The Why I Help Podcast: Recent Episodes
Joanie Sigal
The WHY I HELP (WIH podcast) provides a growing media channel to individuals who are helping others in their community, state or nation to better their lives. WIH interviews business leaders, sports figures, celebrities, philanthropists, and humanitarians who created or are major supporters of charities, charitable foundations, scholarships, etc., or individuals who are just doing good work. The purpose of WIH is often overlooked in today’s world. WIH communicates good news and positivity through personal stories. We aim to create a platform giving ‘momentum for good news’.
Arizona resident Camerone Parker had a normal upbringing and happy childhood. Her father, who worked in Sports Medicine, and her mother supported her dreams of becoming a model. Camerone actually started modeling by accident. She had just returned from Paris where she completed her master’s degree at the Sorbonne. While shopping in Century City, CA, an agent scouted her and asked her if she had ever thought about modeling. She took his business card, but she really didn’t take him seriously because modeling and fashion were not on her radar. Fast forward to now, Camerone has appeared in over 350 magazines, has been the face of skincare giant Olay, appeared on billboards for brands like Ralph Lauren and POLO and featured on “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show,” and “The View.” Camerone’s professional modeling career began at the age of 23. She moved to Europe and immersed herself in the fashion industry, learning the craft of modeling, fabrics, and walking on the runway. Camerone left her first agency, Elite Models, and moved over to Ford Models where she made her mark as one of Ford Agency’s first classic models Camerone served as muse to Johnsun Silks, which created beautiful hand-painted silks and a design line for Crystal Cruises. She has also been a muse for Bert Keeter who designed for Halston. Camerone modeled for designer Peach Carr’s on “Project Runway” an owns over 15 unique designer items from the show. In January 1998, Camerone was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The decision was made not to say anything to anyone other than her family. Understanding this diagnosis could potentially end her career – Camerone needed every modeling job possible to pay for her continued care and drug therapy (She had no medical insurance until 2003). In October 2009, Camerone went public with her private battle to raise awareness about the disease and empower other women. After suffering a heart attack suddenly last year, Camerone’s life purpose continues to be to further push the conversation about patient resources and education, and complications that can arise in treating heart attack symptoms in MS patients. A philanthropist, Camerone was bestowed the prestigious AFP National Philanthropy Day Volunteer Fundraiser Award celebrating the millions of dollars she helped raised for numerous charities. She also supports the National MS Society, Race to Erase MS; American Heart Association, The Gentle Barn, Frosted Faces Foundation and several other animal welfare/rescue charities.
April Lott, LCSW, is the President & CEO at Directions for Living, a CARF-accredited 501(c)3 not-for-profit child welfare and behavioral health organization providing a comprehensive network of services promoting safe and stable families. Directions for Living is based in Clearwater, FL and has a staff of approximately 250 employees and over 100 volunteers. April has transformed Directions for Living to being a leader in the philosophy and practice of trauma-informed care. April Lott holds a Master of Social Work degree and has over 30 years of experience in the provision of child welfare services in Florida. During the last 15 years, April has grown Directions for Living into a diverse organization which integrates child abuse prevention programs, homeless outreach services, diversion services, and a wide variety of supportive child welfare and behavioral health services which touch the lives of over 40,000 individuals, children, and families each year. In addition, April works on many boards and committees at a local, state, and national level with a focus on child welfare, behavioral health, early childhood trauma, and child abuse prevention. April is the current Chair of the Pinellas County Crisis Intervention Team training for local law enforcement agencies, Chair of the Homeless Leadership Alliance Providers' Council, and an appointed member of both the State Child Abuse Death Review Committee, and the Statewide Crisis Intervention Rapid Response Team. Additionally, April is a frequent featured guest speaker on local television talk shows discussing issues related to relationships, mental health, and wellness. April Lott is a native Floridian born and raised in Pinellas County, a wife of 36 years, and the mother of two adult children.
