Veteran Journalist Ernest Hooper Joins United Way Suncoast

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — United Way Suncoast has announced that veteran journalist Ernest Hooper has joined the organization as its vice president of communications.

Hooper brings a wealth of communications experience and community engagement knowledge to his role at the United Way Suncoast. For the last 15 months, Hooper has served cancer patients, survivors, thrivers and caregivers as the communications director for the American Cancer Society's Southwest Florida division, promoting the nonprofit's events in an 11-county region.

“We are excited to have Ernest join the United Way Suncoast team. His experience and strength in telling our community’s stories is a natural fit and will be a tremendous asset to our region. We know that sharing the critical needs of our community and telling the stories of so many organizations and individuals who are making an impact is critical to our work," said Jessica Muroff, CEO of United Way Suncoast.

Prior to joining ACS, Hooper was a columnist, editor, sportswriter and ambassador for the Tampa Bay Times. He's best known for his longtime work as a community columnist. During his 27-year tenure at the paper, he frequently wrote about nonprofit efforts across Tampa Bay and provided his unique perspective on all that distinguishes this area. While at the Times, Creative Loafing readers twice named him Tampa Bay's best columnist.

Hooper also hosts the quarterly public affairs television show, "That's All I'm Saying," on WEDU-PBS. In addition, Hooper co-leads The Write Field Program, a writing intensive for middle school and high school boys at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies. He is also a frequent youth speaker at local schools and a regular guest presenter at Florida Scholastic Press Association events.

In 2017, Hooper's long-time involvement with high school journalism students led to him receive the national Friend of Journalism Award from the Journalism Education Association.

"I'm excited to add to the new energy coursing through United Way Suncoast. The United Way has long played a prominent role in assisting our most deserving residents, but I'm confident it's going to enjoy more success elevating its partner agencies and addressing our most pressing problems. I'm inspired to play a role in forwarding the mission of strengthening the community, and I cherish the opportunity to rise every day with a sense of purpose," said Hooper.

Hooper is married to his University of Florida college sweetheart Florence and they have three children, Matthew, Ethan and Madelyn.

This press release was produced by United Way Suncoast. The views expressed here are the author's own.