Helen Grays-Jones serves as the Executive Director of the Meriwest Community Foundation (a Subsidiary of Meriwest Credit Union), where she leads the organization’s Social Impact and Community Outreach Strategy. With over two decades of leadership experience in financial services, Helen is a passionate advocate for economic empowerment, community development, and the advancement of underserved populations.
Before assuming her current role, Helen held executive leadership positions at several major financial institutions, including Wells Fargo, Citibank, and KeyPoint Credit Union. Over the span of 26 years, she led strategic initiatives across Retail Banking, Member Growth, and Service Operations. Her exceptional leadership was recognized with nine “Leader of the Year” awards throughout her career.
Helen’s work has garnered widespread recognition. She was named one of the “Best of the Best Women Leaders in Financial Services in Silicon Valley” by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, honored for her commitment to mentorship and for cultivating future leaders in the industry. A passionate educator and mentor, she focuses on providing financial literacy, life skills, and career development workshops to high school and college students, nonprofit clients, and corporate employees — all aimed at increasing upward mobility.
Helen has completed more than 50,000 hours of volunteer service and has been the recipient of numerous local and state honors. She has been recognized multiple times as “Volunteer of the Year,” most recently by the Global Association of Fundraising Professionals, and has received commendations from numerous nonprofit organizations for her dedication to community uplift.
She currently serves as an Executive Board Member of the Bill Wilson Center, a Board Member of the SEMI Foundation, and sits on advisory boards for several nonprofit organizations. Her past board service includes leadership positions with Project Hired and the Mission City Community Fund. As a dedicated mentor, she supports 17 mentees in their personal and professional journeys and participates in Women’s Leadership Forums for Women of Color, providing coaching and support for women facing life challenges.
Proud recipient of the prestigious MLK Lifetime Award from Assembly Member Robert Rivas and Senator Anna Caballero, the W.E.B. Du Bois Award from the NAACP Silicon Valley, and a recent inductee into the Black Legends Hall of Fame, Helen lives by the motto:
“Show up in the pursuit of excellence, serve others, and do what’s right—even when no one is watching.”