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Episode 81: Pave the Way

We have all heard of cause marketing. You know brands like Tom’s Shoes where you buy one pair and another pair goes to someone in need. Before such a thing even existed there was today’s guest, Joan Hornig. She didn’t believe in “using” kindness to sell something she believes that philanthropy is beautiful. So much so that she left her successful job in corporate finance to make a significant difference in the world and give it all away. She does that through her Foundation and business called Pave the Way.  A for profit business that gives one hundred percent of profits to nonprofits.

I was lucky to meet Joan in person last week in NYC and give this dynamic human a big hug. She is even more amazing in person! Our conversation  was beyond inspiring and to use Joan’s words it was a conversation of consequence. One I am thrilled to share. So please join us and you can hear for yourself why  Joan is beyond the real deal and you don’t need to see her  but simply hear her heart to know just how special she is.

Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

 

Charity Matters: Tell us a little about what Pave the Way Foundation and Pave the Way Jewelry  does?

Joan Hornig:  Pave the Way Jewelry and my foundation are really built on a concept called social enterprise, which I was very instrumental in actually creating almost 25 years ago. The idea behind that was it wasn’t just talk about doing good, what it really was about was making a seismic difference.

  I felt that women did a tremendous amount of volunteer work in the world. They devalued their time in part, although it was very valuable, but they didn’t put a dollar price on it. Nothing could be more valuable than a woman’s time and her time spent talking about what she cares about.  So I thought when someone would see a piece of jewelry on someone and they complimented that person wearing the jewelry. ” I liked your earrings.” That person could say, “Thank you. Do you know this supports children with autism?” And then the story would unfold that they were essentially advertising with their dollars what their values were, and they were having a conversation of consequence.

So to call it social enterprise is different. I ask every single person, when she or he makes a purchase or they make a purchase, what charity they want me to donate to in their honor? Then I donate 100% of my profit on that piece sold to the charity of the purchaser’s choice.

 I’m empowering them to have a conversation of consequence, to understand that they have money to use, and that when they walk out they are a billboard advertising who they are and who they care about. 

Charity Matters: Where did your philanthropy begin? 

Joan Hornig:  I grew up in a suburb of Cleveland, to parents  who didn’t have a tremendous amount of means. There were some hard times, and nonprofits stepped in some time. What my parents taught me was that what you’re worth is not what you have in the bank, but what you’re worth is what you do tomorrow.  I never felt less than when the other kids went off to camp. I felt that I could do anything with my time and that I could make a difference.

 I spent a lot of time in museums, because my mother said, “You shop with your eyes and you take home as much as you can.” I listen to music. “You you shop with your ears, you take it home.” But when other kids were going to camp, I decided to be a candy striper because we  couldn’t go to camp. So I went to downtown Cleveland and I was teaching inner city kids how to read.

One of the kids said to me, “You know, I get food when I come here. We don’t have enough food at home.” And I was 14 years old.  And I said, “Really?” So  I decided I would put on my candy striper uniform, and I spent months going door to door in neighborhoods, raising money. I was able to raise enough money for 80 families to have  a complete Thanksgiving dinner. I think that was the beginning.

“Charity Matters: What was the moment you knew you needed to act and start Pave the Way?

Joan Hornig: I was 20 years old, I was walking down the aisle getting married. I made two promises to myself. One was that I was going to be George’s wife and be the best I could be. And two, because of the privilege I had through my education and I knew I was going to have a big life, I promised myself that by the time I was 50, I was going to give back everything, 100% so, that is where it really began.

I would say that 911 was an important factor, and that is because I watched from my apartment the Trade Towers go down. I  wanted to do something that was one step better than combining Paul Newman with Paul in the wall and Oprah. What I wanted to do was create the jewelry. Pay people fairly, put them to work, grow their business. But say to you when you buy something of mine,” What charity do you want me to donate to in your honor?” And from day one, I have donated 100% of my profit on each piece sold to the charity of the purchaser’s choice. 

Charity Matters: What are your biggest challenges?

Joan Hornig:  I think that one of the biggest challenges was actually getting people to take me seriously. If you are doing anything associated with what is traditionally a man’s job people take you seriously. When you switch to something that might be fashion or jewelry, they think that what you’re doing isn’t necessarily important.  

This it’s not just about selling the jewelry. I have to design it. I have to make it. It’s not vertically integrated, right? To check it, I have to hire people, right? We have to do the accounting, we have to do the bookkeeping. And from day one, I decided that every single charity that I would donate to would be located in a place where other people could learn about it. So if you go to my site right click on all the different charities that I’ve given to local and national there are over 1000 and where you can leave my site and learn about those charities. So the challenge was people would say to me,” You’re not busy anymore.” I’d say I’m busier than I ever was. I’m working seven days a week. I said, “You’re not understanding.” So that was actually a challenge.

