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Charity Matters Inspiration

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Charity Matters Inspiration

Making Time

Time has been on my mind a lot lately.

Perhaps it is because we recently lost two of my aunts. Maybe it is watching dear friends face serious illnesses or seeing my parents age. Whatever the reason, everything seems to be pointing me toward the clock these days. Not the clock that tells me I am late for a meeting or that I need to hurry out the door. I am thinking about the bigger clock. The one that is always ticking quietly in the background of our lives.

Time is our most precious gift. Yet, somehow, it is also the thing we seem to waste so easily. We save the good china. We save money. We save things for a special occasion. But we cannot save time.

Once it is gone, it is gone.

Where Does the Time Go?

How many times have you looked back and wondered, where did the time go? The children who were once little are suddenly grown. Parents who seemed invincible begin to slow down. Friends move, people get sick, seasons change, and somehow years pass while we are busy living our lives.

I think that is the tricky thing about time. Most of us do not intentionally waste it. Instead, it simply slips through our hands while we are doing all the things we think we need to do.

There is always another email to answer, another errand to run, another deadline to meet. We tell ourselves we will make the call tomorrow. We will plan the lunch next month. That trip can happen next year.

Until sometimes it can’t. Loss has a way of reminding us of that.

Recently, I have been reminded again and again that none of us knows how much time we have with the people we love. That realization can feel sad or frightening. However, I am trying to look at it differently.

Instead of worrying about how much time is left, perhaps the better question is: What are we doing with the time we have?

Dates With Dad

A couple of years ago, my sister and I decided to answer that question in a very simple way. We started something we called “Dates with Dad.”

Once a month, we planned a little adventure with our dad. Nothing fancy or complicated. The goal was simply to give him something to look forward to and, selfishly, to give us more time with him.

We have gone to car museums, Dodger games, the beach and the movies. We have visited family and explored new places. Along the way, we have laughed a lot, eaten plenty and heard stories from my dad’s life that we had never heard before.

Those outings have given us something I didn’t fully understand when we started. They have given us time. Not distracted time. Not a quick phone call while doing three other things. Not a rushed dinner squeezed between commitments.

Real time. The kind where you sit next to someone in the car and talk. The kind where a story begins with, “Did I ever tell you about…” and suddenly you learn something about someone you have known your entire life.

Those are the moments I treasure most.

Our Biggest Date Yet

Today, we are taking Dates with Dad to an entirely new level. We are going international!

My dad traveled all over the world for his work. Because of that, he has always associated travel with business. Airports meant meetings. Hotels meant work. His idea of a vacation has always been much simpler: give him a beach, a chair and a good book, and he is perfectly happy.

So, naturally, my sister and I decided to push his limits a little. We are taking Dad to Costa Rica. For a few days, there will be sunshine, adventure, hopefully some beautiful beaches and, most importantly, uninterrupted time together.

Will he think we are crazy? Probably. Will we drive each other a little crazy? Almost certainly.

But I also know something else. Years from now, I doubt any of us will remember the emails we didn’t answer, the errands we postponed or the work waiting for us when we returned. We will remember this trip.

Making Time

There is a difference between having time and making time. We are all given the same 24 hours each day. Yet, the people and things we say matter most often get whatever is left over. Work gets scheduled. Meetings get scheduled. Appointments go on the calendar.

The people we love? Somehow we assume they will always be there. Maybe that is the lesson the clock keeps trying to teach me. Do not wait for time to appear. Make it.

Schedule the lunch. Buy the ticket. Take the drive. Ask the questions. Listen to the stories you have heard a hundred times and pay attention as if it were the first. More importantly, tell the people you love what they mean to you while they are here to hear it.

None of this requires a trip to Costa Rica. Sometimes making time looks like sitting at the kitchen table over a cup of coffee. It can be a walk around the block, a phone call, a movie or an afternoon drive. The destination isn’t the point. The time is.

Perhaps that is why the clock has been speaking so loudly to me lately. It isn’t telling me to hurry. It is reminding me to pay attention.

So today, my sister, my dad and I are off on our biggest Date with Dad yet. We are making memories, making an adventure and, most importantly, making time. Because someday, I know we will look back on these days and realize something we already know today.

