True Stories of Good People: Recent Episodes
GoFundMe
True Stories of Good People is a podcast about people who are making a difference in other people's lives, or have had their lives changed by someone kind.
Sara and Edgar are the married co-owners behind Nixta Taqueria—a beloved restaurant located in East Austin, Texas. Dedicated to their community, they've gone above and beyond to ensure their community is always fed, regardless of life's circumstances. When the couple faced challenges keeping Nixta open, their community paid it forward and showed up for them in ways they never could have imagined.
DeJuan Strickland knows what it’s like to not be able to afford school lunch. After learning about how many other kids have experienced the same situation, he decided to do something about it. With the help of his mom, Sharron, DeJuan is helping to eliminate lunch debt for as many kids as possible throughout his community.
For Christy Wong and her family, animals have always been a big part of their lives—however, they never imagined that they would someday be operating an entire rescue farm. By creating a safe home for animals and a welcoming space for her community, Kauai Animal Education Farm is helping preserve the local Hawaiian culture and connection to the land.
Jelly Robinson is a hairstylist with a special gift for helping children feel safe and confident while getting their hair cut. With her mobile salon, Peace & Love Studios, Jelly is on a mission to make sure children with autism have access to sensory-friendly haircuts.
Inspired by their mothers' efforts to feed their local San Jose community, Ayaan and Josh are making a difference for those experiencing homelessness with simple peanut butter and jelly sandwiches—and they're inspiring other young people to get involved, too.
Inspired by their mothers' efforts to feed their local San Jose community, Ayaan and Josh are making a difference for those experiencing homelessness with simple peanut butter and jelly sandwiches—and they're inspiring other young people to get involved, too.
For the past three years, Hassan Abdus-Sabur has concluded a multi-hundred mile scholarship fundraising bike ride by riding onto the Howard University campus, exhausted and proud. In these moments when Hassan is surrounded by congratulations and applause, he can’t help but flash back to his own time at the prestigious school over 30 years ago, cut unexpectedly short by lack of funds. Not finishing school is Hassan’s only regret in life.
The bike ride started when the niece of Hassan's former Howard classmate also got accepted there, and her family became concerned about the high tuition cost. Propelled by his own past experience, Hassan figured out a way to help, and the resulting impact was far bigger than he ever expected.
For the past three years, Hassan Abdus-Sabur has concluded a multi-hundred mile scholarship fundraising bike ride by riding onto the Howard University campus, exhausted and proud. In these moments when Hassan is surrounded by congratulations and applause, he can’t help but flash back to his own time at the prestigious school over 30 years ago, cut unexpectedly short by lack of funds. Not finishing school is Hassan’s only regret in life.
The bike ride started when the niece of Hassan's former Howard classmate also got accepted there, and her family became concerned about the high tuition cost. Propelled by his own past experience, Hassan figured out a way to help, and the resulting impact was far bigger than he ever expected.
After Annel Alvarez had her son Adrian, she was going through a pretty dark time in her life, feeling a sense of losing her identity. She knew she needed to do something to pull her out of it, but also knew she couldn’t do it alone—so she called up an old friend with an idea: “let’s start a dance troupe!” A pretty simple idea on its face, but what turned out to have so much power to build community, celebrate Hispanic culture, and provide space for healing.
When Shanice Fleming left her career as a chef in New York City to start her own business as a farmer, her path seemed straight and clear. But with the help of mentors, community, and a beautiful epiphany, Shanice found something more—the desire to promote Black representation in the cut flower industry through her business, Queenz Cut Flower Farm.
The Watson family is committed to feeding their neighbors in their small town of Frazeysburg, Ohio. What started as a community food pantry has grown into an ice cream truck that delivers free hot meals—and of course, ice cream.
Photographer Jeff Rease is dedicated to honoring the stories of WWII veterans through portraiture. What started with one photograph in Alabama has grown into an international project featuring more than 290 veterans, and he has no plans of slowing down any time soon.
When a high school all-girls robotics team from Huntsville, Alabama landed a seat at the Tech Challenge World Championships, they weren’t sure they would be able to afford to compete. Lucky for them, their local community came to the rescue. Their presence at the competition made history, and they continue to inspire other young women & girls in their community by showing there is a seat at the table for them in the world of robotics & STEM fields as a whole.
When a chance encounter on the internet brought together Anne, a Black female professional fiddle player, and Amanda, the only Black female violin maker in the United States, the serendipity wasn't lost on them. They immediately knew that with the help of their community, they could make history—and inspire others to live out their dreams.
As a non-binary content creator, Laurenzo knows first-hand the struggles that LGBTQ+ youth face and how important it is to have a place where everyone can feel like they belong. That’s why they started the Laurenzo Community, a space for LGBTQ+ people to find and connect with each other online. Laurenzo starts a new GoFundMe each month to cover the membership fee for applicants who can’t afford to join the Laurenzo Community—but this Pride Month, Laurenzo is doing something even bigger.
When Joseph Gutierrez moved to Nashville in 2017, he started to ask himself some honest questions about his new city. He wasn’t sure what the city meant to him, and vice versa. To explore these questions further, he started to have conversations with other local folks from the Asian and Pacific Islander community, and realized there was an existing lack of awareness and understanding about their cultures and identities. In response to the rising anti-AAPI hate crimes following the pandemic, Joseph and his community felt compelled to do something to help—and they believed the power of stories had the opportunity to make a big difference.