C Michael Armstrong (born October 18, 1938 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American business executive and former AT&T chairman and CEO. He tried to reestablish AT&T as an end-to-end carrier but, due to the dot-com bust and various other issues, he was forced to break the group up in 2001. He resigned in 2002 and was succeeded by AT&T President David Dorman. He is also the former CEO of Hughes Electronics, and Comcast Corporation. He worked for IBM from 1961 to 1992. He served as a Director of Citigroup from 1989 to 2010. Armstrong is a member of the Alfalfa Club and the Council on Foreign Relations. He received his BS in Business at Miami University in 1961. Mike has donated approximately $100 million to cancer research, among other causes. Here are some of his recent philanthropic endeavors: Funded and created the Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality. Funded an endowed chair in Genetic Medicine for Greg Semenza. Semenza has since been awarded both the Lasker and the Nobel Prize for his work. Support scholarships for students at Hopkins and Miami University in Ohio (Mike’s alma mater). Support arts and educations programs for NYC Stars program that helps support, motivate and engage inner city kids at risk. Support a health clinic in Naples Florida for Collier County residents who are below the poverty line and don’t have health insurance. Support Mayan villagers in Guatemala with schools, health care and general living infrastructural improvements. Support families of soldiers who have lost their lives in combat.
Rachelle McCray is a nationally recognized Television Show Host, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist. She is also a patient whose mother, Mindy, is a kidney transplant recipient and the inspiration behind her non-profit organization, The MinMinBear Foundation. In 2011, Rachelle’s mission to help others gained a voice in the form of a crown when she won the title of Miss Arizona United States. During her reign, Rachelle dedicated her year to educating and advocating for kidney disease patients while teaching the importance of living organ donation. Rachelle worked as a spokesperson traveling to various conferences, making press appearances, and volunteering on behalf of organizations like The Donor Network of Arizona and the National Kidney Foundation. During her year as Miss Arizona, Rachelle also created the MinMin Bear Initiative, a temporary program that generated monetary benefits for organ donation recipients and their families in Arizona. The program benefited the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona and was covered widely by the local press and supported by many local businesses. This program motivated the launch of an official 501(c)3, a non-profit organization, The MinMinBear Foundation. In Rachelle's professional life, she's been in the media industry working as a TV Host and Producer for over 15 years. Most recently, you might have seen Rachelle shopping with millions of people from all over the country, as a home shopping host for QVC. Although she is best known for her role on the CW's Mother of all Pageants, some of her favorite career highlights include hosting on major red-carpets like NBC, HBO, CMT Awards shows, and more. Rachelle's interviews have included some of Hollywood's biggest celebrities, music icons, and sports stars, including Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hanks, Ava DuVernay, Felicity Jones, Reba McIntire, Zac Brown Band, John Legend, Larry Fitzgerald, and Kurt Warner, to name a few. When she is not on set or the red carpet, you can catch this happily married newlywed with her husband traveling the world, organizing a community project, or attempting to teach their Lhasa Apso, Daisy, new tricks.
Sandy Kearney has 35 years experience in management and office solutions. As a consultant in office solutions, Sandy would go into an office, identify the weaknesses, implement policies, evaluate the staff, write job descriptions, conduct management meetings between the staff and their respective managers with an end result of a more effective staff that worked as a team. By streamlining the operation of the office, the savings to the companies were significant. Her ability to quickly organize and identify problems has been a benefit to everyone she has worked with. Her passion for children has led her to the place she is today, the President and Founder of Angels Against Abuse, Inc. which started 16 years ago with a group of 4 individuals which now has a membership of 90 volunteers. Our mission is to make a difference in the lives of children and youth who have been abused and neglected and give them hope for a better tomorrow. During the Angel Journey, there have been programs developed that have the most impact on our most vulnerable children. As changes occur in the system, the Angels make it their business to do the research and make changes that will have the most impact on these children. The Angels consider themselves the “connectors” in the community and through their famous annual Child Advocacy Expo, the Angels have been successful in getting the community partners to unite and work together as a team with a greater impact on these children. It is the desire of Angels Against Abuse to become a model for other communities to follow in hopes of making a difference in the lives of children who have suffered things none of us want to think about. The Angels want to be a part of the solution to rid this rising problem in our country by starting with our own community in building awareness to others.
