Tina Johnson is the President and CEO of Johnson Promotion & Events, a full service event management company, and the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Loudoun Interfaith Relief.

Tell us about your experience in philanthropy.

Giving back is very important to me. It is one of my primary core values. I feel that it is part of my responsibility to get involved and be a part of my community. Not everyone can make huge cash donations, but everyone can give an hour or two of his or her time. There are so many non-profits in the region that need the support of their residents, businesses and civic leaders. Today’s nonprofits are expected to do more, serve more and provide more with dwindling resources.

You volunteer a lot of your time to the Loudoun Interfaith Relief organization. Could you tell us a bit more about that?

I am so passionate about this organization. Loudoun Interfaith Relief is the largest food pantry in Loudoun County. The mission is simple “To feed the hungry of Loudoun County.” It is a nutrition based food pantry, providing well balanced food for families to make healthy, nutritious meals. Loudoun Interfaith Relief has served more than 65,000 in Loudoun, with nearly half of those being school aged children. I was asked to join the board seven years ago. I served two years as Secretary, two years as Vice President and am currently serving my second term as President and Chairman of the Board. Along with my incredible fellow board members, my primary role and responsibility is to help provide the overall strategic plan for the organization, fundraising and to provide support to the Executive Director.

As the owner of a successful business, Johnson’s Promotions & Events, how do you find the time to donate so much of your time to so many worthy causes?

Honestly, it can be a struggle at times finding that delicate balance between my charitable commitments, business commitments and family needs. I believe it is important to be a good role model, not only for my four sons but for my employees. As my close friends know, I don’t sleep.

One of the more interesting groups you are affiliated with is the Medical Reserve Corp.

Can you tell us a little about them and what they do?

If a bio-terrorism event or epidemic requires it, the Loudoun County Health Department is prepared for the possibility of opening emergency mass vaccination and medication dispensing clinics in select locations throughout the county. Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers, both nonmedical and medical, are key to staffing these sites. MRC was a crucial component in helping combat the major flu breakout last year.

I understand another passion of yours is supporting foster care. What can others do to help?

As a former child of the foster care system, I have a special place in my heart, especially for the teens that are aging out of foster care. For several years now with the help of my dear friends, we have been able to provide backpacks for graduating teens to help them get a jump start on the basic college necessities. I also purchase either laptop computers or digital cameras as a special graduation gift for the teens. I would encourage your readers to reach out to their local family services department to see how they can help. My company worked with the local family services to “adopt” a graduated teen to send them notes of encouragement, a birthday card and care packages throughout their first year of college. The notes that we received, filled with appreciation and gratitude from these teens, was heart wrenching. You can make a difference in a child’s life today.

With the economic downturn, do you foresee a greater need for philanthropy? What resources can a person utilize to take their first steps into the nonprofit world?

Yes, based on my volunteer work, I personally can see the ever-increasing needs for more support from the community and individuals. Grant money is decreasing, personal donations are decreasing but more than ever, the needs are increasing. Individuals that lost their jobs a year or two ago were out of work for several weeks or a couple of months. Now we’re seeing that it’s six, nine and even 12 months for many unemployed. So these families are forced to rely on supplementing their basic need for food, shelter and clothes.

For people wondering how to get started: begin with something that is important or dear to your heart. It can be anything; philanthropy comes in many forms.

Donations of dollars, time, professional services or unused items in your home all help and do so much. I would like to encourage your readers to get involved. It is so rewarding, and I can promise them they will get so much out of even the simplest gesture of kindness.