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Charity Matters Inspiration

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Charity Matters Inspiration

The Child I Never Planned

Fifteen. How did that happen?

It feels like only yesterday you were a tiny spark of an idea. Now, somehow, you are a teenager. Like every parent, I find myself wondering where the time went while marveling at how much you’ve grown….Charity Matters.

When a child is born, we quietly write a script for their life. We dream about who they will become. As we cradle that newborn, we see training wheels, the first day of kindergarten, middle school graduation, driver’s licenses, prom, college, careers, and families. In our minds, the story unfolds before the first chapter is even written.

Then we do something a little crazy.

We tuck that script away. We don’t share it with anyone not our spouse, not our child, sometimes not even ourselves. Instead, we simply hope life follows the plan. I can’t explain why parents do this, but I know I wasn’t the only one.

When Life Goes Off Script

Sooner or later, the script begins to unravel. Maybe the baby doesn’t crawl “on time.” Perhaps a milestone comes later than expected. Suddenly, panic sets in because something has gone off script.

Susie doesn’t love piano, even though we were sure she would become a concert pianist. Joey quits baseball, and somehow our entire future seems to collapse with his Little League uniform.

Looking back after raising three incredible sons, I finally realized something important. Each one arrived with a script of his own. Eventually, they handed me a copy, smiled, and essentially said, “Buckle up, Mom.”

Thankfully, I listened. So when this fourth child entered my life  (Charity Matters) I decided to do something different. I would try and let the story unfold.

A Child With No Script

Fifteen years ago, the only vision I had was to find people who started nonprofits and tell their stories. Remember, Google wasn’t what it is today. Finding those remarkable people wasn’t easy, and neither was learning how to build a website or start a blog.

Those few simple ideas were the only pages I had written. Everything else came one small step at a time.

First came a logo. Then a brand built around the simple belief that helping others matters. After that came the first website, a first post, then another. A Facebook page followed, and eventually social media, newsletters, interviews, and countless new adventures.

Like a toddler taking uncertain first steps, Charity Matters kept growing. Meanwhile, every New Year’s Day, my old habits would return. I’d make plans, create goals, promise growth, and try to control the future. Thankfully, this child had other ideas.

 

The Greatest Gifts Were Never Planned

You see, Charity Matters has always been much more than a blog. You are my diary, my creative outlet, my classroom, and the place where I get to imagine the kind of world I hope we can create together.

That’s a lot of pressure for a fifteen-year-old. Yet, just like my children, you carved out your own path.

Because of you, I’ve met extraordinary people. Better yet, many of those remarkable nonprofit founders have become real friends. They have filled my life with joy, purpose, compassion, and hope. None of that was in my script.

Did I ever imagine you would become a podcast? Not for a second. Honestly, I didn’t even know what a podcast was. Then one day, there it was.

Not only did Charity Matters become a podcast, but it grew into one of the top-rated nonprofit podcasts in it’s category the country. Watching that happen felt like sitting in the stands as your child scored the winning touchdown. No one was more surprised, more grateful, or more proud than I was.

Once again, life reminded me that the best moments almost always happen off script.

More Than I Ever Imagined

Along the way came a monthly column for FORCE Magazine. Then came a bestselling book, Change for Good, on Amazon.

After that arrived opportunities to speak on stages, interview hundreds of nonprofit founders, and build a community of people who believe kindness, generosity, and service truly can change the world. Those accomplishments are wonderful and still a bit of a mystery. However, they aren’t the greatest gifts.

The greatest gifts have been learning how love grows through service. They have shown me that compassion is contagious. Most importantly, they have revealed that a life lived for others becomes a life filled with purpose.

Those are the treasures Charity Matters has given me and, I hope, all of us.

Happy Birthday, My Fourth Child

As we celebrate fifteen incredible years, part of me still wants to pull out that old script. I could fill its pages with dreams of creating a Substack, speaking on more stages, writing more books, and finding even more ways to spread the message of kindness and service.

Then I remember the greatest lesson this remarkable child has taught me. Put the script away. Trust the journey. Enjoy the ride. Allow the magic of life and the power of giving to unfold exactly as it’s meant to.

I could not be more proud of this fourth child or more grateful for all the good Charity Matters has brought into the world over the past fifteen years. The truth is, I have no idea where this journey will lead next. And for the first time, I wouldn’t want to know.

Thank you for walking alongside me. Thank you for reading, listening, encouraging, and believing that small acts of kindness really do matter. You have helped raise this child every step of the way.

Happy 15th Birthday, Charity Matters.

Because after fifteen years, Charity Matters has taught me that the best stories are never the ones we write they’re the ones we have the courage to live.

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

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How to live

My aunt is dying.

Then again, I suppose we all are, depending on your perspective. The difference is that my Aunt Sheila knows her time is short. She has Stage 4 liver cancer, and the doctors have told her she has only a few months left. The news has settled over our family like a heavy blanket. Each of us is trying to make sense of it in our own way. Most of all, she is.

Death has always arrived suddenly in my family. My grandfather was gone in an instant. So was my mom. There were no long conversations. No final questions. No chance to say everything that was left unsaid.

This time is different.

As heartbreaking as it is, there is also an unexpected gift. We have time. Time to say thank you. Time to laugh. Time to remember. Most importantly, time to tell someone what they have meant to your life while they can still hear the words.

There really is more than words can say….I will try.

A Life Unlike Any Other

I knew my Aunt Sheila was super special when I was five years old. On my very first day of kindergarten, she walked into my classroom wearing her Holy Child habit. Instantly, every child stood, bowed or curtsied, and together they said, “Good morning, Sister Sheila.”

I remember thinking, Wait…everyone knows my aunt? She wasn’t like anyone else’s aunt. Although she is a Holy Child Sister, that isn’t what makes her extraordinary. Plenty of women become nuns. Very few become Aunt Sheila.

She is the fourth of seven children, right in the middle, and she has always been filled with energy, joy, and a smile that could brighten any room. She has always loved sports, especially tennis, and later, as my school principal, she could often be found outside shooting baskets with the boys instead of sitting behind a desk.

People have always mattered more to her than titles.

Actions, Not Words

The Holy Child motto is simple: “Actions, not words.” No one has lived those words more completely.

After becoming a school principal before the age of thirty, Aunt Sheila left everything familiar to become a missionary in Nigeria. She fell in love with Africa and never wanted to leave. Malaria eventually forced her home, but not before the people there had forever changed her heart.

Later, as a psychologist at St. Luke’s Institute in Washington, D.C., she found herself walking beside clergy and victims during one of the darkest chapters in the Catholic Church. She saw unimaginable pain. She carried stories that most of us could never bear. I still remember the day she accepted a position helping survivors of clergy abuse.

With tears streaming down her face, she looked at me and asked, “How will I be the keeper of such pain?” Only someone whose heart was built for healing would even ask that question. She never sought recognition for that work. She simply showed up, listened, prayed, and loved. Thousands of people found healing because she chose compassion over comfort.

The Quiet Teacher

I have never heard my aunt raise her voice. She almost whispers. Yet somehow everyone leans in to listen.

She has a remarkable gift that feels almost impossible today. She is completely present. When you speak, she isn’t thinking about what she will say next. She simply listens. Then she pauses. She reflects. Finally, she offers a few thoughtful words that somehow become exactly what you needed.

After my mom died, Aunt Sheila quietly stepped into our lives in ways neither of us ever discussed. She became another grandmother to my boys. She celebrated birthdays, attended school events, and simply showed up. One afternoon I came home upset over some ridiculous mom drama at preschool.

She listened patiently before softly saying, “Heidi, people who are hurting, hurt.” That was it. One sentence. One lesson I have carried for decades.

What Really Matters

Watching Aunt Sheila live has taught me far more than listening to anyone preach. She knows exactly what matters. Faith. Family. Friends. Everything else waits its turn.

If someone is suffering, she is there. Not just for the first visit, but for the next one…and the one after that. Sometimes her care lasts twenty years. She has met Popes. She has appeared on Oprah. She has led schools, hospitals, ministries, and organizations. She has also cleaned bathrooms, washed dishes, and quietly done countless unseen acts of kindness.

To her, none of those accomplishments carry much weight. Serving people does. That is her life’s work. That is her joy.

Her Greatest Lesson

Today, cards arrive every single day. Scholarships are being created in her honor. Buildings bear her name. People from every season of her life are writing to tell her how she changed theirs. While she appreciates every note, she isn’t interested in the recognition. What fills her with joy is hearing that someone is helping another person.

That matters. Love in action has always mattered.