There is no greater gift we can give the people we love than our 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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Making room for What Comes Next

October is here, and with it comes a new rhythm that feels different from September’s hurried return to routines. The back-to-school chaos has settled, football is in full swing, and suddenly there are pumpkins everywhere. The days are getting shorter, the evenings cooler, and fall has officially arrived.

October has always felt like a month of change.

Perhaps it is because the change is impossible to miss. The trees turn brilliant shades of gold, red and orange before eventually letting go. There is something so beautiful about that process. Nature doesn’t fight the season or try to hold onto what was. It simply changes.

Maybe there is something in that for all of us.

What a Difference a Year Makes

Last October, I wrote about a very different season in our family. Our son had just gotten married. We were still coming down from the joy of the wedding, adjusting to this wonderful new chapter and welcoming an incredible daughter into our family. A year later, what once felt like a big transition simply feels like our family.

Isn’t that how change works?

At first, something new can feel enormous. We anticipate it, worry about it, plan for it and sometimes even resist it. Then, almost without realizing it, the unfamiliar becomes familiar. The new becomes normal. Before long, we have a hard time remembering what life looked like before.

Watching our son become a husband has been one of those beautiful reminders. Our family didn’t lose anything when he got married. Instead, love simply made room for more love.

Of course, not every change arrives wrapped in joy. Some seasons ask us to let go of people, plans, dreams or versions of ourselves we thought would always be there. Those changes are harder. They stretch us in ways we never asked to be stretched.

Still, they change us.

Two Years of Change for Good

This October also marks two years since the release of my book, Change for Good. Even writing that feels a little surreal. For so long, the book was something I was working toward. I spent years writing, rewriting and wondering if anyone would ever actually read it. Then suddenly, there it was in the world.

At the time, I thought publishing the book was the destination. Two years later, I realize it was really just another beginning. Change for Good was born from my belief that service has the power to transform us. I had spent decades watching people take their pain, loss and heartbreak and turn those experiences into something that helped someone else. Again and again, I witnessed ordinary people doing extraordinary things simply because they chose to help.

I knew helping changed the person receiving the kindness. What I came to understand was how profoundly it changes the person giving it. Since the book came out, that message has continued to grow in ways I never expected. Readers have shared stories about volunteering, reconnecting with people they love and becoming more intentional about how they show up in the world. The book has led to conversations, speaking opportunities and connections with people I never would have met otherwise.

Most surprisingly, its message continues to work on me. Two years later, I am still learning how to let go, how to trust what comes next and how to turn life’s harder moments into something useful. Perhaps that is the funny thing about writing a book called Change for Good. Life continues to make sure I practice what I preach.

The Lesson of October

This year has given me plenty of opportunities to practice.

There have been joyful beginnings, difficult goodbyes, unexpected turns and moments when life looked very different from what I had imagined. Through all of it, I keep coming back to the same truth: we cannot always choose the changes that come our way, but we can choose what we do with them.

That choice matters. We can hold tightly to what was, or we can remain open to what might be. We can see every ending only as a loss, or we can leave a little room for the possibility that something new may eventually grow in that empty space. October shows us this every single year.

The trees do not seem afraid to let go. They put on one spectacular show and then release what they no longer need. There is no panic about whether another spring will come. Somehow, nature simply trusts the process. I wish I were always that good at it.

Making Room for What Comes Next

There are so many things I love about October. I love college football weekends, crisp mornings, sweaters coming out of the closet and the first real hint that the holidays are around the corner. More than anything, though, I love the reminder this month gives us.

Life is always changing.

Our children grow up and create families of their own. Dreams become reality and then evolve into something we never expected. People we love leave us. New people arrive. Careers shift. Friendships change. Our bodies change. Even our understanding of who we are continues to grow.

Perhaps our job isn’t to resist any of it. Instead, maybe our work is to pay attention. To be grateful for what was, present to what is and hopeful about what is still ahead. So, as October arrives in all of its glorious color, I am trying to take a lesson from the trees. I am holding tightly to gratitude and a little more loosely to everything else.

Because sometimes letting go isn’t the end of the story. Sometimes it is how we make room for what comes next.

