Meet Our Employee Campaign Manager (ECM) Spotlight: Anissa Parra-Grooms of Synergy Services!
Anissa is a Volunteer Coordinator at Synergy Services, a 2024 Impact 100 partner with a mission to eliminate family violence, abuse, and neglect by providing quality services for persons of all ages. She connects individuals and companies with opportunities to support our local community through the organization’s volunteer program, events, or financial contributions.
Anissa became an ECM driven by her passion for giving back and championing collective impact. “I have always supported the mission of United Way to enable and mobilize resources. Helping with Synergy Services’ annual United Way campaign was an easy yes—actually, it was more like a ‘YES!’ Empowering and lifting the Kansas City community requires all of us,” she said.
As an ECM for two years, Anissa wholeheartedly believes in the power of collective action and taking opportunities to make a positive impact. One of her favorite moments was hosting an all staff meeting to kick off their workplace campaign and seeing so many of her colleagues excited to learn about and support United Way. For her, giving back isn’t just a responsibility—it’s a privilege that strengthens the entire community.
“United Way of Greater Kansas City is at the core of creating goodness in our city. Being a part of that, in any capacity, is a really good feeling. I genuinely want to leave this world better off than I found it, so however I can do it, you will find me in that work,” she shared.
Volunteering has been a part of Anissa’s life ever since childhood, whether through a school project, local food kitchen, or mentoring. Volunteerism interwoven in her career has always felt natural. She shared this quote that inspires her: “Service is the rent we pay for living on this earth.” -Shirley Chisholm, first Black woman elected to the United States Congress.
In both Anissa’s everyday and ECM roles, she not only encourages others to give back but also leads by example, showing that everyone has the power to make a difference. Her dedication to supporting our community is an inspiring representation of what it means to be a Waymaker™. For more stories featuring ECMs and how they are making a difference through their roles in the workplace, click here.