The other day I asked her, “Aunt Sheila, I know what I think your legacy is. What do you think it is?” She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she looked at me with those beautiful blue eyes, lifted her hands, and formed the shape of a heart.

“Love.” Just one word. No long speech. No list of accomplishments. No résumé. Simply love.

As I watch someone I deeply love prepare to leave this world, I realize she is giving us one final gift. She is still teaching us. Not how to die. How to live. Perhaps that has been her lesson all along.

A life isn’t measured by titles, awards, or recognition. Instead, it is measured by the people we love, the burdens we help carry, and the kindness we leave behind. If that is true, then Aunt Sheila has lived one of the most beautiful lives I have ever known.

What a blessing to tell her that while she is still here to hear it.

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

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At 250 America is just getting started!

We really are babies.

A few weeks ago, I was walking through Portugal and Spain, surrounded by history that stretches back hundreds and even thousands of years. In Lisbon, I learned about the devastating earthquake and tsunami that leveled the city in 1755. As I listened to stories of destruction and rebuilding, one thought kept coming to mind: all of this happened before America was even born.

Our nation is only 250 years old. By comparison, we are still in our infancy….a mere babie to many parts of the world.

Our Shared Story

My mom’s family came over on the Mayflower, and she loved being a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was proud of our family’s lineage and often talked about the history and struggles that her ancestors endured to come to this country.

Her pride was never really about genealogy. Instead, it was rooted in courage, sacrifice, and the determination of people who left everything they knew in the hope of building something better.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that this is our shared story as Americans. Every one of us came from somewhere. Whether our families arrived on the Mayflower, crossed an ocean generations later, came through Ellis Island, (like my husband’s grandfather) journeyed from neighboring countries, or arrived only recently, we all share a common thread.

A mother or father made a difficult choice. A family sacrificed for the next generation. Somewhere along the way, someone held onto hope despite uncertainty. Today we call it resilience. In the late 1700s, it was simply survival.

Built by Resilient People

There is much discussion these days about cellular memory and whether we carry the experiences of our ancestors in our genes. I am certainly no scientist. However, I do believe there is something uniquely American that has been passed down from generation to generation.

Part of our national character is toughness. Another piece is our willingness to work hard. Add a little grit and an unwillingness to accept “no,” and you have something that feels distinctly American.

Maybe that spirit comes from generations of people who had to adapt, rebuild, persevere, and begin again.

After all, this country was built by people who believed tomorrow could be better than today. They worked the land, started businesses, raised families, fought wars, and built communities. Through every challenge, Americans somehow found ways to keep moving forward. That determination still lives within us. I love that about being American.

The American Spirit

People around the world may see us as less refined or even a little rude. Yet I think they sometimes misunderstand us. Americans simply expect things to get done.

When we see a problem, we look for solutions. Faced with obstacles, we usually ask, “How can we make this work?” Presented with an impossible idea, many of us instinctively wonder if it might actually be possible.

That attitude has shaped our nation and, in many ways, the world. We have become known for our creativity, our entrepreneurial spirit, our willingness to innovate, and our belief that impossible things can become reality.

This is the country that put a man on the moon. It is also the nation that created countless inventions, built extraordinary businesses, and inspired movements that changed lives around the globe. Of course, we don’t always get it right. No family does, and no country does either. Nevertheless, we keep trying, learning, and moving forward.

That, too, is part of our story.

We Are Just Getting Started

This Fourth of July is about more than fireworks, barbecues, and birthday cake. It is an opportunity to pause and celebrate what we have built together over these last 250 years.  Even more important, it is a chance to remember who we are.

At our core, we are descendants of dreamers and doers. Behind us stand generations of people who sacrificed tremendously. Ahead of us lies endless possibility if we are willing to work together. Perhaps the most exciting part is that we are still young.

At 250 years old, America is just getting started.

The next chapter of our story is still being written, and it belongs to all of us. Therefore, our task is to keep coming together, remember where we came from, and decide where we want to go.

If our first 250 years have taught us anything, it is this: Americans are resilient. We are builders, problem-solvers, and people who believe tomorrow can be better than today. Most of all, when we come together with a common purpose, there is very little we cannot accomplish.

After all, if we can put a man on the moon, imagine what we can do next?

Happy 250th Birthday, America. The best is yet to come.

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

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Episode 106: Bags of Fun

There are moments in life when joy feels out of reach…..especially for children facing illness, fear, and the unknown. And yet, what if something as simple as a bag filled with imagination, play, and possibility could transform that moment? In this heartfelt episode of the Charity Matters Podcast, we explore the powerful story behind Bags of Fun.…..an organization built on the belief that every child deserves joy, even in the midst of life’s hardest battles. This is a story about showing up, about seeing a need others might overlook, and about choosing to bring light into dark places.

What makes this episode so compelling is not just the mission, but the heart behind it. It reminds us that service doesn’t have to be complicated to be life-changing. Sometimes, the greatest impact comes from meeting people exactly where they are with compassion, creativity, and care. This conversation will inspire you to think differently about what it means to make a difference and will leave you asking yourself a simple but powerful question: What can I do, right where I am, to bring joy to someone else?

 

Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

 

Charity Matters: Tell us a little about what Bags of Fun does?

Tammy Krause: Bags of Fun are big backpacks full of toys that are very intentional for kids with long-term and life-threatening illnesses. That’s the simple explanation, but really they are custom-created for each child. We started with kids with cancer and quickly expanded to children in the hospital with other medical conditions from kidney dialysis to major organ transplants to chronic illnesses.

Every bag is made specifically for that child. We get lists directly from hospitals, so each bag is age, gender, and diagnosis specific. They aren’t sitting in a warehouse. Each one includes about 17 to 18 items things that are fun, educational, manipulative, something a child can do alone and something they can do with others.

More recently, we’ve expanded into adolescent mental health. In 2021, Colorado declared a state of emergency for youth mental health, and we stepped in to serve that population as well. Those bags are designed differently, but with the same intention…..to bring comfort, engagement, and ultimately, joy.

Charity Matters: What experiences did you have as a child that influenced your work?

Tammy Krause: I was very blessed growing up. I was surrounded by amazing women…..teachers, nurses, people who gave back constantly. Giving was just part of our life. When we went school supply shopping, we always bought extra for other kids. At Christmas, we would go caroling at public hospitals.

My mom actually ran a nonprofit, and she was heavily involved with CASA, advocating for abused children. So I learned very early how important it was to give back.

I used to make fun of her because she signed every single donor letter personally. And now I find myself encouraging the exact same thing. Those early role models shaped everything.

Charity Matters: What was the moment you knew you needed to act and start Bags of Fun?

Tammy Krause: My daughter Gabby was diagnosed with a brain tumor the day before her fifth birthday. She was the middle of four kids. Because of my background in special education, we created a bag for her to take back and forth to the hospital filled with things to keep her engaged and connected to her siblings.

She called it her “bag of fun.” We were very blessed during her treatment with incredible community support. But Gabby noticed something she asked why the other kids didn’t have a bag like hers. So we told her that when she finished treatment, we would make Bags of Fun for other kids.

Unfortunately, she never finished treatment. She was sent home on hospice and passed away about a month later. Three weeks after she passed, I had my first meeting. I didn’t know exactly how to do it, but I knew I had to. We started with volunteers, and the organization was run entirely by volunteers for the first two years.

This was her idea. I was just following through on what she wanted.

Charity Matters: What are your biggest challenges?

Tammy Krause: In the early days, the challenges were everything grief, raising my kids, and starting a nonprofit all at once. My youngest was four, my oldest was ten. But there was also so much healing and community around it.

Our community stepped up in incredible ways. Friends, neighbors, volunteers everyone wanted to help. Our first fundraiser, which we still do 21 years later, was a big family event where everyone came together. Like any nonprofit, the challenges were figuring out events, fundraising, logistics…..but we were very clear about our mission. We were doing one thing: creating custom bags for sick children. That clarity helped.

As we’ve grown, the challenge has shifted. Now it’s about staying focused, being intentional, and not losing sight of our core mission while we expand.

Charity Matters: What fuels you to keep doing this work?

Tammy Krause: The very first bag we delivered told us everything. It was for a little boy named Garrison. He was so excited he could hardly stand it. That moment we knew we were making a difference.

And honestly, it’s the joy. Joy has become a tool. We used to say play is the best medicine, but it’s bigger than that. Joy can exist alongside heartbreak and grief. You can walk into a hospital room with a terrible diagnosis, and joy can still be there.

