Meet Melissa Hammer. Melissa is the Associate Director of Communications for the Kappa Delta Foundation.
What is one of the most memorable or rewarding experiences of your career?
When I first joined the Kappa Delta Foundation, the organization was in the feasibility study phase of planning for a scholarship-specific capital campaign. I was tasked from day one to create and execute ALL comms for the campaign, Imagine Her Future. Imagine Her Future publicly launched in June 2021, after having secured more than $1.5 million during the quiet phase that began Aug. 1, 2019. The original goal was $2.5 million.
We exceeded our own goal one year after the launch, set a new aspirational goal and exceeded that! In fact, during the weeks leading up to Kappa Delta’s biennial National Convention, just shy of $1 million was added to the campaign through individual donations and those creating new scholarships. All told, we raised $4,624,649!
I feel incredibly proud of the work I put in to make the campaign come alive and that the organization trusted me to tell the story of the importance of scholarships for our KD sisters. Announcing the total at KD’s National Convention will be a moment I will never forget!
What do you love most about the PR/Communications industry?
I love that there are so many facets so no two days are exactly the same. You can be creative or analytical, solve problems or build plans from scratch.
What is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
“Get out of your own way.” Fresh out of college, I cared A LOT about what others thought of me. I wanted to do everything perfectly. But that made it such that I was afraid to take calculated risks that would have big payoffs. I also took every edit and every piece of feedback so personally. Thanks to a wonderful friend and mentor who gave me this advice, I’ve been able to let go of a lot of it. It’s taken time, of course, but now I lean into the edits and feedback because I KNOW my work is made better because of them!
What do you appreciate most about being a PRSA member?
I appreciate all of the resources the national organization offers.
What is your favorite Central KY food spot?
County Club – their poutine is to die for!