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

Joan Hornig: Those moments really are the people I meet in the nonprofit sector. Those are the people. What they do is so extraordinary. It fuels me when I get invited into a food pantry and I see people who do service are so extraordinary. I don’t hold a candle to them and they are the people who are so inspiring.  They’re all over the world.  I know what they’re doing, and I know that it’s harder than what most people do.  

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

Joan Hornig: I measure impact several ways. One is if somebody hears the story of what I do and they tell somebody else, that’s impact.  All of a sudden, we started a conversation of consequence. I measure it when people say I’m going to give 5% or 10% on the business. Everyone cannot afford to give 100% right?  I’ve had an education and a great life but I don’t diminish any or anything anybody gives.

I do speaking tours sometimes, I was in Nashville, and a gentleman had sold his company. He was starting another one, and he decided he was going to follow my model, that’s impact. That’s a huge impact.  The impact is if someone who listens to this says, “I can do something.” Impact is defined in a context that matters, that is only relevant to what someone can do. When we have a community of people who use their muscle memory of giving and caring to pay it forward and inspire others. That’s impact.

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

Joan Hornig:  My dream has always been to collaborate. I like the idea of licensing fees that go to charity. I would love a fragrance company to come to me to collaborate to create a perfume. Can you imagine having something that’s called philanthropy lingers?

Most of all, what I want is institutions, retailers and everyone who sells my jewelry to understand that they should take the time to ask what their customers care about. Not tell them to care about something. That’s my dream. It is really about asking, because we learn a lot from other people when we listen.

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

Joan Hornig: I learned that everyone is interesting and worth my time. That your time is more valuable to you than my time is to you, and that I have to use it wisely. Actually, I feel we’re on the same team. If I respect what you care about and respect your efforts, we’re on the same team. You can feel it. 

Charity Matters: How has this journey changed you?

Joan Hornig:  I think that I am a more confident person because I’ve taken risks. I think that one of the things that I’ve learned is if something doesn’t work out, I can handle that risk of disappointment.  The way I make promises to myself and keep them, like the way I did when I was 20, and I walked the aisle and made those two promises. I keep all the things that I made that weren’t right, that didn’t work out. Then I go back to them a number of years later, and I learned that I can fix it. So I learned that sometimes you acquire  knowledge without even knowing it. 

What I want everyone to do is find themselves in a situation where they give one extra thing to someone that they don’t expect to give something to. That would be the way to find me in spirit this holiday season. I love to do one thing that takes a little extra effort that helps someone else.

 I really want people to understand how blessed we are. So many people can benefit, especially people we don’t know.  They’re not obligated, except to hopefully pay it forward in the future when they’re on their feet. So I believe in a hand up, not a handout.

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

Episode 59: Project Libertad and our CNN Hero

At Charity Matters we love heroes, people who give and people who serve others. We have been interviewing and finding remarkable heroes long before the iconic CNN Heroes came along. Don’t get me wrong, anyone who amplifies the voices of these remarkbale humans should be applauded, so bravo CNN! When one of the people we interviewed a year and half ago became a CNN Hero, well we had to share. We are so proud of Rachel and she was always a hero to us. Here is her story in video and for everyone who wants to revisit our conversation and podcast, take a look below. The world needs to continue to highlight heroes…because charity does matter.

Photo via: CNN
Rachel’s Story from our May 2023 conversation:

I was recently having a conversation with friends about what our grandparents and great grandparents went through coming to America. I love these conversations for a few reasons. First because we all have these stories. Secondly, because they remind us how strong and resilient our ancestors were and what they sacrificed for us. The immigrant story is the story of our country.

While immigration has been a hot political topic these days, regardless of your stance, there are still people coming to our country who need help. That is where today’s guest, Rachel Rutter comes in. Rachel is the founder of Project Libertad, an organization that helps immigrant youth in a multitude of ways. Join us for an inspirational conversation about some of the challenges these children are facing and how she and Project Libertad and making a difference.

 

Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

 

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

Rachel Rutter: We are a nonprofit organization serving newcomer immigrant youth. So we’re working with kids who have recently arrived in the US and their families. The people we primarily work with are unaccompanied minors from Central America and Mexico. In addition, we also work with a lot of families from Brazil.

There are fewer services in the counties outside of Philadelphia, so we’re providing legal services,  helping kids with their immigration process, and trying to address the other needs that they have. For example, we have kids who struggle with housing insecurity, food insecurity, mental health support, and all those sorts of things. So we’re trying to not only meet their need for immigration status and help them with that process, but also all these other challenges that they face as they’re adjusting to being here in the US.

