Washington County, OH — As a high school student, Meredith Saboley gained real-life work experience at Marietta Community Foundation during a year-long internship. Today, she occupies a full-time position as the Foundation’s Operations Assistant.
Meredith was first introduced to Marietta Community Foundation by Building Bridges to Careers through their internship program, which offers paid internships to local businesses and high school students in 9th - 12th grades.
The Foundation was the perfect fit for Meredith because it allowed her to explore a career path that aligned with not only her interests, but her passion, and skills.
“I’ve always had a strong passion to get out into the community and find ways to not only improve it, but leave a lasting impact where it was needed the most,” said Meredith.
“Starting at a young age, I watched my mother selflessly give hours of her time through community projects and I knew I always wanted to take on a similar role. In high school, I became heavily involved in community service groups and was always looking for ways to volunteer and get others involved in the community.”
The new role of Operations Assistant requires Meredith to manage the office’s day-to-day administrative work in addition to assuming financial clerk responsibilities. As one enters into or calls the Foundation’s office, Meredith is most likely to be their first point of contact. She helps answer fundamental questions, processes gifts, distributes grants, and is learning to produce financial reports.
“At first it was intimidating, but now I find it to be a fun and enlightening experience,” said Meredith. “I’m beyond thankful to have this opportunity and I am excited to see where this position takes me.”
Heather Allender, President and CEO, said that while the hiring process was challenging, Meredith felt like the right fit.
“Meredith excelled as an intern, and possesses an attitude that leads to a promising future,” said Allender. “She joined the office just a few days before Christmas. While the timing was a bit unorthodox, she was able to jump right in and lend a hand during our busiest time of year. Now, she’s focusing on learning the intricate, technical elements of her role.”
Outside of the office, Meredith likes spending time with her son, friends, and family. She can often be found around town walking, shopping, or in line for a good coffee.