While in a refugee camp as a child, Chef Alex Hanesakda watched his father cook meals for friends, family, and even strangers. It was in those moments when he learned how food could break down barriers and bring communities together. Now, years later, Alex has started his own restaurant that honors the refugee experience, gives back to the community—and most importantly, brings people together.
In communities that lack access to fresh food, healthy eating options are limited. To Chloe Moore, the solution runs just as deep as the roots of the problem. She works at Southside Community Farm, a small urban food space that provides access to fresh produce to those living in Asheville’s historically Black Southside neighborhood. And with plans to create more services that bring healthy food access to more people, Chloe also aims to change the narrative around agriculture in Black communities.
Taylor McCowan always knew that confidence is key, but one day while she was volunteering in her community, that phrase took on a new meaning. Taylor identified a surprising need in her local unhoused community—a lack of access to menstrual products, something that affects millions of people worldwide. In response, she decided to start a community service project in hopes of giving people much more than just confidence.
Not many kids get exactly what they want for their birthday for ten years in a row. But since Kai Martin was five years old, that’s exactly what’s happened. However, he never asks for what a typical kid his age might ask for; all he wants for his birthday, year after year, is for people to donate to a cause that has had a significant impact his family.
US Navy Veteran Kenny Jary – or “Patriotic Kenny” as he’s come to be called in his community – knows what it’s like to rely on a mobility scooter for even the most simple of freedoms. So when his own scooter broke down, his friend Amanda Kline started a GoFundMe to help raise funds for a new one. After receiving more help than they expected, Kenny realized he wanted to pay it forward. Using Kenny’s sizable TikTok following, the two set out to help other veterans and were blown away by what happened next.
Latanya DeVaughn believes that every neighborhood deserves a bookstore—even if it's just for one day.
When John Barry and Alison Brown unexpectedly lost their 22-year-old son Ian in a tragic accident, their hearts were shattered. They knew how much he meant to them, but only when over 600 people showed up to his memorial did they begin to realize what a profound impact their quiet, caring son made on the community as a whole. As a way to process their grief, they decided to give back to the community by spreading the love of Ian’s favorite outdoor activities and spreading Ian’s legacy of kindness and compassion.
Claudia Wheeler is a full-time mother, as well as an elementary school teacher based in Jersey City, NJ. On top of all of her other responsibilities in life, Claudia also manages to drive across the entire city, 7 days a week, on food rescue missions to help provide sustenance to those experiencing food insecurity in her community. In total, she has rescued and delivered over 130,000 pounds of fruit, vegetables, grains to families and organizations in need.
After he was kicked out of his family home at 15 for being gay, Kemar Jewel found his chosen family through the underground Philadelphia dance scene. There, he leaned into his passion for movement and truly understood how Black queer men can help each other heal from trauma. Now a choreographer and director, Kemar is blending art and activism to spread hope, love, and healing—all while uplifting Black LGBTQ voices.
When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the US, it shook New York City especially hard. In a matter of weeks, hospitals around the city reached capacity and quickly ran out of personal protective equipment (PPE). At a time when so many New Yorkers felt hopeless, New York native and tech entrepreneur Ben Wei found the courage to act. Now, one year later, he’s on another mission to help others; this time, to unite the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in the fight against hate, racism, and systemic injustice.
When Ashley Webb moved her family from Los Angeles to New Orleans in 2017, it was a huge culture shock. Not only was the city very different, but the neighborhood they moved into was considered a food desert, meaning there is no immediate access to fresh produce. Wanting to change this, Ashley and her husband started a community garden—and it blossomed into a much bigger project than they ever imagined.
Most people know will.i.am as the founding member of The Black Eyed Peas, one of the most popular hip hop groups of all time. Aside from music, however, Will actually has another passion: education. Since founding the “i.am.angel foundation” in 2009, Will has worked tirelessly to set up robotics programs in schools, get kids into STEAM fields, and help high school students get prepared for and accepted into college. Today, he is raising funds to expand these programs and help even more kids make their dreams come.
For formerly incarcerated individuals, safe, stable and affordable housing is the foundation of a smooth reentry into society. Unfortunately, it’s often the most difficult resource for them to obtain. Recognizing this need, one San Francisco Bay Area collective—run by and for formerly incarcerated Californians—is bringing housing and other necessary resources to people who have been similarly impacted by the criminal justice system. Not long ago, a collective member purchased a house where people who have recently been released from prison can live while they get back on their feet.
When Katie Blomquist was in her mid-20s, she left her career in marketing and PR to pursue something more personally fulfilling: teaching. After landing a job at a school in Charleston, South Carolina, Katie quickly fell in love with her students. When she learned that most of them didn’t have access to simple childhood pleasures such as bicycles, she wanted to change that. What started out as a singular act of kindness has grown into a movement that is bringing joy to kids in Charleston and beyond.
Eleven-year-old Genevieve may be young, but she has big dreams. After going through the application process to foster a kitten, she was inspired to start her own nonprofit organization to improve the foster matching system in her local area. While Genevieve’s efforts are virtual-only for now due to COVID-19, she dreams of someday expanding to an in-person rescue center where she can house and care for animals of all shapes and sizes.
