Eric Dunn: Model, Influencer, and Community Builder

Building Bridges: How Eric Dunn Combines Philanthropy, Influence, and Community Impact

Author

Jax Entrepreneur
April 25, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

MEET TODAY’S GUEST

Eric Dunn, Founder of H.E.A.D. On Youth Impact

Eric Dunn's journey of influence and personal branding began during his college years at Florida Atlantic University.

He eventually amassed an impressive 3.1 million followers during the Vine app's height—a foundation that would shape his future trajectory in digital media. Since those early days, Dunn has established himself as a multifaceted talent in social media entertainment, content creation, and marketing landscapes. Beyond his digital presence, Eric has cultivated a successful modeling career, securing representation with prestigious Wilhelmina Models, one of the industry's leading agencies.

He uses his influence and authentic connection to the community to showcase the Jacksonville’s parks, entertainment venues, and cultural events.

Through all of his success in different arenas, Eric has found a way to make a difference in our community as the Co-Founder of H.E.A.D On Youth Impact, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to raising funds for children in hospitals.

Let’s explore the story behind Eric Dunn, model, influencer, and community builder.

Hey there!

You’re reading Jax Entrepreneur — a newsletter about small business owners and entrepreneurs in Jacksonville, FL. We all have our unique stories when it comes to owning our own businesses — and let’s be real — owning a business is quite a journey. I hope this content helps you reach new opportunities to grow your business. Let’s dive in.
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— Ashleigh Shim, Creator of Jax Entrepreneur & Owner of The Bareclaw Company
THE INTERVIEW

Talking about content creation with Eric Dunn

Eric describes his varied pursuits with enthusiasm: "I'm involved in a lot of things cause I like to stay busy. If I'm not busy, I'll go crazy. I will go where I can create content." His content creation journey began organically during his time as a student at Florida Atlantic University, where what started as a casual hobby unexpectedly gained significant traction. Creating voiceover videos, random skits, and dubbed cartoons purely for enjoyment, Dunn soon found himself recognized across campus as his creative work began taking a path he hadn't anticipated.

Following his initial success, Dunn expanded his digital footprint by uploading videos to YouTube before diversifying across multiple platforms. Notably, his Facebook meme page evolved into a Jacksonville-focused community resource. In October 2024, he pivoted to highlighting local Jacksonville events, approaching this new direction with strategic intent: "How can I make these events attractive, create engaging content, and get it out there?" His formula centers on attention-grabbing titles coupled with content that has attracted thousands of young professionals and families throughout the Jacksonville area.

After relocating to Jacksonville, Dunn established a personal objective to become more deeply integrated into the local community. "One of my goals after living here for a year is to get out in the community more," he explains. This community-focused mindset complements his ongoing media projects, including a podcast he's co-hosted with a friend that lasted for five years.

How did you become recognized as an integral part of the Jacksonville community being someone who is not originally from here?

After relocating to Jacksonville, Eric found himself pretty much starting from scratch socially. "I spent a year here and didn't know anybody and [wondered] how can I get people to know who I am and talk about the city more," he explains. Rather than remaining isolated, Eric took proactive steps to embed himself in the local scene, beginning with a strategic outreach to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp minor league baseball organization.

His initiative paid off when the Jumbo Shrimp offered him a position on their promotional team. Starting as the "3rd string emcee" for games in 2022, this role provided Dunn with both visibility and authentic connection to a beloved local institution. The position served as a launching pad for his growing presence in Jacksonville's community landscape.

To navigate his new city, Eric initially relied heavily his own research to discover local attractions and events. However, his community involvement reached another level when he decided to take on the responsibility of promoting events hosted by the City of Jacksonville. His content serves as a primary source of local news and entertainment options.

What makes Dunn's approach particularly effective is how well it resonates with his demographic. His content continues to grow alongside his predominantly Millennial and Gen Z audience, with an interesting split: approximately 70% of his followers are newcomers to Jacksonville like himself, while the remaining 30% are native residents. This composition has positioned him as both a relatable guide for transplants and a fresh voice that longtime locals appreciate for showcasing their city in innovative ways.

Eric Dunn, Founder of H.E.A.D. On Youth Impact

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My goal is to always keep creating — that’s all I’ve ever known and ever done. It’s opened random doors and opportunities that you think you’d never get. Being consistent and authentic is the key. Keep being consistent and see what new doors open from that. I’m not afraid of the unknown. I love the unknown.

Eric Dunn, Founder of H.E.A.D. On Youth Impact

Tell us more about your non-profit organization: H.E.A.D. On Youth Impact.