When you can bring that joy into those spaces, that’s what fuels you. And it’s not just for the kids it’s for families, volunteers, everyone involved. Joy connects all of us.

Charity Matters: When do you know you have made a difference?

Tammy Krause: You see it in the smiles. You see it in the relief on a parent’s face. Stories like Garrison’s……he came back years later asking for a new backpack because his had finally worn out and that’s impact you can’t measure.

We’ve given out over 17,000 bags, but numbers only tell part of the story. The real difference is in those moments of connection and joy. And honestly, it’s also in our volunteers. Watching people come in and build bags kids, grandparents, entire families and seeing their excitement, that’s impact too. It’s creating a community around service.

Charity Matters: Tell us what success you have had and what your impact has been? 

Tammy Krause: We can measure success in numbers…17,000 bags, how many we deliver weekly, the cost of each bag but the true impact is much deeper. We’ve expanded into multiple cities, Kansas City and Omaha, and we’ve grown into mental health services, which now actually exceed our medical bags in demand.

Our impact is also in the communities we’ve built. Volunteers of all ages come together, and they leave feeling connected and inspired. All the pieces fundraising, volunteers, hospitals come together to make it work. That’s what success looks like.

CHARITY MATTERS: IF YOU COULD DREAM ANY DREAM FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?

Tammy Krause: There are always dreams. We want to expand to serve more hospitals, more children, more communities. But at the same time, we have to protect the integrity of what we do. Every bag has to remain intentional and impactful.

One of my bigger dreams is actually creating a nonprofit space a place where organizations can host events and gather. There’s a real need for that, especially in Colorado. And beyond that, I believe in collaboration. There’s enough to go around. We need to “play nice in the sandbox” with other nonprofits and support each other.

That’s a big part of the dream too ….building community across organizations.

CHARITY MATTERS: WHAT LIFE LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE?

Tammy Krause: One of the biggest lessons is staying focused and intentional. As you grow, it’s easy to get pulled in different directions, but you have to remember why you started. Another is that we’re here to support each other. That’s really what leadership is about.

I’ve also learned the importance of celebrating. We’re always looking ahead, but it’s important to pause and recognize what we’ve accomplished. And especially with our work in mental health, I’ve learned how critical it is to adapt while staying true to your mission. The need is real, and it’s growing.

CHARITY MATTERS: HOW HAS THIS JOURNEY CHANGED YOU?

Tammy Krause: I think I’ve learned that everyone has a story. Every person who comes into our organization donor, volunteer, or family brings their own experience with them.

I hope I’ve become more patient. I’ve learned to trust the community more and to trust that things will work out. In the beginning, it felt like everything had to happen right away. Now I trust that Bags of Fun will continue. We’ve been here for over 20 years it’s not going anywhere.

Letting go and trusting the process has been a big change for me. And understanding that things will change but that’s okay. Because at the end of the day, we’re here to serve. And that’s what matters most.

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

YOUR REFERRAL IS THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT,  IF YOU ARE SO MOVED OR INSPIRED, WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO SHARE AND INSPIRE ANOTHER. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please connect with us:

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Walking With my Mom

The Gift of 60

Have you ever heard a man talk about how long he thinks he will live based on the age his father died? I certainly have. In fact, I heard my dad do it for years. Men who lose their fathers often keep one eye on the calendar. As they approach the age their dad was when he died, they naturally begin to wonder what lies ahead.

However, I had never heard a woman talk that way. Until now. My mom died at the age of 60. This past week I turned 60. To say that number hasn’t been on my mind would be a lie. For years, I thought this was something only men did. Then suddenly, I found myself standing at the exact age where my mother’s story ended. That realization has stayed with me and made this birthday sit a little different.

Looking Back

When my mom died, I was only 35 years old. At the time, she didn’t seem old at all. She was a grandmother to three children and was eagerly awaiting the arrival of a fourth grandchild. More importantly, she was thriving.

Joy followed my mother everywhere. She laughed easily, loved deeply, and shared wisdom without ever preaching. Most of all, she had reached a wonderful season of life where she was finally doing what she wanted to do. By then, worries had loosened their grip.

The children were grown. Financial concerns had settled down. Other people’s opinions mattered less. Instead, she focused on what brought her happiness: traveling, working, spending time with friends, and loving her grandchildren. In short, it was finally her time.

Now that I have arrived at this same age, I finally understand what she was feeling. I especially miss her this birthday.

When Time Feels Different

Women spend so much of their lives caring for others. First come the children. Then there are spouses, careers, friendships, volunteer commitments, and eventually aging parents. Meanwhile, the years seem to move faster and faster.

Before long, you wake up and realize you are 60. Something shifts. Suddenly, time feels a little more precious. An alarm bell quietly rings somewhere in the distance. As a result, you start asking different questions.  How many more chances will I have to ski, hike, travel, laugh, and explore?

Perhaps that is why turning 60 feels different. It isn’t really about the number. Instead, it is about recognizing that time is a gift. I am reminded of that old soap opera opening: “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.”

At this stage, there is clearly less sand in the top half than there is in the bottom. Therefore, paying attention feels more important than ever.

Choosing Adventure

Age isn’t a number. Rather, age is an attitude. Even more than that, age is energy.

Each day gives us a choice. We can stay comfortable, or we can keep growing. We can sleep in, or we can get up before sunrise and walk with friends. We can avoid risk, or we can choose adventure. Unfortunately, comfort can quietly become a habit.

Even after tearing my calf while skiing this year, I still cannot wait to get back on a mountain. Recovery has been slow. Some days have been frustrating. Nevertheless, I would rather risk getting hurt doing something I love than spend my life sitting on the sidelines. That choice matters.

Interestingly, my mother lived the same way.

Whether it was walking the Rose Bowl with girlfriends at dawn, swimming in a cold lake, or saying yes to another trip, she kept choosing life. While many people slow down, she leaned in. As a result, she showed all of us what was possible.

Walking With My Mom

I spent ten days walking the Camino de Santiago. Throughout the journey, thoughts of my mother were never far away. In fact, I felt her presence almost every day.

During difficult climbs, I thought about her strength. Whenever my legs were tired, I imagined her cheering me forward just as she always had. Because of that, the trip became far more than a physical journey. It became a gift.

Perhaps the cord between parent and child is never truly cut. Even after death, something remains. Love remains. Memory remains. Connection remains. As I walked through Portugal and Spain, that connection felt stronger than ever. Although she was not physically beside me, I felt her encouragement in countless moments.

Without question, that was one of the greatest gifts of turning 60.

The Gift Is This

After all the reflection, the lesson feels surprisingly simple:

Live.

Not someday. Not when the timing is better. Not when the to-do list is finished.

Live now.

Feed your soul. Nurture your spirit. Call the friend. Take the trip. Watch the hummingbird. Eat the good bread. Furthermore, don’t rush through the small moments. Enjoy the blue sky. Listen to the song you love. Savor a great conversation. Laugh a little longer than necessary.

Those gifts are all around us.

Unfortunately, we are all moving too fast to notice. The Camino reminded me to slow down. It taught me to listen more carefully, notice more deeply, and appreciate more fully. Although daily life makes that harder, the lesson remains the same.

Slow down. Pay attention. Find joy. Choose gratitude. Most importantly, choose life.

My mother’s journey ended at 60. Mine feels like it is just beginning.

As I step into this new decade, I am not focused on how much sand remains in the hourglass. Instead, how I want to make every grain count. Because if turning 60 has taught me anything, it is this: Life is precious and life is short. Joy is available, if we look for it. And every single day is an invitation to fully live. The choice is ours….

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

YOUR REFERRAL IS THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT,  IF YOU ARE SO MOVED OR INSPIRED, WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO SHARE AND INSPIRE ANOTHER. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please connect with us:

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The Journey Ahead

Walking Into 60

For the past few months, I honestly wasn’t sure what this summer would look like. After my ski accident in February, life suddenly became much smaller. There were surgeries, crutches, a boot, physical therapy appointments, and countless frustrating moments simply trying to do the basic things we all take for granted. As a result, my world slowed down in ways I never expected. When you go from moving freely through life to struggling to take a single step, perspective changes quickly.

That is why preparing to leave for the Camino feels emotional in ways I never anticipated.

In just a few days, I will head to Portugal with dear friends to begin walking the Camino de Santiago as part of celebrating my 60th birthday. Even writing those words feels surreal. Only a few months ago, I couldn’t walk at all. Now, however, I am preparing to walk one of the world’s most historic pilgrimage routes one step at a time. Honestly, it feels like such a gift.