When 5-year-old Dana Perella was at a speech therapy session she met another young girl named Mila, and they became fast friends. Over the years, Dana’s speech challenges went away while Mila’s got worse. Other health issues started coming up for Mila as well, and she eventually received a diagnosis of Batten disease, a neurological disorder that worsens over time. When Dana heard that Mila’s family needed to quickly raise funds for a potentially life-saving clinical trial, Dana wanted to help, so she started baking cookies and selling them around her neighborhood. What started out as a small local project has grown into a nonprofit organization that aims to find a cure for all rare childhood diseases.
Dion Dawson is a fighter in more ways than one. As a veteran, he served in the Navy as an award-winning member of his department’s communications division. As a civilian, Dion is the founder and leader of Dion’s Chicago Dream, a nonprofit that provides material resources, community connection, and thousands of pounds of fresh food and counting to residents in his lifelong neighborhood of Englewood.
When Julia Vitarello's precious daughter Mila was diagnosed with Batten disease at the age of seven, she was terrified and heartbroken. Determined to save Mila by any means possible, Julia set out to raise enough money to fund an experimental clinical trial, and what happened next made medical history.
When high school students and sisters Nanette and Krystal Amihere noticed that there were not many youth advocacy programs in their town, they decided to start their own in an effort to strengthen the community. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the sisters harnessed their program’s foundations and launched an initiative to make masks and cards for frontline workers and nursing home residents. What started out as a small, local project eventually saw young people from all over the world getting involved.
When Elijah Lee was in the first grade, he learned that one of his classmates was experiencing child abuse. He assisted her in getting help, but the experience left him with a heavy heart. Today, Elijah is 13-years-old and is a passionate teen activist who believes that all children have the right to grow up in safe, loving environments.
When the coronavirus swept through New York City this past spring, Brian Taylor had no choice but to close his dog grooming business to the public. But while in lockdown, his heart hurt for his community members and their pets. Under financial strain, many of them could no longer afford the essential grooming services that kept their dogs clean and healthy. So as soon as it was safe to do so, Brian began grooming pups at no cost while raising money for others. Since then, he’s expanded his mission across state lines through a mobile grooming service and has helped hundreds of people and pets stay happy and healthy through the pandemic.
Last year, 14-year-old Lorenzo Liberti discovered a passion to honor and help veterans in his community who were in need. Using his artistic talents, he carved beautiful, 3-foot long American flags by hand to benefit a local charity. When the COVID-19 crisis hit the country, he realized his flags could also help honor and support frontline healthcare workers across the US. Today, his heroic flags hang in hospitals around the country as an emblem of hope and thanks to the people working there—and he's raising money for veterans in the process.
Ra Ra Rollins is a full-time student at New York University and is going for his master’s degree in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness, with a focus on LGBTQ+ communities. However, Ra Ra’s journey to this path was not linear and he’s had to overcome a myriad of obstacles to make it a reality. One thing he’s learned throughout this journey is that, although it can be terrifying to put yourself out there, vulnerability can lead to beautiful things.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, frontline workers have been risking their lives every day to keep vital services going for those who need it. Many of them need support themselves but don’t have the time or energy to seek it out. In response, a group of mental health professionals created a solution that allows frontline workers to easily access therapy—free of charge.
Mark Lytal isn’t one to take a hot shower for granted. He never forgot his 20 years in the US Air Force, when deployment would often mean long stretches of time without running water and nothing but baby wipes to keep himself clean. His experience eventually motivated him to create a volunteer-led organization that provides hot showers and hygiene products to folks experiencing homelessness. To date, he’s helped thousands of people stay safe, clean, and hopeful.
When 8-year-old Madi Wilson noticed that there weren’t any crayons at school that matched her skin color, she told her mom she felt sad. Motivated to help all kids feel seen and represented, she launched a project to help deliver multicultural books & art supplies to classrooms in her school—and it grew bigger than she ever imagined.
Shawn Dromgoole's family has lived in the same Nashville neighborhood for over 50 years, and he has lived there for his entire life. After hearing about the deaths of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, Shawn became fearful of walking alone in his own neighborhood and shared his frustrations online. What happened next was a show of support that Shawn never expected, and it has grown into an entire movement across the country.
Josh Santiago knew he wanted to be a barber from a young age. What he couldn’t have imagined is that he’d end up taking his skills to the streets and offering haircuts to those most in need—completely free of charge. In the last five years, Josh has used his talents as a barber to brighten thousands of people’s lives in his Philadelphia community and beyond, and he has no plans of stopping anytime soon.
Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, 15-year-old Hita Gupta received a disappointing phone call. The local nursing home where she regularly volunteered was letting her know that she wouldn’t be able to visit again anytime soon due to the high risk for their residents. Hita was worried that the seniors would be lonely with no visitors, and she wanted to make sure that they felt loved and taken care of. What started out as a simple act of kindness turned into something much bigger than Hita ever dreamed.
When 7-year-old Cavanaugh Bell was bullied, he said he felt a darkness inside him. He didn’t want other kids to feel the same way, so he asked his mom if she could help him spread some positivity in the world. Now, they have started their own nonprofit organization that advocates for bullying prevention, and they have pivoted their efforts to serve communities in need during the COVID-19 crisis.