John is the founder and CEO of the most advanced truck driver training simulator company in America, Advanced Training Systems. John has spent over 30 years in the driver training field. As an industry leader his experience includes the operation of multiple schools throughout the United States for truck driver training where the need and application for the use of simulation as a training tool was obvious. Over 100,000 students have benefited from training within the scope of the companies. He has been an expert in the field of training and simulation for over 30 years. His list of accomplishments as a leader in the business world includes operations in many countries throughout the world. His experience, and leadership is now directed to improving the lives of thousands of drivers with ATS’s innovative driver simulator training His company believes in offering a superior product at a price that brings stellar ROI. This is the basic philosophy that has driven John in all his endeavors through the years and, at present, his management of ATS. John is involved with several charities. And by involved, we don’t mean just signing a check. Tampa Bay Research Institute: This is a research non-profit that is involved in curing diseases such as cancer. He is the Secretary of this organization and a Board Member. http://www.tampabayresearch.org/ Florida Sports Hall of Fame: This organization is another one that you should review the website to learn about it. He is the treasurer of this organization that operates statewide promoting sports and physical development in youth. He has been involved for more than 10 years. https://flasportshof.org/ Angels Against Abuse: This nonprofit was founded by John’s wife, Sandy, over 10 years ago and I am on the Board. He does whatever his wife asks in preparing to assist abused and those at risk of abuse. This organization has a wonderful facility where children that have been removed can meet with their family in a safe environment. It is the emergency supplier of items for children right when they are removed and they have many programs to change children’s lives and give them joy in their tough times. https://www.angelsagainstabuse.org/ KML Foundation: John is the Chairman/President and a Board Member of this organization which is operated by a great 4 member board that has been with the organization since June of 2007 when it was formed as a result of Elmer Krauss who, at his death provided the funding, and allowed the board to determine its non-profit objective. The organization provides grants to students going to college or vocational training who are residents of Pinellas, Hillsborough or Pasco counties. All applicants are interviewed to see that they meet the organizations qualifications. Grants are available throughout their education regardless of the degree or technical training they are seeking. Many students have benefited from this program that may not have been able to gain an advanced education without this funding. http://www.kmlfoundation.org/
Dr. Escudé is a board-certified Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a Fellow of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine with over 20 years of clinical experience providing medical care for people with IDD and complex medical conditions. He served as medical director of Hudspeth Regional Center in Mississippi for those with severe and profound intellectual and developmental disabilities until his retirement in June of 2018. He is the founder of DETECT, the Developmental Evaluation, Training and Educational Consultative Team of Mississippi, whose purpose is to educate, train, and support community-based medical and dental providers who provide care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and in July 2018, he was named President of IntellectAbility, previously known as Health Risk Screening, Inc., where his role includes building on the time-tested “Health Risk Screening Tool.” He is also the author of “Clinical Pearls in IDD Health Care” and of the “Curriculum in IDD Health Care” that is used to train physicians and other clinicians about healthcare for people with IDD.
Nick Saifan served in the U.S. military for 24 years, including time stationed in Riverside County, CA. He experienced firsthand the difficulties of transitioning from military life to civilian life and, as a co-founder of a community-based nonprofit, he watched the difficulty in getting donations increasing year by year. Today, he’s putting his business savvy where his heart is. He sees a community that, like many, has struggled to evolve with a changing employment picture in the region. Today Vendaval Corporation visualizes a sustainable business structure creating the opportunity for helping those in need with successful community-based programs. The differentiator in the communities he visualizes is self-sufficient affordable housing in a mixed-use development that offers on-site programs for veterans, youth, education, childcare, on-the-job training, and job placement. These programs begin even before ground is broken. Rounding out the community are retail outlets such as bakeries/coffee shops, dry cleaning shops, a paid-membership fitness center, and financial institution. For more information visit http://www.vendavalcorp.com/
Sim Shain is a national registered paramedic who started his EMS career in March 1993. Since 2007, he has worked per diem as a 911 paramedic for the largest provider of Advanced Life Support in NJ. In 2012, he earned the Paramedic of the Year Award from the State of New Jersey. He is also a member of the Lakewood Township Water Rescue Team. Sim holds a Bachelor's Degree in Talmudic Law and volunteers with numerous organizations, including Howell Township First Aid and Rescue; Hatzolah EMS in New York and New Jersey; Chai Lifeline, Camp Simcha for children with cancer; Camp Simcha Special for children with disabilities and special needs; ZAKA International Rescue and Recovery; and Misameach Spreading Smiles.