Volunteer Spotlight: Jennifer Martell
Leading with Heart, Creativity, and Community Spirit

We are thrilled to celebrate Jennifer Martell as Penfield Children’s Center’s Volunteer of the Month!

Jennifer is the dynamic Chair of the Auction Committee for our milestone 30th Annual Croquet Ball, as well as serving as Auction Chair in 2021 and 2023. She brings incredible energy, creativity, and leadership to this year’s event, and with her at the helm, we know the auction will be our best yet!

Professionally, Jennifer is the Vice President of Men’s Apparel at Kohl’s, where she leads strategic merchandising initiatives across Men’s Active, Basics, and Seasonal categories. Over her impressive 20+ year career, she has driven major company initiatives and is known for her passion for building high-performing teams and enhancing the customer experience.

But it’s her heart for giving back that truly shines at Penfield. Jennifer first learned about our work through her mentor, Steve Thomas, a longtime board member. From the moment she visited Penfield, she was inspired:

“From my first visit to the Penfield campus, I was blown away by the passion and dedication the entire Penfield team had for caring for Milwaukee’s kiddos. Having been born and raised in Milwaukee myself, I wanted to commit my time and energy to a cause I knew truly was making a difference.”

Outside of work and volunteering, Jennifer loves traveling with her husband and two daughters—always bringing joy, connection, and adventure into everything she does.

Thank you, Jennifer, for your dedication and heart. We’re so grateful to have you leading this special celebration and supporting Penfield’s mission to help every child reach their full potential. 

Want to get involved like Jennifer? Learn more about our volunteer opportunities.