In the aftermath of 9/11, David Sylvester, like so many other Americans, was feeling immense pain and anguish. He really wanted to do something to help, but didn’t know where to start. Then, he discovered one very simple but powerful thing that did help on a profound level—a hug. And that simple concept has turned into a 19-year-long mission to repair the fabric of humanity, one hug at a time.
Iyabo Boyd is the founder of Brown Girls Doc Mafia, an initiative advocating for over 4,000 women and non-binary people of color working in the documentary film industry from around the world. COVID-19 has impacted the filmmaking community hard, and also disproportionately affects people of color. To support their community in a time of great need, Iyabo and a team of volunteers launched a fundraiser—and the response was bigger than they ever expected.
Common Roots Farm in Santa Cruz, California is a very special place. Not only do they produce delicious fruits and vegetables, they are also a non-profit, volunteer-based farm whose mission is rooted in creating a space that fosters full inclusion of people of all abilities, to farm together in partnership.
When Khloe Thompson was 9 years old, she started asking her mother questions about people experiencing homelessness. After learning more, she knew she wanted to help. What started out as a simple idea to give someone a care bag with necessities has turned into an entire movement. And 4 years later, Khloe is more inspired than ever to keep making big things happen.
When Brad Kaimack received a tax refund that he wasn’t expecting, he knew he wanted to use it to do something kind for someone else. After hearing a story about the CEO of Chobani Yogurt paying off lunch debt for an entire school district, Brad decided to ask around in his local community to see if any schools nearby had the same problem. With the help of his partner Alx Utterman, this simple idea turned into something incredible that helped more families than they ever imagined.
Brianna Meeks has an offbeat but clear-headed dream to win back something that’s incredibly meaningful to her family. And after thirteen long years of wishing, she finally has the chance to make it come true. This is a story about family and history, of sorrow and hope, and above all... resilience and reclamation.
Brittany’s Baskets of Hope is a nonprofit organization that makes and delivers baskets to celebrate the arrival of babies with Down syndrome. Since delivering their first basket in October 2016, they have now sent over hundreds of baskets to families in all 50 states.
Today we’re catching up with two wonderful returning guests, Mike and Jenny Shaw of Team Jenny Bean. Jenny Shaw was only 6 years old when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. Despite going through such a scary experience at such a young age, she kept her spirits up the whole time, and helped her family do the same. Fast forward to today, Jenny is cancer free, and has turned her experience into a way to help other kids going through the same thing.
Brooke and Breanna Bennett always wanted to make a positive impact in their community, but weren’t exactly sure where to start. When they heard about young students in their mother’s class at school who couldn’t afford menstrual hygiene products, they came up with an idea for how to help—and it turned into something that grew bigger than they ever imagined.
Katie Ishizuka and Ramón Stephens are the powerful duo behind “The Conscious Kid”, an education, research, and policy organization dedicated to equity and promoting healthy racial identity development in children. In addition to their incredible advocacy work and their amazingly popular Instagram account, they have recently harnessed their community to help provide rent relief for families struggling during the COVID-19 crisis.
Christopher Vane has always had a deep connection with animals. In 2017, he moved to Southwest Florida to be closer to his parents, and at the same time left his career in real estate because he no longer had passion for the work. He was thinking about what to do next, when a new dream came to him, suddenly clear: Chris wanted to open an animal sanctuary to give a safe and happy home to animals living in less than ideal conditions. With conviction and a clear vision, Christopher got to work, and a few years later, the Little Bear Sanctuary was born.
To her local community, Marcella Thompson is a living angel. Marcella saw that many local families were struggling to make ends meet and felt compelled to help. And so, for the past 4 years she has been helping to feed and clothe the children in her neighborhood. The impact she has had in these kids’ and families lives is profound, and has grown to encompass so much more than providing meals.
Minneapolis-area parents Ron and Shani Johnson have always taught their two young daughters to love other people and to give back. After the death of George Floyd, Ron was feeling lost. Following in her parent’s footsteps, Kamryn, Ron & Shani's oldest daughter, came up with an idea for how to help their community when it needed it most — and the results surprised everyone.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted millions of families across the United States. People are facing job loss, depleted savings, food insecurity, and so much more. Minda Brusse and Alex Iskold wanted to figure out a way to make an impact for these families, and came up with a truly innovative idea that has taken on a life of its own.
Karida Collins is a small business owner based in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to her passion for hand-dyed yarns and fibers, which she sells at her store Neighborhood Fiber Co., she is also deeply passionate about her local community. Following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the protests that erupted around the country, Karida had an idea for how to get her community involved in a big way — and the results are truly astonishing.
Ever since Ellie Laks was a young girl, she felt a deep connection with animals. Their gentleness and unconditional love has always touched her, and even helped her get through some dark times in her life. Fast-forward to 1999, Ellie was on an errand and happened to drive past a petting zoo that was keeping the animals in terrible conditions. Outraged, she set out to rescue as many of the animals as she could and give them a new home — and what happened next surprised even Ellie.
In the summer of 2017, 20-year-old Gabi Angelini was on the job hunt like most young adults her age. What she didn’t anticipate, however, was how many employers would turn down her application because she has Down Syndrome. Rather than letting the frustrations of the job search bring her down, Gabi decided to open her own business instead: and Gabi’s Grounds was born.
