.
“The little boy, Paul Cornelius, is 31, and lives in Arkadelphia. He has Down syndrome. He was born 11 years after I went to work to advocate for those with developmental disabilities,” she said.
“God pegged me as a slow learner,” Jane Browning said.
“He’s a wonderful, sweet human being,” she said of Paul. “He lives in a group home in Arkadelphia — Group Living Inc. He works at the Honeycomb Restaurant five days a week.
“That’s one of the reasons we came back to Arkansas when we did. He told us, ‘I’m 27, and I’m ready to move into my own place.’
“We quit our jobs, sold our house and raced back to Arkansas so he could be in this program. I had visited 22 states over the years, and there is none better than Group Living in Arkadelphia.”
An advocate of inclusive education, Browning said her son, Paul, was always in regular classrooms in school.
Browning said the United Way of Garland County now focuses on three areas — education, income stability and health — as it strives to fulfill its mission of advancing “the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all.”
To accomplish its mission, the United Way of Garland County funds more than 20 programs.
To raise the money to fund its programs, the United Way of Garland County offers a payroll-deduction plan to employees at their places of employment; many donate in this manner.
Others in the community make private donations to the organization, while yet others give of their time and talent as advocates or volunteers.
Browning said the amount of money each program receives is dependent upon the amount of donations the United Way collects during the year.
Browning said she hopes to initiate some new things at the United Way of Garland County.
“I came to work here on Oct. 6,” she said.
“I’ve just about got it under control,” she said, laughing.
“I’ve found the parking lot, and I’ve got my new name tag.”
On a more serious note, Browning said she hopes to initiate a training program for managers of nonprofit organizations “to elevate their skill levels.”
“Each person has his or her own basket of skills but may be lacking in some areas.
“This training will focus on everything one needs as a manager, from finances to interpersonal skills to media relations to technology and others.”
She said she would offer this training during a 90-minute lunch on each thi rd Thursday of the month.
“This will target directors and board members first,” she said, adding that there will be a $10 charge for each participant.
“I also hope to initialize a real campaign of acknowledging the contributions people have made. I want to stroke people for the work they do,” Browning said.
“We already have our Pillars Party, in which we recognize major contributors,” she said, noting that the event is planned for Dec. 16.
Browning also mentioned a “special event” she hopes to turn into a “significant event.” It is a talent show called Garland County’s Got Talent.
Held for the first time last year, the talent show features contestants from the area’s eight high schools.
The winner of the competition receives $1,500 in scholarship money for the school to distribute, a personal trophy and a traveling trophy that stays in the custody of the winning school for one year.
The first runner-up receives $1,000 in scholarship money for the school to distribute and a personal trophy, and the second runner-up receives $500 in scholarship money for the school to distribute and a personal trophy.
This year’s talent show will be at 6 p.m. Jan. 3 at the Fountain Lake High School auditorium, 4207 Park Ave.
The show is open to the public. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students.
Outside the office, Browning is active in Hot Springs Village.
“I sing in the choir at Christ of the Hills United Methodist Church, and I ring in two hand-bell choirs, but that’s going to have to stop after this Christmas season,” she said.
“I’m the vice president of P.E.O., Chapter CY. I’m third-generation in P.E.O., which is a philanthropic organization that supports education. I’m also the president of the Friends of the Coronado Center Library.”
Browning is also a member of the Arkansas Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. She traces her roots to 1628 in England.