Assistant Customer Service Manager Essie Dan, #1060, Alpharetta, Georgia, has dedicated her life to helping those who are less fortunate.
During the past several years, Essie has initiated 17 humanitarian projects in 16 countries. She even had the opportunity to work with the king and queen of Eswatini, a country in Africa, to bring famine relief and education to their people.
“I was 16 when I emigrated from Malaysia to the U.S. for my education,” Essie said. “I come from a moderate-income family and know life can be hard if you don’t have appropriate resources.”
Essie has a bachelor’s degree in marketing, 2 master’s degrees in Christian theology and divinity, and a doctorate in divinity. Education has been essential to her personal development. She believes that “you reap what you sow.” That’s why she always tries to give as much as she can to help others.
“I fundraise and ask for donations of nonperishable goods,” said Essie. “I mostly work with children. I have been trying to help those in need fulfill their basic needs and give them access to literacy.”
In addition to providing food and water, her main goal is to help empower them to have more control over their lives.
“Education is essential if you want to free yourself from poverty,” Essie said. “That’s why I look for funds to build schools in isolated and poor countries, where the economy and politics don’t provide great opportunities.”
For her most recent project in Peru, Essie contributed money and other resources. The project has three parts: building a school, supporting families and children with their basic needs and installing a water tank. The town is in an isolated coastal rural area, so having access to clean water will be life changing.
Her co-workers and leaders have been instrumental in helping Essie achieve her goals. Her managers have always been supportive and given her the flexibility to reach her humanitarian goals. Many of her associates have also supported her charitable projects.
“Publix and I have a lot of common values and that’s why I take pride in working for a company with a big heart,” Essie said. “It’s no surprise to me, as our community service values are part of our DNA and Mr. George’s legacy.”
Publix is a family — a big, 230,000-person one — with backgrounds from across the country and around the world. This article is part of a series featuring associates from a variety of backgrounds, age groups and cultures, and we love sharing their successes. We hope our articles help you learn a little more about your fellow associates who make up our Publix family.
