Newsmakers 2015: Darren Burgfeld

Darren Burgfeld has many talents -- some known well, some maybe not as much.

As a project manager at Element 74, a Cape Girardeau website design firm, Burgfeld manages digital projects and acts as a "social media guru."

In the community and civic arena, he is a highly active and honored member of the Cape West Rotary Club and volunteers his time and effort for causes such as Levi's Children's Charity, Read to Succeed and the Uptown Jackson Revitalization Organization.

He's frequently found on stage as a member of three local music groups: Shades of Soul, Tone Def All Stars and a Tone Def acoustic offshoot, Those Darned Argyle Socks. He also volunteers with the children's music ministry at the church he attends with his family, which includes his wife, Carrie, daughter, Layla, and son, Lawson.

A co-worker of Burgfeld's, Toni Eftink, describes the Jackson native as having "a huge heart for the community," noting he has "supported countless community causes and has led spontaneous cause-based fundraising events."

A fundraising campaign dubbed "Cents Making Sense" is an example -- Burgfeld says one day, while looking around online, he came across a post about a local child in need of a bed, and decided to do something about it. Through reaching out to friends and acquaintances, enough money was raised to cover what the child needed, and then some, Burgfeld says. Later, a second campaign helped raise more than $500 to help another local family in need.

"I don't really care if anybody knows," says Burgfeld about his efforts in the community, which he says he learned by the example of his parents.

"To me, you can do your job and go home and have dinner and go to bed, and be happy with your life, or you can do all that and take a little time to help people out, and get the reward of knowing you did more than just exist," he says. "I look at it like if you can do something, you should."