The Journey Ahead

For centuries, pilgrims from around the world have walked the Camino searching for something meaningful. Some walk for healing, while others seek faith, clarity, forgiveness, adventure, or transformation. Along the way, each traveler carries their own burdens, hopes, questions, and stories.

Lately, people keep asking me what I am hoping to find on this journey.

The truth is, I’m not walking in search of anything.

Instead, I hope to simply be present enough to receive whatever the journey wants to offer. Somewhere along the road between Portugal and Spain, between quiet mornings and aching feet, between laughter with friends and moments of silence, I trust there will be lessons waiting.

After all, life teaches us when we slow down enough to listen.

Perhaps that is why the Camino has drawn people in for generations. In a world that constantly tells us to hurry, produce, achieve, and consume, the Camino invites something entirely different. Walk slowly. Carry only what you need. Notice the people beside you. Pay attention to the beauty around you. Trust the next step.

There is something deeply beautiful about that rhythm.

As I stand on the edge of turning 60, I realize this season of life may be inviting the same thing. Less rushing and more presence. Less proving and more gratitude. Less noise and more purpose.

Lessons From Recovery

Without question, these past few months have reminded me repeatedly that health is not something to take for granted. In addition, community matters deeply. Purpose matters too. During difficult moments, you quickly discover who truly shows up for you.

Some people text encouragement. Others pray faithfully. Many bring meals, offer support, or simply remind you not to give up. Throughout this recovery, I have felt incredibly carried by love.

At the same time, another unexpected gift arrived this week that left me emotional in the very best way.

The Charity Matters Podcast was recognized by Million Podcasts in multiple national rankings for 2026:
#7 Best Charity Podcast in the United States
#15 Best Philanthropy Podcast
#44 Best Nonprofit Podcast

Additionally, the podcast was recognized in categories focused on changemakers, social impact, advocacy, kindness, nonprofit leadership, and philanthropy.

Gratitude For This Community

When I first started Charity Matters all those years ago, my only hope was to shine a light on good people doing extraordinary things to help others. Back then, I never imagined where this journey would lead. More importantly, I could never have imagined the incredible community that would grow from it.

According to Million Podcasts, their rankings are based on audience engagement, consistency, authority within the space, ratings, reviews, and podcast activity. Behind every one of those statistics are real people. More specifically, all of you.

Many of you listen faithfully each week.
Others generously share stories and encourage friends to tune in.
Still more continue showing up because you believe kindness matters and goodness matters. Because of this community, we continue putting more good into the world together.

That recognition felt like the most beautiful early birthday gift because it reminded me that this work matters. Stories matter. Encouragement matters. Service matters. Most importantly, goodness matters.

Buen Camino

As I head off toward Portugal and begin walking into this next decade of life, my heart is filled with gratitude. Gratitude for healing. Gratitude for friendship. Gratitude for this beautiful community. Most of all, gratitude for every lesson these difficult months have brought.

Although I don’t know exactly what the Camino will teach me yet, I do know this: life itself is a pilgrimage. In one way or another, we are all walking each other home.

If I have learned anything over these past sixty years, it is that the journey becomes infinitely more meaningful when we walk it with love, purpose, faith, and kindness.

I promise to share more reflections when I return.

Until then…Buen Camino.

Charity Matters

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May the FORCE be with You

In a world often filled with noise, division, and overwhelming need, it’s easy to feel small and like one person can’t possibly make a difference. But the truth is, we can. Not by changing the whole world in one grand gesture, but by choosing, moment by moment, to be a force for good. Since this is the month of May it seems like a good time to reflect upon the force within each of us.

Being a force for good doesn’t require perfection, wealth, or extraordinary talents. It begins with empathy, the willingness to see and feel someone else’s pain and to respond with love. It’s found in everyday choices: the kindness we show to a neighbor, the time we give to someone in need, the forgiveness we extend even when it’s hard. It’s those small acts that, over time, ripple outward, creating real change. Service doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. Sometimes the simplest gestures are the most powerful.

Each week on the Charity Matters Podcast we interview extraordinary humans who start nonprofits. None of theses founders set out to do this work but something happened along their journey that inspired them to serve. Max Page a young boy born with a congenital heart defect who played “Little Darth Vader” in a famous Super Bowl commercial. Despite countless surgeries and hospital stays, Max and his family turned their pain into purpose. They began advocating for children’s health, raising money and awareness for causes that had once touched their own lives. Max’s courage and generosity remind us that being a force for good isn’t about age or experience…it’s about heart. Max knew about being a force for good.

We all have a story. Some of our stories are marked by loss, trauma, or failure. But those experiences can become the very fuel we need to help others. That’s what Carolyn Blashek discovered. After trying to help a heartbroken soldier during the early days of the Iraq War, she felt called to do something more. She started Operation Gratitude, sending care packages and handwritten letters to military members. Her response to one person’s pain has since touched over 3 million service members. Carolyn’s story shows that when we act from the heart, even the most personal moments can ignite a movement.

Each of these stories teaches us something essential: we don’t need to wait for the perfect time or the perfect version of ourselves to make a difference. We just need to begin. Service is a journey, not a destination. Along the way, we discover more about who we are and what we’re capable of. We find connection in unexpected places. And we realize that the very act of giving not only helps others…..and it changes us.

When we step outside of ourselves and serve, we begin to heal. We begin to understand that we’re not alone, that our lives have meaning beyond our individual circumstances. We find purpose in the shared humanity of helping one another and a call to see ourselves not just as individuals, but as part of something bigger.

So how do we start? We begin by paying attention….. by noticing the lonely neighbor, the friend going through a hard time, the child who needs encouragement. Then we offer what we have…..a listening ear, a helping hand, a small donation, or simply our time. We act not because we have to, but because we want to be part of the solution.

Being a force for good doesn’t mean saving the world. It means showing up, again and again, with love. Being a force for good means choosing kindness even when it’s inconvenient. It means believing that every person matters and that includes ourselves. When we give from that place, we discover the magic that happens when one life touches another.

The truth is, you already have everything you need to be a force for good. Your story, your pain, your joy, your heart, they are your tools. The question is not whether you can make a difference, but whether you’re willing to try. And if you are, then you are already well on your way.

Because changing the world doesn’t start with a grand plan. It starts with you. May the force be with you.

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

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World Health Day: Caring for ourselves, Caring for our world

Each year on April 7th, the world pauses to recognize World Health Organization’s World Health Day, a global reminder that our health is our most precious resource. Established in 1950 to commemorate the founding of the World Health Organization, the day highlights critical health issues affecting people around the globe and encourages governments, communities, and individuals to take action toward healthier lives.

But while the name may sound global and grand, the truth is that world health actually begins in very small, very personal places: in our homes, in our neighborhoods, and in the choices we make every single day.

Health is something we often take for granted….until we don’t have it. Whether it’s a sudden diagnosis, an injury that slows us down ( yep)  or watching someone we love struggle with illness, those moments remind us how fragile and precious our well-being truly is. Our health is the foundation that allows us to show up for the people we love, pursue our dreams, and serve others in meaningful ways.

Without our health, everything becomes harder….trust me something I am very aware of these days.

The purpose of World Health Day is not simply to recognize doctors, hospitals, or health organizations….although they certainly deserve our gratitude. It is a call for all of us to take responsibility for our own well-being and for the well-being of our communities. Because health is not just about medicine. It is about lifestyle, environment, connection, and care.

Healthy communities create a healthier world.

When we take care of ourselves we are better equipped to help others. A parent who prioritizes their health can be present for their children. A teacher who protects their well-being can inspire generations of students. A volunteer who feels strong and energized can serve their community with compassion and purpose.

Health creates capacity. In many ways, caring for ourselves is one of the most important acts of service we can offer the world.

Around the globe, access to healthcare, clean water, nutritious food, and safe living conditions remains a challenge for millions of people. These disparities remind us that health is not simply a personal issue but it is a collective one. When communities work together to improve health resources, advocate for better systems, and support those in need, we move closer to a world where everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy life.

But change does not always require sweeping global initiatives. Sometimes it begins with simple acts within our own neighborhoods.

Check in on an elderly neighbor who may be isolated.
Bring a healthy meal to a friend recovering from surgery.
Support a local health clinic or nonprofit that serves vulnerable families.
Encourage children to play outside and stay active.
Take a walk with a friend instead of meeting over coffee.

These small actions ripple outward in ways we may never fully see.

Health is also deeply connected to kindness and connection. Loneliness and isolation are now recognized as serious public health concerns. When we reach out to others, build community, and foster meaningful relationships, we strengthen not only emotional well-being but physical health as well.

