Director
Pat Whitaker is the founder and director of Just Need a Chance Inc. (JNAC), a non-profit organization that is focused on connecting with single parents who desire more for themselves and their families.
Born from a vision that she had as a single mother of two children struggling to give them the best possible opportunity to become a success in the future.
Recognizing early that she needed assistance in raising her son, she enrolled him in Big Brothers of America as soon as he was eligible. The structured programs, activities and projects that Big Brothers offered enhanced her son's future development. That particular foresight on her part paid off handsomely for recently her son was honored in the 2021 Big Brother Hall of Fame for his work as a Big Brother. There he was sitting with his Big Brother and the young man to which he was a Big Brother. It was a beautiful sight to see three generations of Big Brothers explaining the merits of the organization and how it develops young boys into being responsible young men. Her son earned a bachelor's degree from Anderson University and became an elementary school teacher before he received his master's degree from Indiana University in counseling. Now he is a successful middle school counselor.
Her daughter graduated from Ball State University and became a public school teacher in Florida where she taught grades PK through 3rd grade in the low income districts and earned the award for having the highest standardized test scores in the district. She decided to change directions and go back to school to become a registered nurse. That’s right up her alley as she has a heart to help others.
A native of Norfolk, VA, Miss Whitaker earned a bachelor's as well as a master's degree at Indiana Wesleyan University in business management after she spent eight years in the U.S. Army as a specialist in personnel records. She spent a short time as an employee in the U.S. Postal Service before working as an Executive Assistant at Defense Finance and Accounting Service. She later transitioned to the Department of Energy as a Program Support Specialist. She is now retired with 33 years of federal service.
Meanwhile, as a single parent she encouraged her children to strive for educational excellence and follow in her footsteps as far as being humble and kind to others no matter how high their achievements. Although she held fulltime employment, she guided her children through high school as well as college.
Miss Whitaker knows first-hand the pitfalls as well as the promises of life as a single parent. She hopes to encourage, empower and equip single parents who are interested in improving themselves educationally, financially, and socially to meet their goals.
Board of Directors
Pat Whitaker (Founder and Director)
MSM Indiana Wesleyan
Business Management
Michael (MJ) James
B.A. Anderson University, Elem Ed
MSEd-Indiana University
Ashley James
B.A. Anderson University
Business Administration
Mikeesha (Mikey) Kalish
B.A. Ball State University/Brazosport College
Telecommunication/RN
Tomieka Brown
B.S. VCU
Business Administration & Management
Jackie Johnson
Advisor