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

Rachel Rutter:  When I was in college, I had this idea that I wanted to start a nonprofit someday.  I was very naive about how hard it would be. So I started all of the paperwork, and incorporating and 501 C 3 status in law school.  Then at the same time, I was working with all these clients who had legal needs, needed asylum, or they needed to apply for immigration status. 

Then they always have all these other needs. For example they don’t have a safe place to live, have family issues, trauma, and need food. There are any number of different issues that they have.  I just wished we had a social worker that we could partner with and have like a wraparound approach. A place where we are meeting all the needs, not just this legal needs.

So the idea came to create an organization that does try to do all those different things in a one stop shop.  We are doing that now, and we had just hired a case manager to connect kids to resources in the community and social services.  I’m obviously doing the legal part. And we hope to continue replicating that and growing in new areas. 

Charity Matters: What are your biggest challenges?

Rachel Rutter: One of the biggest things I remember getting really frustrated with was applying for different grants.  It’s really hard to get your foot in the door as a new nonprofit. Nobody wants to take a chance on you, you’re tiny, and they want to see that you have money before they give you money. But you can’t show them that unless someone gives you money. It’s just kind of like a chicken and egg problem. So that was really frustrating.

We took classes on grant writing.  I just practiced and got better over time. Eventually, we did a grant in partnership with HIAS which was the first ever grant that we got. Just being able to say that this other foundation gave us a grant went really far. Being patient, learning how to talk about your mission in a way that people want to fund it. Because it’s really important. It’s like writing a thesis in college where you have to structure it the right way so that people want to support it.  That was a big learning curve for us.

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

Rachel Rutter: It can be really hard, but the most important thing for me has always been like the relationship that I have with the kids that we work with. So that’s definitely like the biggest motivator for me. I also have a very supportive family, husband, and friends who work in this industry as well.

So I feel like I have not only my team, my project like that, but also my colleagues from other organizations  who are always supportive. We can always like work together to solve problems.  It can definitely be challenging, but I feel like I have a good support system. Working directly with the kids is what gives me energy. Usually, that’s what I’m trying to focus on. If I need to push through, I’m thinking about the kids and that connection that we get to have with them.

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

Rachel Rutter:  In terms of our impact, we served over 1000 people last year. The times I think when I feel like the most impactful are when a student shares some things that were going on in her family.  After hearing this we were able to provide support with that. There was food insecurity in the household and so we went grocery shopping. It doesn’t always have to be complicated. This kid said I need food and we went to the store and we got food and like that was that. My colleagues and I do stuff like that all the time.

I think those are definitely the moments for me that are the most rewarding when you can just help somebody in such a concrete immediate way. So I love that we have the ability to do that. Sometimes those kinds of moments don’t necessarily get captured in the numbers you put in a grant report. 

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

Rachel Rutter: I have two thoughts about that. One is to continue expanding and replicating what we’re doing now in our current locations. Having the combination of lawyers and social workers reproducing that in new counties as we grow.

Then the other thing I would love to do is to have some sort of shelter for youth who are 18 to early 20s. Something that we run into a lot is youth who have housing insecurity. They don’t either have anywhere to go because the foster care system doesn’t help them once they are 18. We run into cases like that where kids don’t have anywhere to go. There are really limited options currently for them. We would really love is to eventually have some sort of space for kids like that. So that would be  another dream that I would have for the future. 

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

Rachel Rutter: I think one thing is just like the importance of these relationships with the kids.  So I think just the value in those long term relationships is so important, and like sustaining for me. I’ve definitely been learning to delegate more, now that we have more staff.  It’s always hard for me to kind of let go of things because this is my baby.

 I also realize when I’m feeling burned out that having a good team that you can trust to do things so that you aren’t trying to do everything as one person is really important. I’m learning to  relax a little more. A lot of things work themselves out if you wait long enough. 

Charity Matters: How has this journey changed you?

Rachel Rutter:  I think when I started this out, I was a little bit naive about how difficult it might be to get funds. So like I mentioned, I’ve learned a lot there. I just think I have more confidence in myself and my knowledge as an attorney.  We’ve really developed our niche where we are the local experts working with this population.

I think that took me a long time to kind of see this as like a real thing and now other people see it that way 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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Charity Matters Inspiration

Season 8 Premier! Episode 80: Change for Good

Welcome to Season 8 of the Charity Matters Podcast Premier! It is really hard to believe that this is already Episode 80 which truly blows my mind. We took a little longer hiatus between seasons than anticipated but having never written a book before I truly had no clue what the process of a book launch entailed. It turns out it takes as much or more time than writing one, who knew? Live and learn.