Sean Sotaridona is an 18-year-old master magician who has gained a following of over 12 million on TikTok. Sean is passionate about using his platform for good, so in addition to creating videos that bring joy to people around the world, he has teamed up with his father, Leo, to help feed struggling families in Leo’s home country of the Philippines during the COVID-19 crisis.
Grace Berbig was only 10 years old when her mother passed away after a three-year fight with leukemia. Grace promised herself she would do something meaningful to honor her mother’s memory — and Letters of Love was born. Grace’s efforts have helped send over 60,000 cards filled with love to children around the world who are battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. With the world now grappling with the COVID-19 crisis, 18-year-old Grace has launched a new effort to help children who are battling illnesses in the hospital, isolated from their families, and it’s growing more than she ever expected.
Hoops 4 Hope is a nonprofit organization that provides a basketball league for men experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia. Over time, multiple shelters across the city got involved and every game day brings so much excitement. The love of the sport brings everyone together, but the most powerful part of Hoops 4 Hope is the community that has formed as a result.
For the past 7 years, Alex Branson has been entertaining and educating children in Brooklyn, New York through her dynamic music classes called, “Lavender Blues”. She pours her whole heart and soul into each class, and works to create a warm, inclusive atmosphere where children along with their parents and caregivers can enjoy a loving experience with each other, and build community with other families. When Alex finally found the perfect brick & mortar space for her classes to live, she needed to gather funds quickly to make the dream a reality — and her community rallied around her in a way that she never expected.
Evan Feinberg is the executive director of the Stand Together Foundation, an organization that aims to end the cycle of poverty in America by building a movement of bottom up human empowerment, which includes building community among nonprofit organizations across the country that are doing work in these spaces. When the COVID-19 crisis hit, there was more need than ever, and most of the organizations in their network had to completely pivot their missions to match the current need. Stand Together wanted to help, and what they were able to accomplish was beyond their wildest dreams.
For over 25 years, Mohamed Bzeek has been exclusively taking in foster children who are sick or terminally ill. Mohamed’s inspiration comes from his late wife, Dawn, a former foster mother and advocate for better foster care, who passed away in 2014. Today, Mohamed honors Dawn’s legacy by dedicating his every waking moment to providing a loving home for these children.
Rob Kaiser is a proud resident of Wilmington, North Carolina. Aside from his time spent publishing at a local newspaper, he is passionate about his community and the people who live there. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Rob was heartbroken to see how many people were being affected, and especially the front line workers and first responders who were putting their health and safety second to others every day. With the help of a dedicated team, Rob was able to organize a truly incredible way to help.
Maggie Vo’s family started the Sate Grill food truck 31 years ago, and have been feeding the Boston community ever since. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, they, like many other food establishments were hit extremely hard. But, despite the fact that their beloved, decades-old family business is in danger of not surviving this crisis, they have chosen to focus on helping others.
Jen Wickens is the founder of Impact Public Schools, an organization that works to close the opportunity gap for diverse communities across Washington state. When all schools were officially closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jen knew that not all of the families she works with would have access to things like computers or even wifi -- so she set out to do something about it.
The artist community in Durham, North Carolina is something special. From their rich history to the deeply supportive nature of the community, looking out for one another is nothing new. So, when Heather Cook saw the COVID-19 pandemic start to affect her fellow community members in extreme ways, she knew she had to do something -- and the result is truly mind blowing.
In fall of 2019, devastating bushfires broke out in Australia and continued to rage for months, making it the worst fires in the continent’s history. Over 1 billion Australian wildlife perished in the fires, and our collective hearts broke around the world watching this terrible event unfold. Sometime in January of the following year, plush koalas started popping up in New York City, hugging signs, or metal poles. A note was attached to each one, sending passerby to a GoFundMe campaign. People were intrigued, but where were they coming from? Stick around for today’s interview to find out.
You might remember brothers Mike & Nick Fiorito from an earlier episode of our podcast where we introduced you to their incredible grassroots nonprofit organization, Blankets of Hope where they distribute warm blankets and notes of encouragement to people experiencing homelessness all over the country. Or from when they hosted the GoFundMe Heroes Celebration in San Francisco last november! Well, in true fashion, they haven’t stopped spreading kindness in the world and have launched an incredibly inspiring project that is something we all need, especially right now.
Nine year old Justin has loved frogs for as long as he can remember. So when he learned that nearly one-third of the earth’s frog species are in danger of extinction, he sprung into action and began raising money for his long-legged friends. But frogs were just the beginning. Now, Justin has become interested in recycling and has set his sights on turning the planet’s plastic trash into treasures.
The Ruby LA is an intersectional feminist comedy theater & school in Los Angeles, California, whose purpose is to lift up marginalized voices. They work to provide a space not only where diverse voices can shine, but where community can grow and thrive. Last summer, founder Lindsey Barrow got word that their beloved theater was going to be demolished to make room for condos -- in 3 months! They would not only have to scramble to find a new space, but come up with the funds to make the move. In the coming weeks, Lindsey and her dedicated team would come to find out just how supportive their incredible community really is.
Jeff Lew is just a regular dad from Seattle -- except he’s not. After discovering a widespread crisis called “lunch debt” in 2017, Jeff jumped into action and not only helped thousands of struggling families in his home state of Washington, but also sparked a nationwide trend of more people getting involved. Now, Jeff is at it again. As he watched the cases of coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, rise across the world and eventually in his own city of Seattle, he knew he had to act. The incredible response has shown Jeff, yet again, that when asked to help, people will answer the call.
