Charity Matters

What began with an 11-year-old boy, a pumpkin pie, and a promise to his mother has grown into a nationwide movement of families serving families. Rob Adams, founder of Thanksgiving’s Heroes, shares how a childhood experience of receiving kindness inspired him to create an organization that now delivers thousands of pounds of food to families facing food insecurity.In this heartfelt conversation, Rob shares his journey from hardship to purpose, the importance of keeping promises, and why the greatest gift of service may be what happens to the people who give. His message is simple but powerful: have courage, listen to those little whispers calling you to help, and never underestimate the impact of showing up for someone else.

What began with a teenager’s baseball card collection has grown into 26 years of service through Cans Can Ministries. Greg Poole and his family turn sports memorabilia into meals for seniors, beds for foster children, school supplies and so much more throughout rural Southern Illinois.In this powerful Season 11 premiere, Greg shares how personal heartbreak became a life of purpose, why his family is at the heart of everything he does, and how showing up for one person can change everything. His story is a reminder that we don’t need to know someone’s story to know they need help, and that sometimes the biggest wins begin with simply doing something for someone else.

Season 10 of the Charity Matters Podcast turned out to be about much more than the inspiring people I interviewed. It became a season of unexpected personal lessons about asking for help, taking one step at a time, walking beside others, navigating grief, and discovering that service is simply love put into action.As I reflect on the season, the Camino, and the loss of my beloved Aunt Sheila, I’m reminded that the people we meet often teach us exactly what we need to know. This is a reflection on Season 10, and the lessons that were there all along.

Sometimes making a difference begins with something as simple as putting one foot in front of the other. More than three decades ago, chiropractor Steve Smith invited a group of patients to meet him at the Rose Bowl. His goal was simply to help people feel better through movement. However, something unexpected happened along the way. A running program became a community, strangers became friends, and the Pasadena Pacers grew into Pacer Nation. Steve’s story is about connection, kindness, service and the power of showing up for one another. His message is also beautifully simple: You don’t need to know every step before you begin. You simply need to take the first one.

In this inspiring conversation, Jane Veron 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, The Acceleration Project (TAP), 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.

In this episode of the Charity Matters Podcast, we sit down with Julie Coyne, Founder of the Southeast Community Foundation, to explore how a childhood battle with polio and the kindness of others shaped her lifelong commitment to serving children. Julie shares why helping students build confidence is just as important as improving reading and math skills, the difference between career success and finding your true passion, and how investing in one child can change the future of an entire community. This inspiring conversation is a reminder that lasting impact begins when we choose to truly see and believe in others.

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?

What if art wasn’t just something we experienced but something that moved us to act? This week’s Charity Matters episode introduces you to Jessie Fahay, a true “Ripple Effects Artist” who is transforming the way we think about theater, storytelling, and service. Jessie doesn’t just create powerful productions ....she creates experiences that spark conversations, challenge perspectives, and connect audiences directly to the people and causes working to change our world. Her work sits at the intersection of art and advocacy, reminding us that when we feel something deeply, we have a responsibility to do something with it. This episode will leave you thinking differently about the power of creativity and your own ability to make a difference.

What if the moment that changed your life… became the reason you changed someone else’s?In this week’s Charity Matters Podcast, Episode 104: The Power of Sight, we meet Gianny Cardenas, founder of Power of Sight, a mobile nonprofit bringing vision care directly to underserved communities. But this story is about so much more than glasses. It’s about loss, faith, and the unexpected way purpose can emerge from pain. After the tragic loss of his mother, Gianny found himself searching for healing and what he discovered was that by helping others see, he began to see his own life differently. This powerful conversation is a reminder that sometimes the greatest impact begins with simply noticing and seeing a need, seeing a person, and choosing to act.

Some stories ask you to listen. Others ask you to feel. And then there are the rare ones, like this one, that ask you to walk alongside them. This episode introduces listeners to Robb Pollard, a husband, father, entrepreneur, and now the founder of Walk With Me Brother, who is about to do something extraordinary. On Monday, Robb began a 2,500-mile run across America.....not because he’s a runner, not because it’s easy, but because he knows what it feels like to be at the very bottom and wonders if his journey might help someone else choose to stay. This isn’t about miles. It’s about meaning. It’s about one man’s decision to turn pain into purpose and to remind us all that asking for help might be the bravest step we ever take. Tune in!