We have some fantastic people lined up this season that I am thrilled to introduce you to. For today’s episode, I am doing my second solo podcast. In our very first episode I spoke about what we hoped to achieve with our Charity Matters Podcast. Looking back it is amazing to see the change and growth in the rearview mirror. We are in the top 5% of podcasts in our category which has some pretty impressive people. Join us today for a shorter episode as we talk book and all things Change for Good.

This is my first time reading aloud from the book and sharing a little about the journey. Most of you have come along the way for much of it. Since Giving Tuesday was yesterday and we are officially in the season of giving it seemed like the right message at the right time. I hope it gives you some food for thought as we kick off the holidays.

I will be getting into the holiday spirit myself with the Change for Good New York City book launch. I am really looking forward to meeting so many incredible people I have interviewed over the years and never met in person. You may remember a few of them; Natalie Silverstein of Simple Acts Guide, Ian Sandler of Riley’s Way, Daniel Zauder of Grass Roots Grocery and Becky Fawcett of Help Us Adopt just to name a few. Each of these incredible people have given their life to serve others. They are the best of humanity and many of their stories are in the book as well. My holiday gift to myself is to give them huge hugs for being so incredibly generous sharing their journeys with us.

It should be a terrific trip. I am also excited to be speaking to a remarkable group of women at Impact 100. These amazing women have created an incredible giving circle where they give generous grants to nonprofits all over New York City. So as we pack up those pumpkins and pull out those holiday lights, let’s take a moment to think about how we can change for good by making this season one of meaning, kindness and love in action.

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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What Matters?

Thankful

 

Today is the day that we take time to be thankful. This year, this day and this moment I am grateful for many things, my guess is for many of the same things you are;  health, family, friends and for all the amazing nonprofit founders who continue to inspire and teach so many invaluable life lessons.

This year has been a challenging one for me personally. Yet, every time I have a conversation with one of these inspiring founders its as if someone hit a reset button for me that leads me to gratitude. Each founder has sacrificed their life to make others lives better. Every one them remind us all what really matters and just how much we have to be grateful for each and every day.

Giving birth to Change for Good has been an unbelievable journey and one that has literally just begun. Not even two months in and the book contunues to make bestseller on Amazon. I’m heading to New york for the East Coast launch and next week is the Season 8 premiere of the Charity Matters Podcast. So much to be grateful for! I think what has lifted me more than anything is the reaction to the book. When people text or share that the book was a “game changer and reminded them what matters.”  Those are moments that make all of this worth it.

 

So  today, my wish for you is that you can find those moments with the ones you love. I am grateful to each person who has come into my life and for all of the lessons they have taught.  Most of all, I am grateful to each of you who continue to inspire, teach and motivate on this journey. To each and all of you, I wish you and your families a very joyous and Happy Thanksgiving!

 

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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What Matters?

Finding Gratitude not just in November

There is no joy without gratitude. The two go hand in hand, and you simply cannot have one without the other. In a moment of joy, you are full of gratitude for the gifts you have been given. Watching a child being born, experiencing nature, being with someone you love or playing with your dog—each of those treasured moments is an experience of gratitude when you make the choice to appreciate the moment.

Gratitude is more than just a simple “thank you.” It’s a powerful force that can transform our lives in profound ways. Gratitude is a critical part of our growth, our healing and evolution. The process of knowing that you have enough and being grateful for every precious breath, bite of food, night of safety, moment with a loved one and appreciation for the gifts we have transforms our lives in powerful and profound ways. No matter how little we have, there is always room to find something, even breathing, to be grateful for.

In the past twelve years of interviewing nonprofit founders, I have discovered some common themes in these amazing humans. These superheroes share more than a few traits that make them successful, purposeful and joyful. The number one trait is gratitude. I would say that most of the people I’ve interviewed have experienced some sort of loss in their lives that triggered them to act to serve others. Through their healing,they find a renewed purpose and gratitude for being alive. The other ten to twenty percent of nonprofit founders had either a close call in life or such a profound sense of gratitude that they knew that they somehow needed to pay it forward. Gratitude is a force that propels us forward, like rocket fuel, it can boost and change our lives in profound ways.

For some reason we seem to think gratitude is as seasonal as pumpkin spiced lattes. Gratitude should be something we practice all year not just in the month of November. Here are a few ways to start your gratitude practice and to ensure it goes all year long.

Keep a Gratitude Journal

One of the most effective ways to cultivate gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal. Each day, take a few minutes to write down three things you are thankful for. These can be big or small. Over time, you’ll find that focusing on these positive experiences can help shift your mindset and make you more aware of the good things in your life.

Express Gratitude to Others

Take time to express your gratitude to the people in your life. This can be as simple as saying “thank you.” Letting others know that you are grateful for their kindness and support can strengthen your relationships and create a positive ripple effect.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment. When you practice mindfulness, you can become more aware of the things you are grateful for. Take a few moments each day to pause and reflect on the positive aspects of your life. This can help you cultivate a greater sense of gratitude and appreciation.