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 Gift of Showing Up

I had never had the privilege of writing a eulogy, let alone delivering one. It was one of the greatest honors of my life. It was also one of the hardest things I have ever written.

How do you take a life and condense it into ten minutes? How do you measure the impact of another human being? How do you possibly find the words to explain what one person meant to a family, a community, a school, a church, or simply to you? It is an enormous and daunting task.

What I didn’t expect was that while I was trying to measure someone else’s life, I would begin measuring my own.

How Do You Measure a Life?

My Aunt Sheila was laid to rest a little over two weeks ago. Since delivering her eulogy, I have spent a lot of time thinking about what matters. I know what you’re thinking……..Heidi, you have been talking about what matters for fifteen years.

Fair point. Yet somehow, this feels different. Writing a eulogy asks you to look at someone’s life from the outside. You search for the moments, choices, relationships and threads that defined that person. However, it is almost impossible to do that without eventually turning the mirror around and looking within your own.

The honor isn’t meant to be a measuring stick or a comparison. Still, evaluating someone else’s life from the outside has a funny way of making you evaluate your own from the inside.

What am I doing with my time? Who am I showing up for? What will the people I love remember? Those questions have stayed with me.

A Legacy of Love

For most of my life, I would have told you that Aunt Sheila’s legacy was service. She was a Sister of the Holy Child Jesus for 67 years. She was an educator, principal, therapist, pastoral minister and advocate. She served children, families, schools, survivors of sexual abuse, communities and countless people whose names I will never know. Service seemed like the obvious answer.

Near the end of her life, however, I asked her what she thought her legacy was. I told her that I thought it was service. She didn’t say a word. Instead, she lifted her hands and formed them into the shape of a heart. Love.

Of course. I had gotten it wrong. Service was simply the vehicle Aunt Sheila used to distribute her love to the world. There was another way she shared that love too. Perhaps it was even simpler. She showed up.

Again and again, she was there. She came to games, school plays, Grandparents’ Days, celebrations, difficult moments and ordinary ones. Sometimes she arrived early. Occasionally she arrived unannounced. Every once in a while, I’m not entirely sure she was actually invited. But she showed up. More importantly, she was present.

A Different Decision

About a month ago, I heard that a dear friend of mine from out of town was having a surprise 60th birthday party. Normally, my practical brain would have taken over immediately. Too far. Too expensive. Too much going on. I can’t possibly justify flying somewhere for a surprise birthday party. There would have been a dozen perfectly reasonable reasons not to go.

Then I thought about Aunt Sheila.

I had just written and delivered an entire eulogy about the importance of showing up for the people we love. How could I stand in a church and talk about her beautiful example and then not allow that example to change me? So I texted my girlfriend’s husband. “I’m coming. I’ll be there!” And I went.

The look on my friend’s face when she realized I had flown in from Los Angeles just for her party was priceless. However, the real gift wasn’t the surprise. It was the time. We have shared more than forty years of friendship. Four decades of life, laughter, change, joy, loss and memories. We were in each others weddings and have been dear friends since high school. Suddenly, spending the money and making the trip didn’t feel extravagant. Not going would have.

Showing up was a privilege and a gift, not for her but for me. In some small way, it felt like I was honoring my friend, our friendship and Aunt Sheila all at once.

The Gift of Our Time

We make hundreds of decisions every day about how to spend our time. Most of them feel small and inconsequential. Yet perhaps they aren’t. Time is one of the most precious things we have because we cannot earn more of it, save it for later or get it back once it is gone.

Where we go matters. Who we spend it with matters. Most importantly, showing up matters. When we intentionally align the gift of our time with the gift of the people we love, something changes. We become more present. Our relationships deepen. The people we love feel valued, and somehow, we do too.

Aunt Sheila understood that. Her life wasn’t extraordinary because of a résumé filled with accomplishments. It was extraordinary because of the countless people who knew she was there for them.

In the End

Someday, someone may stand up and try to condense each of our lives into ten minutes. But in the end, it really isn’t about the eulogy. It isn’t even about how many people show up at our funeral. It is about how we showed up for the people we loved while we were here. Did we make the call? Take the trip? Sit beside someone who was hurting? Celebrate the birthday? Listen when someone needed to be heard? Were we present?

