Small & Gutsy: Nonprofit Stories with Heart

Episode #80, Parts I & I When you think of sustainability what comes to mind? Is it protecting the environment, proactively and effectively managing the climate for future generations to enjoy vs. using up what we have and finding other planets in which to inhabit? - The old throw away concept and let someone else deal with it - those someone elses are our children and grandchildren.  Maybe it's s...

Getting the news I have breast cancer was one of the most devastating messages I have ever received, not only for me but for my family - we are all affected by this disease in ways that many people don't realize. I remember thinking, I am almost the same age as my grandmother when she died of breast cancer and I desperately wanted to have a different outcome - with all the progress made over the l...

What if you could financially support a nonprofit organization, doing what you personally believe contributes to making the world a better place, without actually spending even a dime? Sounds too good to be true, but this time it's too good and very true! There is something in algorithmic data collection and internet savviness that makes even the most limited math student, me, understand the value...

Leadership is a huge topic that is often so tough to define;  I have read articles that state that leadership can be taught; I have read articles that say leadership is something that is just inherent in you, either you have it or you don't; - that seems quite ominous  - almost like a weeding out process - like being chosen first or last for the basketball or volleyball team in gym class - why was...

Imagine you just heard the words, you have cancer or any other type of disease that needs treatment; I heard those words and my heart sank and my fear rose. However, I also knew that whatever medical care I needed would not be far away. I live in Los Angeles with some of the best medical care options; prior to that I lived in a suburb of Boston, also another amazing medical community. In fact, I o...

How do you define 'home'? - a place where you can let your hair down, be yourself, be safe, feel a sense of belonging? But what if that home were just an empty space, would you still feel the same? What if that home didn't have your thumbprint, meaning your input on how it was decorated where you could truly find peace, knowing that this sacred space was a part of your caring community? It's not t...

THE TABLES HAVE TURNED for this Episode!! Fully Alive's Mary Meduna Gross interviewed me! I had the opportunity to share both about Small & Gutsy - its origins, and some personal details about my journey and a recent hiccup - Breast Cancer! Here are some Episode Highlights: How do you handle things when life throws difficult circumstances and challenges your way? In this episode, Laura Wittcoff sh...

I remember putting my kids to bed at night when they were young - giving them the security and comfort of knowing that their worries should be about their little life, not the big issues of financially and emotionally supporting them, giving them a roof over their heads, food, clothes and the importance of having a safe space in which to sleep - a bed of their own which may seem like a privilege,...

What matters to you? It's a different question than what makes you happy, according to our guest today whom I will introduce in a moment. Happiness stems from what really matters to the individual and many of us have lost our collective understanding of what matters means. But, it's not too late - there's hope for our youth and there's hope for the rest of us! Finding out what matters to each of u...

I try to remind myself to be hopeful in times when I feel the walls are crashing in around me, maybe because of some bad news, like anything that threatens my children, my family, my health, my livelihood, the relationships I love and care about or maybe because of the state of the country, the world; perhaps a tragedy that is far away but feels so close to home emotionally. Usually, an initial fe...

In 2007, Amber and Tony Bender faced the unthinkable; they heard the words, your daughter, Addi has a brain tumor. Addi was sixteen months old and underwent with her family a year of surgeries, chemotherapy, hope and heartache, and finally, the sadness of brave Addi needing to let go - I truly cannot imagine the anguish…. Established in 2008 in honor of their daughter's loving spirit, Addi's Faith...

Creating Creators Foundation is the nonprofit side of Creating Creators, LLC, the for-profit organization that partners with school districts to help guide and develop students and teachers to discover skills and talents of their own that help them define who they are to the world and by doing so, how they can contribute to an industry that perhaps felt unreachable to them. Creating Creators is co...

Imagine hanging out on the beach with friends,  the sun is beaming, the waves are crashing and totally perfect, you have a beer or maybe a margarita or maybe a vape or a joint in your hand and are ready to party…this may seem like a typical scene for a lot of folks and, yet, it can also be a trigger for those who are in recovery or who want to embark on their recovery journey. Replacing those same...