A few years ago, Mary Davis and her husband Ari suffered the loss of their first baby to a miscarriage. To help them both process, Mary and Ari decided to give back to people in need by volunteering on Skid Row. They were surprised to see so many children living in homelessness there and it broke their hearts. Mary had an idea -- since they weren’t able to give their own child a birthday party, maybe they could throw one for these children. With the help of a local outreach organization, they not only made a birthday party happen, but they’ve thrown one every single month since.
In 2015, Chelsea VonChaz was out in town with her mother when the two witnessed something that broke their hearts -- they saw a homeless woman crossing the street while wearing blood stained undergarments. After some research, Chelsea learned that pads and tampons are rarely donated items and are not even required to be included in any shelter's operations budget. Chelsea and her mom knew they wanted to help so they gathered some friends and got to work -- and hashtag Happy Period was born.
You may have seen a viral video going around recently filmed from inside a New York deli & grocery store, also known as a bodega. The person behind the camera asks an unsuspecting customer a simple math question, and if they get it right, they have 5 seconds to pick up whatever they want from the store for free. What started out as a series of fun social media videos has turned into a national story with a simple but heartwarming message: kindness can go a long way.
Dr. Kwane Stewart has been a veterinarian for over 20 years. After spending an afternoon offering medical care to the pets of people experiencing homelessness in his area, he learned an important lesson: these animals provide more than companionship to their owners — they also offer love, hope, and security. What Dr. Kwane initially thought would be a one-off experience, has turned into a nine-year mission to help four-legged pets across Southern California and beyond.
22 years ago, Rachel Raimist was a film student at UCLA, following her dreams of being a film director. Then, in one fell swoop, her life was turned upside down. In a very short period of time, Rachel not only found out that she was pregnant with her first child, but that both of her parents had been diagnosed with cancer. Her life changed course at that point and her Hollywood dreams were put to the side. But 22 years later she got an unexpected phone call from someone pretty incredible, inviting her to come back and try again - and Rachel went for it.
What do you get when you introduce an Instagram legend from Sweden, an LA basketball league founder from France, and a former college basketball star with a commercial driver’s license? Answer: The Hoop Bus. Stick around for today’s episode to find out exactly what a Hoop Bus is, and how these 3 talented individuals plus their dedicated team are using it to inspire people around the country.
When four-year-old Tyler Stallings watched a video about veterans living on the streets, he knew that he had to do something to help. At first, he asked his mom if they could build them homes. She told him that unfortunately that wasn’t possible, but that they would find another way to help. So they went to the store, loaded up on clothes and toiletries, and headed to local shelters. Four years later, Tyler has now helped thousands of veterans—and he’s just getting started.
One Tuesday afternoon in St. Louis, Missouri, tornado sirens started going off. Amber Gilleylen and her teenage son Seth were driving by a gas station and saw a man in a wheelchair struggling to get across the street and away from the storm. Without even thinking twice, Seth jumped into action — and the resulting story is absolutely amazing.
Champale Anderson of St. Louis, Missouri noticed that her kids’ friends were always hungry when they came over to her house after school. After learning that many of their families didn’t have the means to provide them with more than one meal per day, Champale, a mother of six, was heartbroken. It got her thinking: were there other children in her neighborhood who were going hungry, too? That’s when Champale came up with an idea for how to help - and she’s been impacting her community ever since.
Kevin Upshur has called the Philadelphia neighborhood of Strawberry Mansion home for his entire life, so it was painful for him to watch as the area became consumed by drugs and violence over the years. When his family decided to close their neighborhood bar amid the turmoil, Kevin was determined to use the space for good.
When 5-year-old Jahkil Jackson first handed out food to folks living on the streets with his aunt, he was saddened to learn that not everyone had homes to sleep in. He wanted people experiencing homelessness in Chicago to know that their community cares about them, so he thought of a small solution that’s had a big impact. Seven years later, Jahkil has helped over 30,000 people in his community and beyond — and he’s not done yet.
When Daniel was 6 years old, his brother, Diego, was diagnosed with Leukemia. When he would go to the hospital to visit his brother, Daniel remembers feeling very sad for all of the other kids suffering in the hospital, especially when they had to stay for so long and couldn’t go home. 6-year-old Daniel decided to organize a toy drive to bring cheer to the other kids and the results were more amazing than he ever could have imagined. Now 16, Daniel is currently in the midst of his 10th toy drive, and despite some incredible hardships, he hasn’t missed a single year.
Lance Cooper is the creator of the Save Flint Challenge which works to provide clean water and support to residents of Flint, Michigan, as they navigate the awful water crisis that is still affecting their town. He’s been able to provide thousands and thousands of bottles to the community, and has raised incredible amounts of awareness long after the media stopped paying attention. He continues to organize regular handouts, even though he lives in a completely different state — and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Sergio lives in Brownsville, Texas, which is right on the Mexico border. Asylum seekers arrive daily but are simply dropped off at a bus station with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Many of them also need critical services, such as legal support, help finding family members, etc. The amount of need weighed heavy on Sergio and his friends’ hearts, and so they decided to help.
