S3 E12: A Little Something Extra with Valeriia and Anya

This week we are so excited to introduce the Executive Director of CASA Kane County Jim Di Ciaula!! Recently honored with the 2024 William D Barth Community Service Award, Jim is an extremely active member in his community. In his role at CASA Kane County, he leads this volunteer driven nonprofit that is dedicated to giving children a voice in court and hope for a brighter future. Not only does Jim do this for his job, but for his life! As the founder of Random Acts Matter, he inspires individuals to foster compassion and kindness through acts of support and connection! In this episode we learn all about CASA and Random Acts Matter as well as reflect on our mentors in life, embrace the gift of serving others, and be grateful for the life we have. Don’t miss this uplifting episode, we hope you are inspired to spread kindness!   Watch the video version of this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@alittlesomethingextra

Join us as we hit it out of the park with Bill Leroy! Bill has been the catcher for the Savannah Bananas for the last 7 years. The Savannah Bananas are more than just a baseball team. In these games, the players break into dance and other antics in a baseball game to entertain the fans!! In this episode we learn all about Bananas Foster which is a non-profit organization committed to helping bring families together in the foster care community. Not only did we hear everything about the Bananas, but we also learned about Bill’s go-to way to impress others. Grab your peanuts and hotdog as we load the bases with Bill’s faith, baseball experience, favorite dance moves, and inspirations; a recipe for a homerun! Watch the video version of this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@alittlesomethingextra

Meet Brad Ludden! We are so excited Brad to introduce pro whitewater kayaker, philanthropist, and founder of First Descents onto our show!!! From kayaking in Madagascar and Africa to being the inspiration behind the naming of Nose Breaker Waterfall in Norway, Brad’s life is all about embracing the extremes. In overcoming fears, Brad shares the importance of enjoying what you do and having fun. Brad turned his passion for the outdoors combined with his Aunt’s battle with cancer into a mission of hope for others-- founding First Descents to provide adventures for young adults facing cancer when he was just 18 years old. Nearly 25 years later, Brad has given the gift of a life-changing adventure to thousands of people. Join us on our incredible adventure with Brad Ludden! Watch the video version of this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@alittlesomethingextra

We are excited to be joined by Curtis Hargrove, a Canadian endurance athlete and philanthropist renowned for his long-distance fundraising efforts. From running the Chicago Marathon in 3-inch red high heels to completing 34 marathons in 34 days, Curtis exemplifies unwavering commitment to making a difference. On A Little Something Extra, he shares his story and his determination to make an impact, no matter what it takes. Throughout his fundraising journey for various causes, he has faced numerous challenges, including a medical pause during the Chicago Marathon, an unexpected arrest on the highway, and last-minute issues like losing access to an RV. Starting his philanthropic work at just 15 years old, Curtis has shown his superpower through extraordinary advocacy. So, kick off your shoes, relax, and enjoy!  Watch the video version of this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@alittlesomethingextra

Join us in a conversation with the creator of a nationwide beer collaboration benefiting people with Down Syndrome!! Pat Craddock, a dad from a Detroit suburb, wanted to take his two passions: His son, Ian, and beer and create an opportunity to give back to the Down syndrome community. Luckly, Pat is the CFO of Griffin Claw Brewing Company, and he was able to launch the TRI-21 Project. TRI-21 Project is a worldwide, open-ended beer collaboration created to raise awareness for individuals with Down syndrome during World Down Syndrome Month (October) to World Down Syndrome Day (March 21st) and raise support for GiGi’s Playhouse. In this episode, Pat tells us all about the inception of this amazing project and his dream to have it spread across the country! Pat is the man and someone we are extremely lucky to call a friend. So kick back, crack open a cold one, and enjoy! Watch the video version of this episode at https://www.youtube.com/@alittlesomethingextra

Kim and Jen, Co-Founders of the new dating platform for adults with Autism, join the show! The Mix is a new platform for helping adults with autism find love or friendships in a safe and fun community! Kim and Jen have been working in the Autism community for a long time. Kim is a school psychologist and Jen is a social worker and BCBA. In their experience, they both noticed the lack of resources available to people with disabilities after high school, especially the lack of resources that help develop social skills and relationship building. So, they created a platform to help people with autism meet new people, build relationships and just socialize in a safe environment! In this episode we talk all about; the inception of this idea, the current environment for people with autism and other disabilities, how the platform works and the importance of love and relationships in the lives of everyone! This episode is so important because it sheds light on a new resource that so many desperately need. To learn more about The Mix, check them out on social media @TheMixDating or visit their website at www.themixdating.com   See the video version of the episode here.