Everyone wants a home, but a home is not a home without knowing you can support yourself in it, and be empowered to be part of a community - we are, in fact, all in this together. 55 years ago, in 1968, as a response to the discriminatory inequity in jobs, housing, and other basic rights exposed by the Civil Rights Movement, a group of folks founded Abode Communities in California, a nonprofit soc...

Remember your first concert, remember the excitement, the smells, the anticipation, remember being wowed by the band, remember standing up or maybe standing on your seat  ready to join in with the crowd as a familiar cord was struck on the guitar or keyboard and sing or scream along - almost forgetting that you're an audience member - we get caught up in that glorious moment, but most of us don't...

Big Sunday is the big equalizer in my book - it brings people together in service to others - I cannot imagine a greater mission.  Big Sunday was the brain child of  Founder and Executive Director, David Levinson, beginning in 1999 as a Mitzvah Day Project at his Temple  (Mitzvah meaning good deed as a way to repair the world) and with 200 volunteers that day, David imagined a much bigger purpose...

It's Autism Awareness Month! Jazz Hands For Autism, I just love the name, is a nonprofit organization that provides wrap-around artist education, development, promotion and placement for learners and aspiring artists on the autism spectrum enabling them to explore and express their talent. Services offered include: The Jazz Hands Concert Series: a semi-annual concert series and performance platfor...

Today's podcast is featuring an organization that is doing something significant to fight this catastrophic fentanyl poisoning epidemic. Stop The VOID was formed to bring to the public's attention, through education, awareness and legislative advocacy, the immediate danger of sudden death associated with the use of illicit drugs laced with deadly fentanyl. Their purpose is to educate youth about t...

My incredible guests today are a combination of parent and peer - incredible parents, Jeff and Kathy Long who saw their daughter suffering and felt helpfless to do something about it - although they tried everything and found that there were resources that were not accessible in one place or not accessible at all or if they were, they were adults sharing their professional and sometimes personal e...

Ever wonder why people come into your lives at certain times? Ever wonder in hindsight, why you neglected to trust your gut or second guessed yourself? Well, this podcast, we hope will renew your faith in whatever it is that you believe..G-D, karma, luck, spirit or power animals, humanity, faith, signs, really amazing friends, the list is endless; I am here on Podcast 61 of Small & Gutsy to remind...

Points For Patriots provides the foundation for Patriot Fellows to build an athletic fundraiser in their community alongside Veteran Mentors to raise money for military families in need. AND, Along the way, Fellows and Mentors learn lifelong lessons in Wellness, Social Entrepreneurship, and Connectedness. Their long-term vision is to engage young people with Veteran mentors in all 50 states. Point...

Rainforest Flow is a nonprofit that delivers clean water, sanitation, and hygiene programs to indigenous people in Manu Biosphere Reserve in Peru's Amazon rainforest.  Their collaborative, integrated, and sustainable WASH  (water,  - sanitation - health) programs empower indigenous people to become stewards of their own health, their environment and their resources which ultimately provides them a...

The horse spirit animal represents freedom, adventurousness, mobility, independence, friendship and endurance. This majestic animal known for its beauty and stature has also endured pain, neglect and abuse through domestication and mistreatment for use in gambling, entertainment and sometimes, just pure gluttony.  Esta Bernstein is the Founder of Saffyre Sanctuary, a horse rescue and rehabilitatio...

Today's episode highlights an incredible organization that is affiliated with JNF, Jewish National Fund, and yes, JNF doesn't fit our criteria of being under 10 million dollars, but the affiliate organization, The Lauder Employment Center, known as the LEC certainly does - I chose to not only highlight them for this episode, but ask you to please consider a donation for my April 1st./April Fool's...

Threads Worldwide, a fair profit ( notice I didn't say for-profit) , social impact organization, was founded in 2011 by three women exemplifying Margaret Mead's words,"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."   These women are, in fact, changing the world. They partner with artisans in developing countries by...