In other words, caring for each other is a form of healthcare.

The past few years have reminded the world just how interconnected our health truly is. A virus that began in one corner of the world quickly affected every community on the planet. We learned that protecting one another through science, cooperation, and compassion was essential to protecting ourselves.

Global health begins locally.

When we make choices that strengthen our own well-being getting enough sleep, moving our bodies, nourishing ourselves with healthy food, managing stress, and nurturing relationships…..we are contributing to a healthier society. When communities prioritize parks, clean air, safe neighborhoods, and accessible healthcare, they build the foundation for future generations to thrive.

And when we look after the most vulnerable among us, we honor the idea that everyone deserves the opportunity to live a healthy life.

This World Health Day, perhaps the best thing we can do is pause and ask a simple question:

What is one small step I can take today to care for my health and the health of my community?

Maybe it is scheduling that doctor’s appointment you’ve been putting off.
Or choosing to move your body and enjoy the outdoors.
Maybe it is checking in on someone who may need encouragement or support.

Health is not built in a single day. It is built through daily choices, shared responsibility, and the understanding that we are all connected.

When we take care of ourselves, we strengthen our families.
And when we strengthen our families, we build healthier communities.
When communities thrive, the world becomes a healthier place for us all.

Because in the end, a healthier world begins with each of us. 🌎

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

YOUR REFERRAL IS THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT,  IF YOU ARE SO MOVED OR INSPIRED, WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO SHARE AND INSPIRE ANOTHER. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please connect with us:

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Joy is a Strategy

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of being a guest on a podcast called You Are What You Give, hosted by Avi Zimmerman. Avi lives in Israel and has built his podcast around a simple but powerful idea that what we give to the world ultimately defines who we are. It’s a message that immediately resonated with me because it sits right at the heart of everything we talk about here at Charity Matters: kindness, service, and the quiet power of people helping one another.

About a week after we recorded our conversation, Avi happened to be traveling through Los Angeles. On a rare rainy morning in LA one of those gray days when the city feels softer and slower, we met for breakfast. It is always such a treat when relationships that begin through conversations and shared values get to move from the virtual world into real life. We sat together over coffee and talked about everything from the business side of nonprofits to the deeper questions about why we serve, how we inspire others to care, and the ongoing challenge of getting people to truly listen to messages about kindness and giving.

Those conversations are never small talk.

When two people who care deeply about service sit down together, the dialogue quickly moves beyond surface level. Avi and I spoke about the struggles nonprofit leaders face, the challenge of fundraising in a distracted world, and the reality that sometimes the most important messages about compassion, generosity, and humanity can be the hardest ones to amplify.

But what struck me most was how aligned our missions are.

Despite living on opposite sides of the world, Avi and I are both trying to do something very similar: tell stories that remind people of their capacity to give. We both believe that service is not just a nice idea or a feel-good activity. It is a powerful force for connection, healing, and hope.

Before we left breakfast, Avi handed me a small gift. It was a giving journal he had created—designed as a place to write down acts of giving, thoughts about generosity, causes we care about, and reflections on how giving makes us feel.

It was such a thoughtful and beautiful idea.

The journal invites you to slow down and notice generosity in your life to document the moments when you help someone, support a cause, or simply take the time to care. It reminds us that giving isn’t just something we do occasionally. It’s a mindset. A practice. A way of seeing the world.

We hugged goodbye, each heading back to our busy lives.

Shortly after that breakfast, I had an unexpected injury that sidelined me for a while and forced me to slow down in ways I hadn’t planned. Avi, meanwhile, returned home to Israel.

Then something happened that gave me real pause.

A few days later Avi sent me the link to our podcast episode and told me that when he sent it, he was sitting in a bunker.

Let that sink in for a moment.

While we were sharing a conversation about generosity and joy, the world around him had shifted dramatically. His country was under attack and he was literally sheltering from danger.

And yet, even from a bunker he was still sending out a message about helping others.

That moment stopped me in my tracks.

We live in a world that often feels heavy with conflict, division, and uncertainty. Turn on the news and it can feel overwhelming. The problems seem enormous. The suffering can feel endless.

It’s easy to wonder what difference kindness can possibly make.

But Avi reminded me of something important.

Even in the middle of chaos, people can choose generosity. When the world feels uncertain, we can still choose to help someone. Even when bombs are falling, someone can still send out a podcast about giving. That’s when the title of our conversation really hit me.

Joy is a strategy.

Not because joy ignores suffering but because kindness erases hardship. Choosing joy and generosity in difficult times is one of the most powerful responses we have. Joy shifts perspective. Kindness builds connection.
Giving reminds us of our shared humanity.

In our conversation, Avi and I talk about the power of service, not just for the people receiving help, but for the people giving it. We talk about how generosity changes the giver as much as the recipient. And we talk about how acts of kindness no matter how small can ripple outward in ways we may never fully see.

It’s the same idea I come back to again and again in my work: when we help someone else, something inside of us changes too. Service heals.

It connects us to something larger than ourselves. And sometimes, it is the very thing that helps us navigate the hardest moments in life.

That’s why I wanted to share this conversation with you today.

Not just because I’m honored to have been a guest on Avi’s podcast, but because his perspective continuing to talk about generosity even while facing the realities of war is a powerful reminder of what truly matters.

So today I invite you to take a few minutes and listen to our conversation on You Are What You Give.

Listen to the ideas.
Reflect on your own experiences with giving.
And maybe even start your own version of Avi’s giving journal taking note of the moments when kindness appears in your life.

Because even in a complicated world, we still have choices.

We can choose compassion.
We can choose generosity.
And yes, we can choose joy.

Sometimes joy isn’t just a feeling, joy is a strategy.

🎧 Listen to the episode here:

And if there’s one thing this conversation reminded me, it’s this: no matter what is happening around us, helping one another will always matter.

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

YOUR REFERRAL IS THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT,  IF YOU ARE SO MOVED OR INSPIRED, WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO SHARE AND INSPIRE ANOTHER. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please connect with us:

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Episode 99: Looking back

It is incredible believe that we are on the precipice of 100 episodes of this podcast! Truly remarkable.  I mentioned at the beginning of the year Mel Robbins saying that we can not know where we are going unless we know where we have been. So this moment, before we step off into a new season seemed like that moment to reflect on so many incredible life lessons learned from 99 incredible guests!

Since 2020, the world has changed in ways none of us could have imagined. We’ve all lived through loss, fear, isolation, and uncertainty. And yet, during these years, something extraordinary happened here at Charity Matters … we kept meeting heroes.

Not superheroes.
Not people with perfect answers.

But ordinary humans who faced life’s hardest moments and chose love anyway.

Episode 99 is a pause. A breath. A moment to look back at the people who showed us what courage, compassion, community, and faith really look like. These are the stories that didn’t just inspire us….they changed us.

I’m so glad you’re here.

 Loss, Love, and Legacy 

“Some of the most powerful Charity Matters conversations begin with the unimaginable……the loss of a child.”

Episode 94: Kate Doerge  Penny’s Flight

Kate Doerge lost her daughter Penny to Neurofibromatosis. And yet, what stays with me most from that conversation was not just grief it was joy. Kate taught us that joy and sorrow are not opposites. They coexist.

Through Penny’s Flight, Kate searches for a cure for NF while keeping Penny’s spirit alive. She reminded us that love does not end when life does and choosing joy is not denial, it is bravery.

Lesson: Joy can be an act of defiance in the face of grief.

Episode 92: Rob Thorsen  Shoulder Check

Rob Thorsen lost his son to mental health struggles and instead of letting silence continue, he broke it. Shoulder Check is built on one life-saving idea: checking in.

Rob showed us that mental health conversations are not optional. Asking “Are you okay?” can be an act of love and sometimes, an act that saves a life.

Lesson: Love becomes legacy when it leads to action.

Episode 84:  Mary Fagnano Thrive N Joy

After a tragic surfing accident changed their son Nick’s life forever, his parents chose purpose. Thrive N Joy became a youth leadership organization rooted in resilience, character, and hope.

The Fagnano family reminded us that tragedy does not have to be the end of the story, it can become the mission.

Lesson: Resilience can be modeled, taught, and shared.

Episode 64: Ian Sandler Riley’s Way

When a father lost his nine-year-old daughter Riley at sleepaway camp, he created a movement of kind leaders in her name. Riley’s Way is about empathy, courage, and leading with heart.

Riley’s short life left a long legacy.

Lesson: Kindness is never small and leadership begins with compassion.

“None of these parents chose this path. But all of them chose what came next.”