Building on Eric Dunn's community work, his non-profit organization H.E.A.D. On Youth Impact emerged from an unexpected connection. His non-profit partner, a former trucker named Christopher Ebero, who had previously been a patient at Brooks Rehabilitation, initially reached out to Eric about meeting up at an Atlanta Falcons vs. Jacksonville Jaguars game. This connection sparked a philanthropic partnership when the former trucker shared his ongoing efforts to raise money for children at Brooks during the Christmas season.

Their collaboration began in the 2021 NFL season when they decided to try a fundraising raffle. Their first initiative offered an all-expenses-paid package to a Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Seattle Seahawks game, including hotel accommodations and flights. With raffle tickets priced at just $10, they raised an impressive $2,000 from this single event. Encouraged by this success, they organized another raffle for a New England Patriots game, which doubled their fundraising to $4,000.

Even before officially establishing their organization, Dunn and his partner were making tangible differences in children's lives, providing gifts like Oculus headsets, laptops and TVs to hospitalized children. These early successes led to formally establishing H.E.A.D. On Youth Impact as a registered non-profit organization in 2022, creating a foundation for more substantial charitable work.

The organization's fundraising reached new heights with their Las Vegas draft party in 2022, which generated $30,000. Their raffle prizes evolved to include exclusive destination trips such as the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, a Super Bowl experience, and a Caribbean vacation. One particularly notable auction item featured Tony Boselli-signed custom Nike shoes—significant because Boselli stands as the Jacksonville Jaguars' only Hall of Fame player. Beyond these high-profile events, Eric remains connected to grassroots community needs through initiatives like his annual Christmas drive in Jacksonville's Moncrief neighborhood. The organization's authenticity is further demonstrated by the personal financial contributions made by its founders and board members.

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I’ve learned to find sponsors a year in advance. Raising money is a challenge, especially for a non-profit. We have a small team with a big schedule. We are focusing on partnerships with local businesses.”

Eric Dunn, Founder of H.E.A.D. On Youth Impact

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LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Real Estate: How can a non-profit organization use real estate to its advantage?

Here are some strategic reasons for non-profit organizations to own real estate:

  • Financial stability through predictable costs instead of exposure to rising rental markets

  • Building equity to strengthen the organization's financial position

  • Additional revenue generation through partial leasing of unused space

  • Program enhancement by creating purpose-designed facilities for non-profit participants and members

  • Mission alignment by investing in specific communities they aim to serve

  • Donor appeal as physical assets often attract major gifts and capital campaign support

  • Tax benefits including property tax exemptions in many jurisdictions

  • Community permanence that signals long-term commitment to an area

  • Operational control over facility decisions without landlord restrictions

  • Collateral for financing that can help secure favorable loans for other initiatives

Now, let’s get back to the story.

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What are your next steps for H.E.A.D. On Youth Impact

Building on Eric's established success with H.E.A.D. On Youth Impact, he's now focusing on several innovative strategies to enhance fundraising efforts:

Eric recognizes the power of local business partnerships, implementing percentage-of-sales arrangements that benefit both his non-profit and community establishments. So far, he's successfully partnered with Ruby Beach Brewery, Good Dough Bakery, and Mayport Brewing Company—creating win-win scenarios where these businesses gain exposure while contributing to children's causes. This approach leverages Jacksonville's vibrant local business scene while establishing H.E.A.D. On Youth Impact as a community-focused organization.

Eric plans to develop structured sponsor packages that clearly outline partnership benefits and donor levels. These formalized offerings will make it easier for businesses to understand how they can participate while providing predictable revenue streams for the non-profit. Alongside this, he's committed to increasing his presence at Jacksonville networking events to build meaningful relationships with potential corporate sponsors and community leaders.

Drawing on his extensive 12-year experience in social media, Eric understands the unmatched engagement potential of video content. He intends to shift his organization's social media strategy toward more video-centric storytelling focused on the charity's impact and activities. As he notes, "video is the best way to market anything you have," and his expertise in this area gives him a significant advantage in capturing attention and emotionally connecting donors to the mission of H.E.A.D. On Youth Impact.

MUST-KNOW INFO

Contact Eric

➡️ Website: https://www.ericvdunn.com/

➡️ Email: [email protected]

VALUES OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS

Travel & Fun
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Eric and I met at Southern Grounds in Avondale. Ten minutes into our conversation, I realized that I couldn’t learn everything about him in only one hour!

Outside of his busy schedule modeling, creating content, heading a non-profit organization, and building community with the City of Jacksonville, Eric enjoys the time he gets to chill on his couch at home and plan his next trips.

“There’s so much of this world to see and I take every opportunity to see it.”

He enjoys exploring other cities, seeing new things, and visiting friends. He prioritizes his health by working out and being outside.

The areas of Jacksonville he likes the most are San Marco, Neptune Beach, Avondale, and just further south St. Augustine. He is hopeful that Downtown Jax will grow with more events and liveliness.

I am too! I’m confident in the future of our great city, starting with a strong downtown.

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