Arlene J. Lester, Philanthropy & Community Relations Specialist, State Farm
Active in the community since her youth, Arlene’s first taste of activism was as the youth member to the board of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) back in the 70’s.
Since then, she has focused her efforts on empowering youth and giving them a voice through a plethora of diverse activities - from coaching girl's basketball to preparing young ladies for pageant competition. Arlene can always be found around the young and young at heart.
As a Philanthropy and Community Relations Specialist for State Farm, Arlene oversees the company’s philanthropic activities, supervises the State Farm Community Volunteer program and handles media, legislative and community relations for the Northeast Zone.
She is responsible for ensuring that State Farm is a good neighbor in all communities as well as helping the company reach its business goals.
Arlene has served on and currently serves on several boards some of which include: Project Acorn, a program that provides tuition aid for children to attend pre-school; Advisory Board and School Leadership Council member of The Garrett Morgan Academy of Transportation & Technology, where she started the State Farm Career Studio that introduces students to careers in the transportation field and provides mentors for the junior and senior classes; Vice Chair of the board at the Urban League of Morris County; The Business and Education Together Foundation; the Business Coalition for Education Excellence; and served as chairperson of the Adventureship Committee of the Patriot’s Path Council of the Boys Scouts of America which provides scholarship for deserving youth to attend Boys Scout camps.
Arlene also served as the co-chair of the Statewide Business Volunteer Council under former Governor Corzine’s administration.
Active in her church, she is the youth director at the New Christian Tabernacle Church in Paterson and the founder/director of The YES Club – a youth/teen outreach program that provides life and personal empowerment opportunities through seminars, drama and cultural outings for youth in Paterson. Arlene served for five years as the Chairlady of the New Garden State Jurisdiction COGIC Youth Department where she supervised youth programs in nearly 20 northern New Jersey churches as well as served on the International Board of Youth Leaders for the Church of God in Christ.
In her “spare” time she runs a successful event management group, FIA Productions, and enjoys planning weddings, parties and all types of events especially her annual Luau. A gifted writer, singer and producer, she has written several plays (two of which ran at Symphony Hall, Newark), worked as a studio background singer and is the editor of her church’s newsletter. Arlene enjoys traveling and spending time with her family, especially her six siblings. Her greatest joy is her 25 year old son, Freddie, who is a gifted percussionist.
Arlene studied communications at William Paterson University and received her certification in Corporate Community Involvement and advanced certification in Corporate Community Relations from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management. She was selected for the 2005 “Honors Edition” of Empire Who’s Who Among Executive and Professional Women and is an alumnus of Leadership Morris – Class of 2003.
Her motto is “Don’t talk about it, BE about it!” Whether personal or professional, we all have an obligation to serve our community.