In 2017, Kofi Thomas came across a long-forgotten garden in Bushwick, Brooklyn that had fallen into serious disrepair. Where most people would have seen nothing but an eyesore, Kofi saw the possibility of something amazing: a beautiful public garden that could nourish communities in need while also bringing them together. Since opening to the public, the Good Life Garden has produced more than just vegetables—it has cultivated a sense of community that spans generations.
Thirteen years ago, Lisa’s mother died at the age of 64 from congestive heart failure in a tiny hospital room in Richmond, Virginia. Her mother’s death reflected a disturbing and persistent trend in communities across the United States – that black women die every day at alarming and disproportionate rate, and at far younger ages than their peers from largely preventable illnesses. This tragic and personal loss made Lisa notice that not a lot was being done to address this terrible trend — so she did something about it herself.
A few years ago, Charlie Hyatt went to her local VFW to volunteer and spend time with some of the veterans there and she learned of a heartbreaking issue: even after homeless veterans transitioned to permanent housing, they often didn’t have a single thing to their names, not even a pillow to lay their head on. This broke Charlie’s heart and she felt called to help -- and Help for Heroes was born.
On November 14th, the first annual GoFundMe Heroes Celebration took place in San Francisco, California, where we honored 5 community-nominated change-makers in front of a live audience. On today's episode, you’ll meet each Hero briefly and hear a bit about their stories and their excitement about the event -- hours before it happened!
Asha Curran is the CEO of Giving Tuesday. TSGP host Kelsea Little sits down with her to talk about the power of giving and kindness, Asha’s inspiring career, and some of the ways everyone can get involved in Giving Tuesday this year.
November is National Family Caregivers Month - caregivers are some of the hardest working people on the planet and they rarely get the credit they deserve. They not only care for their loved ones during incredibly difficult times, but they also carry the responsibility of keeping family & friends informed of any new updates or important information throughout their loved one’s medical journey. On today’s episode, I have the great honor of speaking with someone who knows first hand just how incredible caregivers really are, as well as a guest from an amazing organization that makes life easier all around on families going through tough times.
In 2017,10-year-old Sir Darius Brown was following the news of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and was especially heartbroken to see all of the displaced animals. This led him to do a little bit of research, and when he learned that not all animals get adopted from shelters, he knew he wanted to do something to help. With the guidance of his artistically talented sister, Sir Darius came up with an idea that has not only helped hundreds of animals find forever homes, but has even caught the attention of Barack Obama.
When Obocho’s mom told him they couldn’t afford to buy new toys, he decided to find a solution—not only for himself but for other kids in his community whose families were struggling to make ends meet. Over the course of a year, 10-year-old Obocho Peters started selling his gently used toys and clothing as a way to help families in his Brooklyn community. Now, he has big plans to take his online store to a permanent location, helping his community in more ways than one.
Ever since Tommy Maher was a first responder during 9/11, he was deeply affected not only by the extreme tragedy of that day, but also by the incredible kindness and community that was formed in the days after as everyone came together to rebuild. Years later, after the Route 91 shooting, Tommy found himself feeling called to honor the victims in some way - he came up with an idea that would end up taking him all over the world, where he found that kindness and hope prevail, even in the darkest of times.
When the nonprofit Elizabeth Agnello worked for closed its doors, she knew she had to act fast. Dozens of children with serious or terminal illnesses were looking forward to a holiday party that now seemed unlikely to happen. Elizabeth not only orchestrated the spectacular party that the children deserved, but launched an organization of her own to fill a need in the community. Her mission was simple: create a place of belonging while spreading hope and happiness to children in need.
When Yasir Salem met Gwen Mann, he knew he had found his person. They cherished their lives together and loved going on adventures. Years later, Yasir tragically lost Gwen after a long battle with various cancer battles. Since then, he has spent his every waking moment becoming an advocate for change and honoring Gwen’s memory.
When Bella Schorr was born in June 2015, her family got some unfortunate news: Bella had spina bifida. This meant that as she grew older, her paralyzed legs would keep her from crawling, and eventually walking. Faced with some challenging times ahaed, that’s when some of Bella’s relatives stepped in with an amazing idea that changed her life and launched a movement: Bella’s Bumbas.
Earlier this summer, Jonny Altrogge conquered an incredible feat - he biked the entire 2,700 miles of the Great Divide trail which runs from Banff, Canada, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. While this accomplishment is incredible all on its own, Jonny’s motivation for it was to inspire young kids of color, and help them see that the outdoors is for everyone.
One summer day in 2018, Julie Schwietert Collazo listened to an interview on the radio that changed her life: She learned of a Guatemalan refugee who had been separated from her children at the US border. Without hesitation, she sprung into action and helped this mother reunite with her children in New York—an incredible act of kindness that would end up inspiring thousands of people to join her fight for justice. Since that day, Julie has helped dozens of immigrant families find safety, happiness, and hope.
In August of 2017, 6-year-old Jenny Shaw diagnosed with cancer. Throughout her treatment journey, Jenny’s family was lucky enough to live close to the hospital, so they could be there all the time and make it feel like home for Jenny, which loved. However, Jenny noticed that a lot of other kids had few of these same comforts—or even visitors. So Jenny started a movement to bring joy to kids in the hospital and let them know they’re not alone.