Aunt Sheila taught me that service is love in action. Now I understand that showing up is too. Perhaps that is the real measure of a life. Not how much we accomplished, how busy we were or how many things we checked off our lists.

Maybe it is much simpler than that. Love the people God puts in your life. Give them your time. And when it matters, show up.

Because in the end, love is the only measure that matters.

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

From Setback to Purpose: The Remarkable Story of Hal Hargrave

September is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month, and some stories are simply too powerful not to share again. Over the years, I have had the privilege of meeting hundreds of remarkable humans through Charity Matters. Each person has inspired me in a different way. However, every once in a while, someone comes along whose energy, wisdom, passion, and light stay with you long after the conversation ends. Hal Hargrave is one of those people. I first shared Hal’s story in 2021, and I have never forgotten our conversation. After a tragic accident left him paralyzed, Hal stopped asking, “Why me?” and began asking, “Why not me?” That shift changed everything. Through the Be Perfect Foundation, he transformed an unimaginable setback into a life of purpose, helping hundreds of people living with paralysis find resources, independence, community, and hope.

In honor of Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month, it feels like the perfect time to revisit Hal’s extraordinary story. If you have read his words but never heard his voice, take a listen. His passion is better than caffeine, his perspective is contagious, and his message is one we all need from time to time. Hal reminds us that sometimes the very thing we believe will limit us becomes the thing that propels us forward. His story is about so much more than paralysis. It is about choice, purpose, hope, and what can happen when we decide to use what life gives us to serve others. Hal Hargrave is living proof.

Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

Charity Matters: Tell us a little about what the Be Perfect Foundation does?

Hal Hargrave:Be Perfect Foundation–provides direct financial and emotional aid to individuals with paralysis. The foundation approves scholarships for everyday medical necessities such as; medical supplies, wheelchairs, home, and car adaptations, medical equipment, and exercise-based therapy.

Charity Matters: What was the moment you knew you needed to act and start  Be Perfect Foundation?

Hal Hargrave:  Shortly after I got injured, I remember lying in my hospital bed and coming to the realization that with every individual that walked through my hospital room, that each individual that left my room and left the hospital took away a mindset, approach, mentality, and went about the rest of their day emotionally in a state that was directly predicated towards my mood state, mental state, and how well I was emotionally coping with my injury and circumstance.

 I came to a quick realization that I could give each and every individual a positive takeaway that could set the tone of their day for the rest of their life. Finally, I came to the consensus that each and every decision that I made about how I was going to treat, talk to, and share moments with individuals was going to directly affect them either negatively or positively.  I was not willing to be a part of the simple idea that I could negatively influence somebody’s life any longer.

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

Hal Hargrave: I believe that this is meaningful and purposeful work. I’ve stopped asking “why me” and I’ve started asking “why not me?” Once I came to the realization that this happened “for me” and started looking through the lens that I “get to”  do what I’m doing in my life. I started realizing that maybe this really is a blessing. That the life that I’m living is far bigger than just me and is for me.

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

Hal Hargrave: I know I have made a difference in this world when others see differences in their world being realized. When other’s dreams come true, their goals are achieved, and happiness is obtained. 

Charity Matters: Tell us what success you have had?

Hal Hargrave: The success that we’ve had over the past 14 years of a philanthropic mindset as a family and as a community has been nothing short of amazing. We have raised over $7 million for individuals suffering from paralysis. This does not include the resource of hope that we have built through being a physical, literal, and emotional resource to those who are in need.

Charity Matters: What has your impact been? 

Hal Hargrave: Our impact has changed lives. Over the past 14 years $7 million and well north of 500 people and families. It has changed lives in the way that people live independently. How people live without despair any longer because they see hope and much more. The financial support that we provide to individuals to seek out therapeutic options has allowed them to achieve a healthier form of themselves. Having their health has contributed towards staying out of the hospital as well as finding a network of people that they can relate to. We provide a place where they will not give up, and emotionally being in a place where they see that their contributions to society and to others are life-changing.

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

Hal Hargrave: My dream is for us to get to a place where we have an endowment. An endowment would ensure that we would be around for life. Ideally, if this endowment was established, we would be able to continue to provide scholarships. This foundation should be around forever.