Create Gratitude Rituals

Incorporate gratitude into your daily routine by creating gratitude rituals. Start each day by thinking of one thing you are grateful for. These rituals can help make gratitude a regular part of your life.

Volunteer and Give Back

Giving back to others can help you cultivate a sense of gratitude for what you have. Volunteering your time  can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment. It can also remind you of the positive impact you can have on others, which can increase your own sense of gratitude.

Focus on the Positive

Make a conscious effort to focus on the positive aspects of your life. When negative thoughts or challenges arise, try to reframe them in a more positive light.

Practice Self-Compassion

Be kind to yourself and practice self-compassion. Recognize that it’s okay to have tough days and that you are doing your best. By being gentle with yourself, you can cultivate a greater sense of gratitude for your own efforts and achievements.

There is so much to be grateful for everyday, not just in November.

 

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

Finding Joy

This past week has been incredible and I’m still trying to get my head around all that has happened in just a few short days. Sometimes life can be overwhelming and we get caught up in how much we have going on.  We can focus on the to dos rather than on the joy that each experience brings. I have had to remind myself of this more than a few times.

Last weekend we celebrated my Dad’s 85th birthday which was the beginning of my gratitude. As most of you know, my dad has died more than a few times. He has seen the light and yet he was still here to celebrate a milestone birthday. As usual, my dad puts everything in perspective reminding us that each day is a gift. He is right! There is no joy without gratitude. I am so thankful to have my dad here for all of this.

We had an election and then the next day my dear friends hosted a beautiful book launch party for Change for Good. Living in LA my friends came from all parts of town, dealt with insane traffic to celebrate this milestone. It was such a special night having my family there and so many of the amazing people who have walked this journey with me. The joy was palpable. The excitement and feedback from the book has been overwhelming. People are buying six to ten copies at a time, giving them to friends. All of it has been surreal to say the least.

As if that wasn’t enough for the week, I was chosen to present the book to my publishing group the next morning. An incredible group of female authors that She Rises Studios brings together via zoom each week. That was a privilege and really fun. Later that evening we had our TACSC benefit to raise funds for the youth leadership nonprofit that is my day job. Another incredible night supporting people who serve and lead.

All of that brings me to my husband’s birthday, another opportunity for joy. His birthday is also the day before the anniversary of my parent’s car accident. Twenty-two years ago this week. I’ve been talking a lot about the book this week and as a result a lot about my mom. I have felt her guide me and her presence in all of this. My mom is the person who knew what joy was. She created it, she laughed all the time and she embraced life fully. Her voice and legacy is on these pages and everywhere in the book. I came across this picture of her recently and it is exactly who she was.

My mom knew life was precious and life is short. Hers was. She knew what mattered. I shared this the other night at the book launch and thought I would share it again here.

At the end of our one precious beautiful life people are not going to talk about how rich or how thin you were. They are going to talk about how you made people feel, who you helped, how you lived and how you made the world better through your kindness and love. I am not a perfect example of this but the hundreds of nonprofit founders who I have interviewed are. Their stories and lives are in this book and their examples of how to live and give. This is what we should all be focusing on because this is what really matters. There is no silver bullet for life. If there was a silver bullet it would be helping another person. It is the one and only thing we can all do to affect change for good.

Twenty-two years ago this week my life changed forever. So much good has come from that loss. When an earthquake happens, a city is reborn. When a forest fire creates a new forest those trees become a book to inspire others. There is no loss without rebirth. Twenty two years ago, Saturday I lost my mom. Twenty-one years ago this week we launched a nonprofit. One year ago this week I met my publishers and today I am here at this moment talking about my bestselling book with each of you. Life is precious, life is short. Use it well and use your beautiful life to change someone else’s. It is the best thing you can ever do to Change for Good.

My mom taught me so much about how to live and how to find joy. Her legacy lives on in so many ways. My hope is that her legacy can continue to inspire others to go in search of finding joy.

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

The Art of Good

I know its election day and the noise, the anger, the stress and the tension are building. It is a lot! Right now, especially depending where you live, it seems that we are really divided. That makes me very sad. However, I do truly have hope. If bell curves are real, which I believe they are, then we as a country are more in the middle together than apart. The media has used us as a tug of war to run to each side of that bell curve to be pulled at and torn apart. It is upon each of us to reach across the aisle to our friends, our family and our neighbors to begin these uncomfortable conversations.

This certainly is never a place for politics. Charity Matters is a community where we come together to help one another, to serve one another and to learn the path back to strengthening our social infrastructure that is very broken. There are so many light workers in the world trying to connect us in positive ways.  One of them is an app called Starfish Social where they are gathering like minded helpers, like you, and connecting people to work together for causes they care about. They have a podcast called The Art of Good and I was a guest last week  and wanted to share the conversation here.

