Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Gray.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Years ago, I noticed something that bothered me… beautiful beaches covered in litter and almost no awareness of how it got there or what we could do about it. Instead of waiting for someone else to fix it, I decided to take action. That decision became Boca Save Our Beaches.
What began as a small cleanup with a few friends quickly turned into something much bigger. Today, Boca Save Our Beaches has hosted over 500 beach cleanups, educated thousands of students, created children’s workbooks, supported sea turtle rescues, and helped inspire the next generation of environmental leaders. Each cleanup, each conversation, and each child learning about Florida’s environment reminds me how powerful community driven action can be.
I love making connections and bringing people together around a shared purpose. I believe that meaningful change doesn’t require permission, it just requires drive. When people feel empowered and supported, they show up. And when they show up together, real impact happens.
My passion for community building and responsible growth led me to serve on Boca Raton’s Sustainability and Environmental Advisory Boards and to create educational programs and partnerships throughout Palm Beach County. I believe local solutions matter, and that everyday residents are often the ones who create the biggest change.
Professionally, I wear a few hats. I’m a nonprofit founder, entrepreneur, and business leader, currently serving as a Senior Vice President in the fintech world. No matter the role, I’m drawn to building things from the ground up, solving problems, and connecting people.
At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief: community is built by people who care enough to act. I’ve seen what’s possible when a small group decides their city matters, and I’m reminded every time someone tells me they got involved because they felt inspired to take that first step.
You will often find me saying, “leave it better than you found it”. And, I truly live by those words.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I started Boca Save Our Beaches, I didn’t have a background in environmental science or nonprofit management, I just had passion and determination. I had to learn how to organize volunteers, write grants, build partnerships, raise funds, and become the person the mission needed. There were times it felt overwhelming, but I realized that progress doesn’t require perfection, it requires movement.
Another challenge has been balancing passion with patience. When you care deeply about something like community issues, you want change to happen fast. But real change (especially at a city or policy level) takes time, meetings, collaboration, and persistence. I had to learn to celebrate incremental wins and understand that small actions truly do add up. I’ve had to speak up in rooms where I was the only woman, or the youngest, or the most “untraditional” voice. But these experiences taught me to be confident in my knowledge, advocate for my community, and never hesitate to take a seat at the table.
Looking back, every obstacle gave me a new skill, a new partner, or a new level of confidence. I don’t look at challenges as setbacks, they’re part of the process, and usually the turning point that leads to the next big step.
As you know, we’re big fans of Boca Save our Beaches. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Boca Save Our Beaches is a nonprofit that focuses on ocean conservation, marine education, and shoreline stewardship right here in South Florida. We’re best known for our hands on community beach approach, youth education programs, and a strong emphasis on empowering residents to take action in their own backyard.
What really sets us apart is the way we combine community involvement with education. We don’t just clean beaches, we teach people why every piece of plastic matters. We work directly with schools, businesses, local organizations, and families to show how everyday choices impact Florida’s environment. One of the things I’m most proud of is our children’s educational program, “Sea-tails with Seymour” a marine science workbook series I wrote that helps kids learn about ocean ecosystems through storytelling. Watching people learn and fall in love with marine life will always have a place in my heart.
Our organization is also deeply data driven. We monitor and report water quality weekly and document every cleanup with measurements and analytics so we can create real environmental impact. That commitment to transparency and measurable results has helped us build strong relationships across the region.
If there’s one thing I hope readers take away, it’s this: protecting our beaches isn’t just for environmentalists. It’s for anyone who loves where they live. Earth belongs to all of us, and every person has the power to make a difference simply by getting involved.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I spent my childhood surrounded by open fields, animals, and big skies, and I think that early connection to nature is what eventually pulled me toward conservation.
A fun fact: one of my favorite hobbies is searching for fossilized shark teeth. Florida is completely full of little treasures, and I love the fact of holding a piece of history that’s millions of years old. It’s a quiet reminder that the planet has existed long before us, and deserves to be cared for long after us.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bocasob.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bocasaveourbeaches/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BocaSaveourBeaches/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-g-017b082b/
Image Credits
https://www.kirstinbonchercreative.com/
Kristin Boncher Photographer