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

Hal Hargrave: One of the major life lessons that I’ve learned from this experience is the things that we think limit us just might be the platform that we need to propel ourselves forward to actually helping create change.  We always think that we have it worse.  However, maybe life gave us an opportunity, not a setback.

When we start looking at life through a lens that maybe something was preventing us from something even worse happening, we start to live with the appreciation that we have a second chance. Sometimes these circumstances that put us into a deep, dark, and physically disabling place, actually are the opportunities that give us the tools that we need to create change in others’ lives. You don’t need to create change through physical activity. You can create change through intentionality, sincerity, words, and advocacy.

Charity Matters: How has this journey changed you?

Hal Hargrave: This journey has changed everything for me. I will be honest with you, 14 years ago I did not think that my life would amount to anything. I was under the impression that my physical setbacks in life would propel me into a place of a life that was meaningless, hopeless, and unfulfilled. What has happened over the past 14 years, which has not been easy, and has not been because of the lack of tenacity, trying, and getting up with purpose, has been nothing short of a dream could true.

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

New episodes are released every Wednesday!  If you enjoyed today’s episode, please connect with us:
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Episode 108: The Acceleration Project

Most of us think of small businesses as the coffee shop on the corner, the neighborhood contractor, or the family-owned boutique we love to support. Yet behind every small business is a dream, a family, employees who depend on a paycheck, and a community that grows stronger when that business succeeds. What happens when those entrepreneurs have the passion to build something meaningful but don’t have access to the expertise they need to survive? That’s where Jane Veron and The Acceleration Project (TAP) step in. By connecting experienced business leaders with small business owners, Jane has created a remarkable nonprofit that is strengthening local economies one business at a time and proving that a little guidance can create an extraordinary ripple effect.

In this inspiring conversation, Jane shares how a successful corporate career, a decade spent raising her children, and a passion for solving problems led her to build a national movement that has already helped thousands of entrepreneurs thrive. Along the way, she reminds us that we don’t have to have all the answers before we begin, that asking for help is a sign of strength, and that our greatest gifts are meant to be shared. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, business owner, volunteer, or simply someone looking for more purpose in your own life, Jane’s story is a powerful reminder that when we invest in people, we don’t just change one life…..we strengthen entire communities.

 

Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

Charity Matters: Tell us a little about what The Acceleration Project does?

Jane Veron:  I built The Acceleration Project (TAP) fourteen years ago. TAP is all about harnessing untapped potential to accelerate growth. We are grounded in building economic independence and wealth for small business owners because they are vital to the fabric of our economy, our communities, and our country.

We provide customized, hands-on support that enables small business owners to grow and flourish. Fortune 500 companies have access to world-class consulting, and I kept asking myself, “Why can’t the businesses on our Main Streets have that too?” So we built a nonprofit that delivers that expertise for free.

We don’t just hand people a strategy deck. We walk beside them. We help them understand their finances, marketing, operations, access to capital, and long-term growth. We are the scaffolding that helps businesses survive and thrive.

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

Jane Veron:  Looking back, I realize I was always wired to solve problems. There is always a lot of discussion about what’s wrong, but fixing problems is much harder. You don’t have to solve everything perfectly—you just have to start making it better.

Even in college, I saw that inner-city children went home after school without supervision. So I worked with the Girl Scouts to create a troop that brought first through sixth graders together. The older girls mentored the younger ones, and we created experiences they otherwise wouldn’t have had.

I’ve always loved mobilizing people. I’d see a problem and immediately want to bring people together to fix it.

Later, I began my career at Bain & Company, helping Fortune 500 companies solve business challenges. Years later, when I saw small businesses struggling, I realized they deserved the same level of strategic support. That became the seed for everything we do today.

Charity Matters: What was the moment you knew you needed to act and start The ACCELERATION Project?

Jane Veron: It wasn’t one single moment….it was a series of building blocks.

I had a demanding corporate career, two young children, and was offered a promotion that required me to be physically present five days a week with a long commute. I realized I couldn’t sustain that life, so I took a leave of absence.

When we moved to the suburbs, I couldn’t sit still. There wasn’t a playground for my children, so we built one. Then I became involved in civic leadership, chaired the planning board, and led the League of Women Voters. Every experience taught me how important strong local economies are.