As we all search for ways to build bridges back to unity during this uncertain time. We need to look within and begin the process by creating real connections. These connections are the glue that holds the fabric of our society together and it starts with each of us, real humans connecting with real humans. You are the glue that holds your family, your neighborhood and your community together. You are the connection and the glue that makes it all work.

So in order for our communities  to thrive and continue each of us is going to have to grow, to stretch ourselves and to change. Change is what scares us all. The fear in the world today around the election is the fear of the unknown. The fear of change and feeling a lack of control over our future. The reality is that change is the one constant in life we all share. I think most of us can agree that  change looks best in the rearview mirror. This too shall pass whatever it is. We will adapt, grow and learn to accept it. Let us hope that in the process we can all lean into one another to create change for good in all we want to see and become.

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

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Charity Matters Inspiration

Mom to More

I have to admit that God blessed me with amazing friends, truly incredible people that lift me up and have helped me in the darkest of times. There is really no greater gift besides good health than good friends. Especially my girlfriends, they are fun, kind, strong and many of them are wonderful connectors. Always saying, “Do you know so and so? You need to know them!” Through my friends, I am constantly meeting and making more friends. That is exactly how I met Sharon Macey. One girlfriend connecting another.

 

Sharon stayed home and raised her three fantastic now grown children. She realized that we all have second chapters after motherhood but there wasn’t a place to tell those second half stories. So Sharon decided to do it herself and in the process created her own second half and the very successful and popular podcast Mom to More.  It is a place where we can tell our stories of being home with our children and how we ended up where we are now.  I’m really loving being the guest these days and not the host.  Please take a listen below to a great and fun conversation.

Most of you began following Charity Matters when I was a stay at home mom who had just co-founded a nonprofit with a group of friends. When I began Charity Matters, I simply wanted to find out why other people started nonprofits. It was curiosity more than anything. I really wanted to learn other people’s stories. Today, thirteen years later I am just as fascinated with people’s journeys to serve.

Sharon is telling a similar story of mothers who put their careers on the back burner for their children. For many that isn’t an option and no matter where you sit in motherhood, the grass is always greener. Trust me. I have sat in both sections. When I stayed at home, I dreamed of the career I had left behind. When I went back to work, I longed to be home with my boys. There is never an easy path. Regardless of where life takes us, it is important to know there is always something ahead for each of us. We never know what that is.

Thirteen years ago, I would sit home and write this blog before I picked up my boys from school. This is how little our youngest son was then. Never, ever did I dream when I was home with my boys what amazing young men they would become. Nor did I realize then how many incredible humans I would meet and interview. Never did I imagine how many thousands of people would become a part of this community of helpers.

I could barely copy and paste a link back then, and tech is still my biggest challenge, but a podcast? The thought that Episode 80 and Season 8 is coming soon amazes me.  Being a guest on the Mom to More podcast was really fun. Sharon reminded me of those days when the boys were young. If there is one thing we never regret, it is time with our children and how quickly that time passes.

Time slips through our hands like sand. We each have different seasons in our lives. Somedays it feels as if the season is never going to change, like its Ground Hog’s Day, again and again. Then, something happens and things begin to move and shift. The change and evolution begins. You have been here for all of it, when my boys graduated from high school, then college, well you know the journey. Sometimes looking back makes you smile. This conversation reminded me how far Charity Matters and I have come and that is a good thing. Because we are all here to Change for Good.

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

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Charity Matters Inspiration

Change for Good is here!

There is a lot of noise in our world. Lately, with the election our world has gotten a lot louder and somedays its as if there is a tension knob and someone is turning it tighter and tighter. I don’t know about you but I want to jump off the merry go round after too much noise and just turn it off. I have found myself unplugging more and being more mindful of what media I am consuming because it is just too much.

Too be honest, most of this year I have spent my spare time writing. There was very little time for extra noise. Every moment I could find was spent creating Change for Good: The Transformative Power of Service as the Ultimate Cure. I am so proud to say that the paperback was released yesterday on Amazon and is now available wherever you buy books and your book store. Believe it or not it is distributed in 13 countries, who knew?  This  has been a remarkable process of taking the squares of each nonprofit founder’s story and creating a quilt of life lessons learned these past twelve years.  To kick off the launch the publishers at She Rises created this launch on livestream this morning and you can listen or view it on youtube in the play the episode link below.