Homelessness, Dignity, and Healing 

“Homelessness is not just about housing….it’s about dignity and being seen.”

Episode 90: Terry Grahl  Enchanted Makeovers

Terry Grahl knows homelessness and trauma personally. Through Enchanted Makeovers, she transforms shelters for women and children into spaces of beauty and calm.

These rooms say: You matter.

Terry taught us that dignity is not a luxury, it is the foundation of healing.

Lesson: Beauty can be a form of justice.

Episode 36: Kevin Adler  Miracle Messages

Kevin Adler showed us that connection can be the bridge back to life. Miracle Messages reconnects people experiencing homelessness with loved ones they’ve lost touch with….sometimes for decades.

Homelessness often begins with broken relationships. Healing begins with being remembered.

Lesson: Community heals what isolation breaks.

Community: How We Rise Together

“If there is one truth that echoes through nearly every Charity Matters episode, it is this: we are not meant to do life alone.”

Episode 71: Debbie Bial  The Posse Foundation

Debbie Bial believed that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. By sending students to college together in “posses,” she created belonging and tens of thousands of college graduates.

Lesson: Belonging is a catalyst for success.

Episode 69: Rachel Doyle Glamour Gals

Teenagers doing nails with seniors might sound simple but it dissolves loneliness on both sides. GlamourGals reminded us that community doesn’t have to be complicated to be powerful.

Lesson: Small connections create big change.

Episode 46: Maggie Kane  A Place at the Table

Maggie Kane’s pay-what-you-can café invites everyone to the same table…..housed or unhoused. No labels. Just dignity.

Lesson: When we eat together, we humanize one another.

Faith: The Quiet Foundation 

“So many of these heroes didn’t set out to build nonprofits. They set out to live their faith.”

Episode 9: Brian Mavis America’s Kids Belong

Brian Mavis and his wife’s faith compelled  them to act for foster children turning belief into belonging for tens of thousands of kids.

Lesson: Faith becomes powerful when it moves us beyond ourselves.

Episode 24: Hal Hargrave  Be Perfect Foundation

After becoming a paraplegic, Hal Hargrave chose to see his setback as a calling. His faith helped him transform pain into purpose.

Lesson: Faith doesn’t remove obstacles—it gives them meaning.

 

Episode 58: Kurt Handler  410 Bridge

Kurt Kandler showed us faith in action through partnership, not handouts. Empowering communities to lift themselves up.

Lesson: True service creates possibility, not dependence.

“When I look back at all of these heroes, one thing is clear….none of them did this alone, and none of them did this without love.”

Episode 99 is not just a look back. It’s an invitation to belong, to believe, and to act.

Revisit these stories on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and www.charity-matters.com. Share the ones that moved you. And remember:

Every time you choose kindness, compassion, or service….you become part of this story too.

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

YOUR REFERRAL IS THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT,  IF YOU ARE SO MOVED OR INSPIRED, WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO SHARE AND INSPIRE ANOTHER. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please connect with us:

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Episode 98: Caroline’s Cause

Nonprofit founders are some of the most inspiring entrepreneurs on the planet. They see a problem and create a solution. Today’s guest, Drew Long is no exception. Her first entrepreneurial journey was to create a shopping cart for her disabled daughter, Caroline. Drew is an Alabama mom with a big heart, a thick skin, and the kind of determination that changes systems. After solving that problem for millions of families she went on to solve another. Drew founded Caroline’s Cause, a scholarship nonprofit created for the typical siblings of children with special needs. In the middle of caregiving, life, and all the messy real-world logistics, Drew looked at those overlooked siblings and said, “We see you.” That simple sentence becomes a force in this conversation.

Drew is that she’s the real deal. She is equal parts tenderhearted and tough, honest about how hard this life can be, and hilarious in the way only someone who’s been through it can be.  In our chat, Drew shares the moment she realized there were scholarships for everything and yet nothing for students growing up with a special needs sibling. So she built it. Her dream is simple: no unfunded scholarship, ever. If you want a story about grit, love, community, and what it looks like to take a hard card in life and turn it into change for good….press play.

Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

 

Charity Matters: Tell us a little about what Caroline’s Cause does?

Drew Long:  Caroline’s Cause is a nonprofit that awards college scholarships to entering freshmen who have a special needs sibling. To qualify, students come from families like mine—families where there is one child with significant needs and other children who are “typical.” In those families, the dynamic is real and unavoidable: the special needs child requires more time, more attention, more resources. That doesn’t mean you love the other children less. It simply means the needs are different.

In our home, my daughter Caroline has seizures, she doesn’t walk, she wears a diaper, and she needs full-time care. My other children grew up knowing that Caroline needed more of Mama’s time. They stepped back quietly and selflessly. And there is almost nothing out there that recognizes those siblings….the ones who take the back seat without complaint. Caroline’s Cause was created to say, we see you. We want to thank you for being such a great brother or sister. We want to honor that sacrifice and that love.

Charity Matters: What experiences did you have as a child that influenced this work?

Drew Long: I grew up with a special needs aunt, my mom’s sister had cerebral palsy. Looking back, I really believe that was God’s way of softening my heart and preparing me for a life I had no idea was coming. I was always tender toward special needs families, even before I fully understood what that life meant.

And I’ll say something that took me a long time to admit: nobody wants a special needs child and that’s okay to say. That doesn’t mean you don’t love your child. It means that as parents, we all have hopes and dreams for our kids, and when you face a diagnosis like I did, those dreams crash and burn. My heart had been prepared early on, not through nonprofits or philanthropy, but through proximity through seeing special needs up close and watching families navigate it.

Charity Matters: What was the moment you knew you needed to act and start Caroline’s Causes?

Drew Long: The moment came when my oldest daughter was getting ready for college. Like every parent, we started looking for scholarships and we found everything under the sun. If you’re left-handed, there’s a scholarship. If you have a tiny percentage of Irish ancestry, there’s a scholarship.

So I said, “Surely there’s a scholarship for students who have a special needs sibling.” There wasn’t. Not one.

That’s when I knew. I told my husband, “I have a great idea,” and he practically shut me down, until I said, “It’s not a product. It’s a nonprofit.” I thought that would make it easier. It didn’t. But it was born out of a real need, this time for my typical daughter, and for families like ours everywhere.

Charity Matters: What are your biggest challenges?

Drew Long: Honestly, my biggest challenge has been my own naïveté and strangely, that’s also what’s sustained me. I truly believed both my business and this nonprofit would be easy. Had I known how hard either one would be, I might never have started.

With the business, my husband and I ended up funding it with our retirement something we never planned or intended. With the nonprofit, I assumed that because it wasn’t a product, everyone would love it as much as I did. That hasn’t been the case. If I had sat down early on with seasoned nonprofit leaders and heard everything that could go wrong, I probably wouldn’t have done it. So not knowing what was around the corner actually worked in my favor.

Charity Matters: What fuels you to keep doing this work?

Drew Long: Award day. Every single time.

When I call the families and the moms are crying, telling me this was the only scholarship their child received…..that’s what fuels me. We don’t look at ACT scores. We require a 3.0 GPA and base everything on need. I lived the ACT nightmare with my own kids, and I don’t believe it’s a good measure of potential.

These kids often wouldn’t qualify for academic scholarships, but they are absolutely deserving. That moment when they realize, I got a scholarship, when they get to stand with their peers on awards day and that sense of pride is everything. It’s not just financial. It’s validation.

Charity Matters: When do you know you have made a difference?

Drew Long: I know we’ve made a difference because I stay in touch with the families. Our first scholarship recipients are graduating this spring. Parents tell me that we lifted a burden during that first year and that initial push made college possible.

And it goes beyond money. It’s confidence. It’s pride. It’s knowing someone believed in them. One of our recipients went to welding school, and his mom told me she applied on a whim. We were proud to support that because trades matter. AI isn’t replacing welders or plumbers. We need to normalize that path again.

Charity Matters: Tell us what success you have had and what your impact has been? 

Drew Long: So far, we’ve awarded 13 scholarships and each one is $5,000. People told me that was too much, but I wanted to move the needle. College is expensive. Five thousand dollars can cover a year at junior college. It’s enough to matter.

The impact isn’t just the number. It’s the pride these students feel. It’s families who thought college wasn’t possible suddenly seeing a path forward. That’s success to me.

Charity Matters: If you could dream any dream for your organization, what would that be?

Drew Long: My dream is simple: to never have an unfunded scholarship. Last year, we had 78 unfunded applicants. That number still sits with me.