The real turning point came when my oldest daughter was leaving for college. I had spent years preparing her to go out into the world, and I thought, “I’ve spent my life building these skills. It’s time to use them to fix something bigger.”

I began talking with small business owners about what they were experiencing. At the same time, I saw incredibly talented women who had stepped away from careers in consulting, finance, and marketing and couldn’t find meaningful ways back.

Suddenly it all came together. I realized I could solve two problems at once by connecting experienced professionals with small business owners who desperately needed their expertise.

Charity Matters: What are your biggest challenges?

Jane Veron: There were always naysayers. So many people told me this would never work.

In the beginning, we were literally sitting around a kitchen table. Everything was volunteer-driven. When you leave corporate America, you suddenly realize you’re responsible for everything……from opening the bank account to building the website and creating the brand.

I also had to educate our board that being a nonprofit is simply a tax status. It shouldn’t dictate how you operate. Organizations need reserves. They need systems. They need to invest in the future.

Today, one of the biggest challenges is funding. Nonprofits can’t build for the future if they’re constantly surviving on one-year grants. I work hard to secure multi-year funding because our clients depend on us being there tomorrow, not just today.

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

Jane Veron: I see the difference we make every day. When we help one small business owner, we help everyone connected to that business—the employees, their families, the community, even relatives living abroad who depend on that income. The ripple effect is extraordinary.

The hugs I receive from business owners who tell me, “You saved us,” are unforgettable. Seventy-five percent of our clients come to us without financial clarity. Most only have about one month of cash on hand. One unexpected event can destroy everything they built.

We become their wraparound support. We are there no matter what challenge they face, and that’s what keeps me going.

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

Jane Veron: You measure success with both numbers and stories. Independent research showed that every dollar invested in TAP creates ten dollars of economic impact. Ninety-two percent of the businesses we serve remain open one year later. Eighty-six percent maintain or grow revenue, and ninety percent maintain or grow jobs.

But beyond the numbers are the people. One business owner we helped was a nurse who started a medical spa because she wanted to bring positivity into people’s lives. When she suddenly lost her building, we helped relocate her business, increase revenue by forty percent, and expand her capacity.

Today her daughter wants to follow in her footsteps. Those are the moments when you realize the impact extends far beyond one business.

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

Jane Veron: Our goal this year is to serve 4,000 small business owners across America.

We’ve expanded far beyond the stay-at-home moms who first volunteered with us. Today, consultants from Fortune 500 companies, Wall Street firms, entrepreneurs, and business leaders all donate their expertise because they want to use their skills for impact.

Our model works because we don’t simply advise….we walk alongside business owners until they gain confidence and the skills to continue on their own. Watching businesses grow, create jobs, and strengthen local economies is the impact we set out to create.

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

Jane Veron: Go big or go home. When we first started around my kitchen table with almost no money, I said we were going to become national. People laughed. They aren’t laughing anymore.

My dream is to create TAP for America, just like Teach For America. We already serve businesses across nearly every state, and there is absolutely no reason we can’t reach every community. We simply need more funding so we can continue growing.

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

Jane Veron: Take the first step. Don’t let perfection keep you from getting started. The business plan we originally wrote looks nothing like what we do today because you learn by doing.

Surround yourself with positive people who challenge you constructively. No one accomplishes anything important alone. Ask for help, and be specific when you ask. People genuinely want to help, but they need to know how.

Service also creates something incredibly powerful…..it builds relationships. When you help others, you form deep connections with people you might never have met otherwise. The more we understand one another and work together, the stronger our communities become.

Charity Matters: How has this journey changed you?

Jane Veron: I wish I had dreamed even bigger. I was always a rule follower…..a good student who listened to authority. Today I’d tell my younger self, Why not you? You don’t have to know everything before you raise your hand.

I’ve learned that wherever you are, you should contribute. Bring your unique gifts to your community and use them to make a difference. Purpose creates connection, and connection creates joy.

The more we listen to one another, the more we can solve problems together. Service makes that possible, and I truly believe it creates the kind of future we all want to live in.

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 © 2026 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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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.

 

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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:

Copyright © 2026 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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