There are  so many reasons why I am grateful to SheRises publishing this book. First, they have created an incredible community of women authors who they inspire and life up. So much of what I write about is exactly that, creating social infrastructure and community. When we come together in any way we are stronger, better, happier, connected and we can make anything happen. Just like a nonprofit that creates change through community, She Rises also creates change through community. 
It makes sense because SheRises founder, Hanna Olivas is also a nonprofit founder. She is a living example of what and who we talk about every week on Charity Matters. Someone who was dealt a really crappy hand and used it to help others.  I will let Hanna tell her story herself in a hopefully upcoming episode of the podcast, so I won’t spoil it here. To say that she gets it and that She Rises gets it would be an understatement. As you know, I don’t belive in coincidences and I do not think it was one that I ended up with this amazing group of women. I am truly grateful!
So thank you to all of you who pre-ordered. The physical books come to me Novemeber 1st and I will sign and send them to you asap. If you want signed copies please order them through here and send me an email or reply to this post with who to address them to after you place the order, especially if you are buying for Christmas. For all our international audience here are the lnks for you to order as well. 

 

Lastly, thank you again for being a part of this movement to make our world a better place one small act of kindness at a time. Thank you for being part of that kindness and this journey. We are better together, always.

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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Praying for Florida and North Carolina

Once again, I had planned on writing an entirely different post but as I write this Milton is quickly approaching Florida. By the time you read this it will have hit Tampa and the surrounding communities devastating so many who were already trying to recover from Hurricane Helene just thirteen days ago. It is unfathomable to imagine having to flee your home twice in two weeks time and not knowing what you will return to.

It is in times like these that we see who we really are. We see neighbors helping neighbors, we see the power of community, of connection and kindness. We see the best in humanity and who we should strive to be. All of that gives me hope in a nation so divided right now. We can put all of that division aside and simply reach out a hand to help someone in need. The time is now.

Speaking of need, I have read a few notes from nonprofits who are doing rescue work, Team Rubicon and Samartian’s Purse who said that what they need more than anything is funding. While donations of water and food and clothing are wonderful, those donations mean that people have to sort and organize. That process takes aways from the man hours that could be used ordering and distributing vital resources that are needed. I sent a little something and hope I can do more.

As we pray for Florida, last week I was interviewed by an amazing  Floridian named Naz Rose, for her podcast, Third Eye Talks. Naz and I had a conversation about what we do with all that grief and loss? How can we turn pain into purpose? Naz, not only works for a nonprofit but she coaches others on finding their way. She is amazing and you should definitely check out her website here. The episode is below and seems timely with all of the loss that so many are experiencing right now. You can listen here.

As we send prayers to Florida, I am choosing to focus on the power of community. Knowing what we can do when we come together for something bigger than ourselves. I know how amazing people are.

This past week I felt the love like never before with the kindle version of Change for Good out on Amazon. It is a little like art imitates life. Each week I write to you about the kindness of people, the power of community and giving. Last week so many of you purchased the book and left beautiful reviews. Thank you! At last check the book was ranked #5 in Spirituality, #13 in Spiritual Biography and #36 in Biographies of Religious leaders…not exactly sure how that happened? But I’ll take it!

Once again, thank you for all the love, reviews, emails it has been an incredible week. Next week the book is officially released in paperback. So much gratitude to all of you who continue to believe in good, do good and make the world a better place.

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

Coming together to create change for good

The world is a chaotic place. What I had hoped to write and what I am actually writing are two very different things. That is because in the past week we have seen attacks on Israel and a natural disaster of epic proportions in North Carolina, Florida and Georgia. Watching millions without power, food or water is absolutely devastating. My prayers go out to everyone in the area and all who are suffering in both areas.

Some people love to give to international aid organizations and others try to find local causes, so I wanted to provide a few resources for Ashville, NC here, if you are so inclined to help.

Speaking of help, I wanted to thank all of you for yours with the digital launch of my new book, Change for Good: The Transformational Power of Giving as the Ultimate Cure  I am so thrilled to announce that the book is available digitally on Amazon and I would be incredibly grateful if you considered picking one up and writing a few words on a review. The paperback comes out October 15th and the hope is to get to bestseller status before that date with downloads and reviews.  I am learning so much about this industry and truly appreciate your support. 

The overarching theme of the book is that service is the silver bullet. When we come together to support one another through good times and bad we build social infrastructure, create bonds, connections and become stronger. We are witnessing the power of community right now in North Carolina.

Speaking of community, I have been incredibly touched by the groups that have reached out for me to speak, to do book clubs and signings and have felt this incredible community connection and gifts. My advice for anyone who wver wants to feel loved, write a book. The love I felt from everyone I have ever known and from this beautiful community has been beyond remarkable. So thank you all for reconfirming my belief that people are good and that we can all create Change for Good!