Caroline’s Cause is my give-back. I don’t take a salary. If someone gives $5,000, it goes in and goes right back out as a scholarship. I want donors to know exactly where their money goes. People work hard for their money, and transparency matters.

Charity Matters: What life lessons have you learned from this experience?

Drew Long: Do not take no from someone who can’t say yes. Corporate America turned me down when I pitched the idea for a special needs shopping cart. Had I not lived the daily reality of this community, that cart wouldn’t exist today.

You cannot be afraid of hard. You have to be willing to put it all on the line. It’s terrifying. It’s risky. I never thought I was a risk-taker but that’s what it took. You may be asked to walk a path you never imagined, and you have to say yes anyway.

Charity Matters: How has this journey changed you?

Drew Long: You can’t go through years of financial and emotional uncertainty and come out unchanged. Being a special needs parent gives you thick skin. You learn to advocate. You learn to fight. That prepared me for business and for this nonprofit.

I’ve heard “no” more times than I can count and I’m still hearing it. But you keep going. Failure is part of the journey. Community is everything. Nothing I’ve done, neither business nor nonprofit, happened alone. It was people rallying together to solve a problem.

Caroline’s legacy lives through this work. And if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this: just keep going.

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

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Cancer

World Cancer Day: February 4th

The words, “You have cancer,” change everything.

They change the rhythm of a heartbeat, the meaning of time, the way a family breathes together. Those words change plans and priorities, conversations and calendars. According to data from 2022, more than 20 million people around the world hear those three words each year, and over 53 million people are alive within five years of a diagnosis, still living with and navigating the disease.

There isn’t one person reading this who hasn’t been touched by cancer. A parent, a sibling, a spouse, a friend, a colleague and a neighbor. Cancer is indiscriminate and relentless, and yet, so are the people who rise to meet it with courage, grit, and hope.

Right now, I have three dear friends all young, vibrant, and full of life who are actively fighting this insidious disease. Watching someone you love endure cancer is its own kind of heartbreak. You want to fix it, take the pain away and most of all to do something. When the truth is that so much of it is out of your control. And yet, this is where love lives, in the something we can do.

Next week, on Wednesday, February 4th, the world will pause to recognize World Cancer Day. I’m sharing this early this year with one simple hope: that we use this moment not just to raise awareness, but to take action. Because kindness, support, and connection matter more than we sometimes realize especially to someone walking through cancer.

The Silent Weight of Cancer

Cancer is not just a medical diagnosis. It is emotional. Financial. Spiritual. It brings exhaustion that sleep doesn’t cure and fear that no amount of reassurance fully erases. Cancer affects the patient, yes but also their families, caregivers, and communities.

There are days filled with scans and waiting rooms. Days of good news and days of devastating setbacks and days when the bravest thing someone can do is simply get out of bed. And while survivors often speak of strength, what I have learned again and again is this: strength doesn’t mean doing it alone. Support matters. Being seen matters. Feeling remembered matters.

What Not to Say and What to Do Instead

Many of us want to help, but we’re afraid of saying the wrong thing. So we say nothing. Or we offer vague promises: “Let me know if you need anything.” Here’s the truth: people with cancer are tired. Tired of explaining, tired of asking and tired of being strong.

Instead of waiting, show up with intention:

  • Drop off a meal (or better yet, a grocery or restaurant gift card).

  • Send a simple text: “Thinking of you today.”

  • Offer specifics: “I can drive you to treatment Tuesday” or “I’ll take the kids Saturday.”

  • Sit quietly. Listen. Let them talk or not talk at all.

Sometimes the greatest gift is presence without pressure.

Small Acts That Make a Big Difference

As we approach World Cancer Day, here are tangible ways each of us can support those living with cancer:

1. Support Cancer-Focused Organizations
There are incredible nonprofits providing research funding, patient services, advocacy, and community. A donation large or small that all helps fuel hope. All of these resources below are linked.

2. Give Time, Not Just Money
Volunteer at a hospital. Help with transportation. Babysit. Walk a dog. Cancer steals energy and your time gives it back.

3. Send Comfort, Not Just Cards
Soft socks. Cozy blankets. Journals. A playlist. Small comforts can bring enormous relief during long treatment days.

4. Educate Yourself
Understanding the disease your loved one is facing allows you to be more compassionate and present. Knowledge builds empathy.

5. Honor Caregivers
Caregivers are often the quiet warriors. Check on them. Feed them. Encourage them to rest. They need support too.

The Power of Community

One of the greatest lessons cancer teaches us, if we’re paying attention, is the power of community. No one is meant to walk this road alone. When we show up for one another, we lighten the load in ways medicine alone cannot. I’ve seen how a meal train becomes a lifeline. How a text at the right moment becomes strength. How a prayer, a note, a simple “I’m here” becomes hope.

And hope matters.

Why World Cancer Day Matters

World Cancer Day isn’t just a date on the calendar. It’s a reminder that cancer is a global fight and a deeply personal one. World Cancer Day is a call to compassion, to advocacy and a call to action. On February 4th, wear a ribbon. Share a story. Make a donation. Reach out to someone who is fighting. Do something….anything that says, “You are not alone.”

Because love doesn’t cure cancer but it carries people through it.

A Final Thought

To those fighting cancer: you are seen, you are loved. and you are more than this diagnosis. For those who have lost someone: your grief matters, and your love lives on. And to those who want to help but don’t know how: start small. Start now. Start with love.

This World Cancer Day, let us turn awareness into action, compassion into community, and kindness into healing. Because when we care for one another, truly care, we change the world, one act of love at a time.

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

YOUR REFERRAL IS THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT,  IF YOU ARE SO MOVED OR INSPIRED, WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO SHARE AND INSPIRE ANOTHER. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please connect with us:

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Charity Matters Inspiration

Dreams for 2026

Since July of 2011, I have been sharing my dreams with you, every single week in one way or another. You are my confidants, my motivation, my cheer section, my diary and my accountability. More than that, you help me dream. I can’t dream without you.

I recently heard Mel Robbins say that if you’re looking at a map, you need to know where you were, how you got there, and where you are now to truly understand where you’re going. That stopped me in my tracks. Because as we stand on the edge of a brand-new year, I realized it was time to pause, look back, and reflect, so we can step forward with intention, pride, and excitement.

So today, let’s take a walk together through where we’ve been… so we can dream boldly about where we’re going.

The Early Dreams: Just Figuring it out

In the very first year of Charity Matters, the dream was simple: to find my voice and learn how to write a blog. That’s it. No grand vision. No master plan. Just the hope that maybe, if I kept showing up, the words would come and the message would matter. Creating a logo, a website those were the big dreams then.

There was no Canva, even a logo was a huge process…it was 2010 after all. Back then, tracking down nonprofit founders wasn’t easy either.  Finding them at all felt like detective work. Yet, like every nonprofit that begins with the hope of helping “just one person” a phrase I’ve heard from nearly every founder I’ve ever met. Charity Matters began the same way. One story. One voice. One post at a time.

Slowly, year by year, the dream grew.

Eventually, something shifted. Founders began coming to me. Today, we have more people to interview than we have time for and that is a gift I never take lightly.

The “All or None” Years

When I started at TACSC, I was asked a question I’ll never forget:
“How will you juggle a family, nonprofit boards, and this blog?”

The suggestion was that something had to give. My answer was simple and honest:
“It’s all or none.”

That belief shaped everything that came next.

By 2013, Sundays became writing days. I spent three to five hours every Sunday transcribing handwritten notes, replaying phone calls, and doing my best to get every word right. It was hard. It was imperfect. And it was sacred.

Looking back now, I smile at that version of myself….determined, tired, and deeply committed to showing up anyway. Who knew then that all of that was training ground for what was to come.

Big Dreams and Paused Ones

In 2018, something extraordinary happened. CBS decided to move forward with a Charity Matters reality show. It was surreal. We worked on it all through 2019, dreaming big and imagining what could be.

When my champion at CBS left in November 2019, we decided to pause and pick things up in 2020.

And then… well, we all know what happened next.

That dream didn’t die….it simply went on hold. And I’ve learned that sometimes dreams don’t disappear; they wait patiently for the right season.

The Podcast Pivot

By 2020, the dream shifted again and this time toward finding an easier way to transcribe interviews. That practical need is what led me to start the Charity Matters podcast. I naively assumed my readers would naturally become listeners.

Some of you did. Many of you didn’t. And that was okay.

What I didn’t expect was that the podcast would create an entirely new audience. One I never could have imagined. Thanks to transcription tools and new technology, the way I worked and the way we connected….all of that changed forever.