We are joined on this episode by Courtney and Thomas Hawthorne III, or T3! You may have seen him on social media when a video of him hitting a home run went MEGA viral! We saw the clip and knew we had to get them on to share their story! Thomas is your everyday 9-year-old kid, but also has a condition called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, which is a genetic bone disease that causes fragile bones that easily break. Though T3 has this diagnosis, he still loves sports, playing with friends, playing video games and exploring the world! His mom, Courtney, created his platform to share his story and show the world that even when diagnoses can cause limitations, life should still be lived to the fullest! In the episode, we hear the story of his diagnosis from his mom’s perspective. She talks about how she never expected to be on this turbulent journey and how the family has fully embraced it. We also discuss the impact that sharing milestones in life can have on people’s perceptions. T3 then tells us a bit about his joys, dreams, and aspirations in life! This heart-filled episode shows us that, regardless of what life throws at us, we can all hit it out of the park! See the video version of this episode here

 This episode features an amazing mother! Katrina Placzek and her daughter, Dallas, can be seen all over social media spreading awareness about the importance of understanding and inclusion! Dallas was diagnosed at 2 years old with Cerebral Palsey, but her diagnosis sure hasn’t stopped her from living her best life! Katrina, Dallas’ mom has been an amazing advocate for her daughter, sharing her journey and helping spread the importance of inclusion! This has led her to creating a non-profit called The Recess Project! In this episode, we hear all about Dallas and Katrina’s story. Starting with Dallas’ diagnosis and the fear it brought to her young mother. We then dive into how amazing Dallas’s life has been along with some of the limitations that inspired her mom to step in! Katrina then shares her journey starting The Recess Project, a non-profit that helps in creating more inclusive playgrounds for kids with disabilities. It is an amazingly humble episode, that will touch anyone’s heart! We hope you enjoy it! See the video version of this episode here.

Advocate and non-profit entrepreneur, Reilly Cate Ferguson, joins the Show!! At just 13 years old Reilly walked into GiGi’s Nashville to volunteer her time, having no connection to disabilities. The experience was so impactful on her that at just 15, she started her own non-profit serving people with Down syndrome! As founder and president of Brushfield International, she is on a mission to enhance the global Down syndrome story by providing community, hope, and support to people impacted by Down syndrome! In this episode, Reilly tells us the story of her journey, starting with her time volunteering at GiGi’s Nashville, her inspiration to start Brushfield International, and how she has been able to balance life as only a freshman in college! She shares what she has learned so far, how her connection to Down syndrome was formed, a beautiful message to the world, what the future holds for her, and of course her inspirational ‘something extra’! This episode is all about being a change-maker and how it doesn’t matter your background, the key is just finding your purpose! With this one, we hope to inspire more people to live like Reilly! See the video version of this episode here

On this episode we are joined by Valeriia and Anya, known on social media as VallitFit and Anyundik . They are sisters, fitness influencers, and advocates showcasing their amazing relationship and fitness journey all across social media. What is even more incredible is Anya has done all of this while having an extra 21st chromosome! She isn’t letting that little something extra stop her from showing the world her strength. In this episode we hear all about their journey, from growing up in Ukraine, then being separated and finally reunited in the United States! Valeriia tells us all about how this fitness journey began, where it has taken them and how her sister quickly stole the spotlight. Anya shows us some of her favorite workouts, her incredible art skills and we learn a lot about their healthy diets. This episode is filled with lots of heart, laughs, plus some important lessons about staying healthy and loving family. A perfect episode for anyone to see! We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Watch the video version of this here.