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

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Charity Matters Inspiration

Strong Inside and Out

Thank you all for your amazing support with the new book, Change for Good: The Transformative Power of Service as the Ultimate Cure.  Writing the book was an isolating and often lonely process. There has been so much joy in connecting with like minded people to talk about the book and it’s mission.  Last weekend I was in Omaha, NE speaking at the National Christ Child Society was fantastic. Connecting with amazing women who work hard every day from across the country to make their communities stronger through service.

One of the other amazing women I have met on this journey is the remarkable Cheri Dixon. Cheri and I met through our publisher and immediately connected.  She has spent a lifetime in education as a principal and leadership consultant. As you know, my day job working with hundreds of schools and running a youth leadership organization, makes me a principal super fan. I love great educators and leaders and Cheri is definitely that! We more than hit it off.

In addition, to helping schools and business in leadership Cheri hosts an incredible podcast called Strong Inside and Out where she inspires women to lead. Cheri is an author and a true ray of sunshine. So if you get a minute to listen to our conversation, you can below.  Definitely  take a minute to follow Cheri for incredible inspiration and insight.

As I told the amazing women at the convention this weekend:

We decide how we use our time and choose to live our lives. People like to talk about balance. I truly do not care for that word at all. Life is not about balance. It is about choices. It is that simple. Yet, somehow after we get our work done, our laundry, make dinner, flip through our social media and realize that we put aside all of the things that really matter. It’s time that we change that script. It is time that we make choices that give us more joy, more gratitude, purpose, connection and physical and mental health benefits that we receive when we give. We are privileged to serve.

We know we can not lead unless we serve. Everyone in this room is a leader and serving your community. You are all bright lights in your communities who have been chosen and called to serve. Part of being that light is igniting it in others. Spreading the word of helping another.  It is easy to make this about us but it really about continuing to spread the light in an often dark world. 

It will take all of us to shine as bright as we can. I know we can.

CHARITY MATTERS.

 

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Non-Profit Heroes

The big reveal…this is getting real

I wanted to touch base and give everyone an update on what’s going on, as well as apologize for the radio silence last week. It has been a crazy couple of weeks for sure. We were evacuated from our mountain house because of fire. Now the fires have died down, and we are allowed to return, I thought I’d share all of the great things that are happening.

Change for Good: The Transformative Power of Giving as the Ultimate Cure is in the final stages of editing! We are so close and I am really excited to share the cover with you all today. So here it is….

 

This journey has been a wild one, writing a book in six months, something I wasn’t sure I could do. I felt vulnerable, unsure, nervous, excited and a whole host of emotions. The process of pouring out your soul onto paper along with your life is more than a bit scary. Once I got past chapter 4 it felt great.

The editing and learning all of the crazy things involved with marketing are an entirely different learning curve. One that I am still learning. One of them has been to collect testimonials and I have to say it has been one of the most humbling experiences to hear from the people I have met along this journey. The kind words have really lifted my spirits when I have been overwhelmed, which has been more than a few times.

We are now able to take pre-orders now via this link . The  book will be available digitally on October 1st on Amazon and after October 15th in printed edition on Amazon.  I’m  heading to Omaha today, to speak to the National Christ Child Society about Change for Good and share the message about service as a silver bullet.  Next week I promise to give you the update.

Thank you all for your continued support. I am hugely grateful for you and this amazing community of helpers and people who care about making our world better.

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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Looking at the numbers….

I hope you had a great Labor Day weekend and are enjoying this short week! Speaking of labor,  I work hard and want my work to matter, to make a difference. I admit, I am a little competitive too. However, I’m not always good at metrics and score keeping. People ask me about stats and numbers for our subscribers, listeners and all of that and to be honest, I am so busy creating that I rarely look. Should I be looking more often? Yes, I know. I’m more competitive  with myself than with others.

If I look and see that we are not doing as great as another podcast that can sometimes stop me from moving forward. I understand that analytics are important but somehow that isn’t the measuring stick that I usually use. My measuring stick is your comments, your emails, when you tell me something you did because of what you read here. That is what fuels me forward.

Last week I was the guest on a terrific new podcast called Mom to More. The format is interviewing women who have been at home with their children for at least ten years and telling their journey back to work. It was a great conversation. During our talk,  Sharon Macey, the host, mentioned her new podcast ranking. I asked her where she found her data. Because getting insights from Apple isn’t the easiest in my experience. She told me she uses ListenNotes

Naturally, I pulled up Listen Notes and discovered that we are ranked in the top 5% of podcasts in our catagory out of over three million podcasts in the world. WhooHoo! I was over the moon to see those numbers and that is because of you! All of you listen and share these episodes, spreading the word of people doing good. Since today is the International Day of Charity, I can not think of a better way to celebrate. I am so grateful to this beautiful tribe. You are the people changing the world each day by investing in kindness. You make choices what to listen to and you choose good. I am beyond grateful to you, thank you.

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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