Today, the podcast is top-rated. Proof that dreams often unfold in ways we never plan, but always need.

Dreams Written in Ink

In November of 2023, during a podcast interview with Cindy Witteman, I admitted something out loud that had lived quietly in my heart for years: I had always dreamed of writing a book and contributing to a magazine.

On October 1, 2024, that dream became reality.

Change for Good launched and became an Amazon bestseller in five categories before it was even released in paperback. Weeks later, Cindy launched FORCE Magazine, and I’ve been writing a monthly column ever since.

Dreams really do come true and sometimes when you say them out loud to the right person at exactly the right time.

What 2025 Taught Me

2025 was filled with book promotion and public speaking—and I loved every minute of it. Being back in rooms with people, hearing your stories, laughing, crying, connecting… it reminded me of something essential.

Connection is what I want more of. Connection with the founders I interview. Connection with readers, listeners, and audiences who believe that kindness and service can change the world. People need people and zoom just isn’t enough.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As I look toward 2026, I see more public speaking ahead and I want to be better at it. I want to grow as a storyteller. To move people not just with words, but with presence and purpose.

I also want to fully embrace technology. No more fighting it. No more resisting. Technology is a gift that gives us back time and time is precious. I’m taking AI classes, learning new tools, and yes… I still write every word of this myself. (Though maybe that’s something I’ll rethink, too.)

One dream that feels especially bold? A TED Talk. Like training for a marathon, having that goal would push me to grow, stretch, and rise to the challenge.

The Biggest Dream of All

Perhaps the biggest and most vulnerable dream for 2026 is monetizing the podcast.

For years, I’ve paid out of pocket to keep it going by supporting our incredible team of sound editors and social media experts. Money went out every month, but none came in. I told myself I couldn’t accept funds for anything connected to charity, because this was my charity.

This year, something shifted.

If my mission is to help the helpers, then growth matters. Expansion matters. Sustainability matters. And all of that costs money.

So in 2026, we’ll begin partnering with select organizations that align deeply with our values. No selling yoga pants. No “micro-influencer” nonsense. Just meaningful partnerships with people doing good in the world.

And that feels right.

Cheers to the Journey

When I look back at where we’ve been and how far we’ve come together, I feel overwhelming pride. When I look ahead at where we’re going, I feel excited, hopeful, and deeply grateful.

Life really is about the journey and not the destination.

Thank you for being such a powerful part of mine. Thank you for dreaming with me, believing with me, and showing up week after week.

Here’s to where we’ve been and blessings on where we’re going.

Happy New Year! May all your dreams come true!

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

YOUR REFERRAL IS THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT,  IF YOU ARE SO MOVED OR INSPIRED, WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO SHARE AND INSPIRE ANOTHER. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please connect with us:

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Causes

Who we met in 2025 and some of the lessons we learned

As we say goodbye to 2025 and prepare to welcome a brand-new year, it feels important….necessary, really to pause. To breathe. To look back with gratitude at the people who crossed our path and the lessons they so generously shared.

This past year, we were privileged to meet some of the most extraordinary humans. These nonprofit founders who opened their hearts, shared their stories, and reminded us what it truly means to live, to give, to serve, and to lead. These are the people who show up when life breaks open. The ones who take pain and transform it into purpose. The ones who remind us that service heals not just the world, but the soul.

What follows is a reflection on just a few of the remarkable people who we met in 2025 and the wisdom they entrusted to us, using their exact words, because their voices matter. Their truth matters. And their lessons deserve to be remembered as we step into a new year with hope.

Mission, Mentorship, and the Courage to Act

We began the year with ICL Founder Kirk Spahn, whose clarity around mission and momentum set the tone for the year ahead. Kirk said, “It goes back to being mission driven, and the idea that when you inspire someone, and someone gets inspired, you want to take action right away.” Kirk spoke about honoring what has come before while still having the courage to evolve. “I have a concept in education that we use at ICL that says, respect tradition, but embrace tomorrow.”

He reminded us that inspiration is not passive, it is meant to move us. And that mentors and teachers change lives not only by what they teach, but by what they see in us. “I believe that teachers and mentors are still what motivates people… It’s also on the flip side, someone that believes in you as an individual, that the world might see the potential in you.”

The lesson? When we believe in people and give them tools to apply their passion to the real world, we don’t just educate. We empower.

Faith, Purpose, and the Strength to Persist

We were deeply moved by KinderSmile Foundation founder Dr. Nicole McGrath Barnes, whose words were a masterclass in purpose-driven perseverance. Nicole said, “To be very honest, what fueled me was my faith and that I was brought here for a reason. This is my purpose.” And when you know your purpose, you don’t quit.

She said, There’s no such thing as giving up… You understand that there will be dark times and there will be light times, but you still persist, because it’s bigger than me. It’s serving a community and it’s creating a legacy.” Her lesson was simple and profound: purpose anchors us when the road gets hard and it always does.

Finding Your Voice So Others Can Find Theirs

Then there was the incomparable Enchanted Makeovers founder Terry Grahl, whose journey from silence to strength reminded us that voices are often born in pain. Terry is a warrior who said, “At the very beginning, I prayed through tears, arms lifted, saying, ‘God, give me a voice, please just give me a voice so I can be a voice for others.’”

Terry shared how she was once told to stay quiet and how God had other plans.“I was painfully shy… I was bullied constantly… But God kept His promise.” Her lesson was unmistakable: “God gave me this voice so I can use it for women, for children, for those who don’t yet believe they’re worthy of being heard.”

Sometimes the very thing that once silenced us becomes the tool we use to set others free.

Lessons From Parents Who Have Lost the Most

When people ask what nonprofit founders leave the biggest impressions and teach us the most? The answer is always the same: parents who have lost a child. Their grief is profound and so is their wisdom.

Choosing Meaning Over Ease

Thrive N Joy Foundation founder Mary Fagnano shared this truth after losing her son Nick: Mary said, “Never to take a day for granted. Every day is precious. Every relationship that is important to you is precious.”

And then, a line that stays with you forever:“I don’t want to live an easy life. I want to live a meaningful life.”

Being Cracked Open by Loss and Love

Susie Shaw, Founder of William’s Be Yourself Challenge, spoke with breathtaking honesty about losing her young son William. “When William died, my entire life changed 100%.” Grief reshaped her identity and expanded her compassion.“We were just cracked open. Everything just came pouring out… I’ve grown so much in my empathy.”

Her lesson was one we all need to hear: “We all just need to slow down.”

Grief, Gratitude, and Love Organized

Penny’s Flight founder Kate Doerge shared words that feel like poetry and truth intertwined. Kate said “I used to search for the ‘one client’ that would let me move the needle; now I see that the needle is people, and the work is love organized.” She reminded us that grief and gratitude are not opposites.“I’ve learned that grief and gratitude can share a sentence.”

And perhaps most beautifully: “It’s our wingspan… how far we’re willing to reach for others… that measures a life.”

Fathers’, Loss, and Clarity

A Brighter Day founder Elliot Kallen reminded us how fleeting life truly is. He said, “Life goes by in the blink of an eye.”His lesson centered on intention and impact:“What truly matters is the people around you, the lives you touch, the impact you make.”

Pain and Purpose Living Side by Side

Finally, Shoulder Check co-founder Rob Thorsen shared a powerful vision of leadership shaped by loss. Rob said, “Pain and purpose live together now.” And with clarity born from heartbreak: “Less time for what doesn’t matter, more devotion to what does.”

His closing reflection says it all: “If my legacy is simply that people checked in on one another more often, that would be a life well-lived.”

Gratitude as We Step Into a New Year

Each guest and lesson is a gift we have been given. It is my hope that we can all carry some of these words of wisdom into the New Year.  There are so many wise people we met this year and far too many people to list. To every nonprofit founder who shared so deeply and so personally…..thank you. Your journeys inspire us to be better, to find joy in loss, to keep moving forward, and to believe, deeply, that service heals.

To everyone who read, shared, subscribed, listened, and cheered us on….thank you for being part of this movement for good. The world needs us all now more than ever.

May we enter the New Year remembering that every small act of kindness makes the world better. Wishing you all a blessed, hopeful, and beautiful New Year ahead.

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

YOUR REFERRAL IS THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT,  IF YOU ARE SO MOVED OR INSPIRED, WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO SHARE AND INSPIRE ANOTHER. If you enjoyed today’s episode, please connect with us:

Copyright © 2025 Charity Matters. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this in your newsreader, the site you are viewing is illegally infringing our copyright. We would be grateful if you contact us.

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