International crochet sensation Jonah Larson started crocheting when he was just 5 years old - now, at 11, his beautiful designs and joyous spirit have gone viral and captured the hearts of people all over the world. In this episode you'll learn the origin story of Jonah’s talents, and hear about how he’s now using his gift to make a difference for others.
In 2014, Donnie Davis got a phone call about a local campground in southern New Jersey that was up for sale. A crazy idea popped into his head. It would require a lot of money and hard work, but it had the potential to help save the lives of his fellow military veterans. Donnie decided to take a leap of faith, and the result is more incredible than even he could have ever imagined.
As a social worker, Amy helped families of children battling life-threatening illnesses. To help kids express their hopes and fears, she often used dolls in play therapy. But as Amy worked with kids facing a wide variety of challenges, such as hair loss from chemotherapy to limb differences, she noticed that the children weren’t always able to see themselves reflected in the dolls that were available.
Seven years ago, Megs Yunn met an 11-year-old girl named Beverly who told her something heartbreaking: Beverly had never once celebrated her own birthday. Since that day, Megs has shown over 30,000 children in the Pittsburgh area that they are special, loved, and worthy of celebrating. Now her nonprofit, Beverly’s Birthdays, is helping kids look and feel their best with the help of a mobile fashion truck—and she’s nowhere near finished spreading birthday cheer.
Friendship is a beautiful thing that can enrich our lives in profound ways, but it’s especially magical when you find that friend who you not only share dreams with, but both of you push each other to make it happen. In this case, we have friends Sarah & Francine, and the dream is helping support Philadelphia’s homeless population. Today, you’ll get to hear all about their friendship, and the amazing things that have been born from it.
Braden Baker has worn hearing aids since he was 3 months old. Each device costs over $3,000 and isn’t covered by insurance, so when the family dog chewed one up, Braden’s mother Ashley wanted to use the moment to help him understand that while their family was lucky enough to be able to afford a replacement, many other families couldn’t. Braden had never thought about this before and thought it was unfair that other kids couldn’t afford to hear, so he decided to do something to help.
Rebel Ventures is a collective of high school students from the Philadelphia area who are making a huge impact in their city. What started out as an effort to bring affordable, healthy food options to Philly-area students has turned into a truly unique and inspiring community of young people who are entrepreneurial, extremely creative, and deeply dedicated to improving student’s lives, one meal at a time.
10 years ago, Philip Pavone was diagnosed with cancer. After a grueling battle, he recovered, but he came away from the experience with a newfound respect for those who are going through medical crises. Not long after, Philip began collecting unwanted motorized wheelchairs, refurbishing them, and giving them away to those who cannot afford them. His generosity has changed the lives of hundreds of families in Connecticut, and his advocacy has brought attention to an incredibly important and unseen issue.
Thirty years ago, Letitia Conliffe was living on the streets with her 1-year-old daughter, Chasity. Eventually, she got back on her feet and recovered, but the problems in her community did not. Drugs, broken homes, and hopelessness plagued her town and the children in it. Letitia knew from experience where that path could lead, and she didn’t want that fate for anyone else. So she dedicated her life to saving the children of Sulphur Springs, Texas.
Eric Jordan is a high school teacher in Brownsville, which is a residential neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Earlier in life, Eric had the chance to live abroad and it left a profound impact on him. He noticed that a lot of his students didn’t have access to the same kinds of opportunities, so he set out to find a way to bring the dream of travel a little bit closer for them.
When Seth Owen was forced to come out to his family in high school, his parents immediately sent him to a conversion therapist. When that did not provide the results they wanted, they gave him an ultimatum: continue to attend their church which had outwardly attacked him for his sexual orientation, or move out. For his safety, Seth chose the latter... but he was only 18-years-old at the time. Seth's teacher stepped in to help and the resulting story is one of incredible community support that has now turned into a movement.
Fred Guttenberg tragically lost his 14-year-old daughter Jaime on February 14th, 2018, in the horrific shooting that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Since the terrible events of that day, Fred has become a full-time activist, fighting for public safety and common sense gun laws.
Paul Crowell has loved dogs ever since he was a kid. He’s now a grown man and has taken his passion for our four-legged friends to a new level and has helped feed thousands of homeless dogs in the San Francisco area.
Oscar Wang has spent most of his career in the public education space and was troubled by the statistics surrounding the college dropout rate and the associated debt. He also noticed a trend in Philadelphia’s food economy - the food scene itself continued to grow, but the turnover rate at restaurants continued to increase. Eventually, he came up with a brilliant idea for how to solve both problems at once - and Hospitality Together was born.
Courtney Gilmour is an incredibly funny comedian from Toronto, Canada. She was also born without both hands and one of her legs, and has had to wear a prosthetic leg for her entire life. On the way to a comedy gig one night, her leg collapsed under her while exiting the subway and she fell down the stairs. She decided it was finally time to get the prosthetic leg that she deserved.
You may know Bryce Dallas Howard from her many well-known acting credits, but aside from being a talented actress, Bryce is also an amazing friend. Bryce was a fan of Dr. Anna Akbari's writing and reached out. She then took one of Anna's online courses, after which they started working together and they quickly became close friends. Soon after, Anna was diagnosed with an incredibly rare form of cervical cancer, which kicked off a multi-year journey through different procedures and treatments. Bryce felt compelled to help in some way, and launched a GoFundMe campaign to offer support.
Chris Van Dorn is the founder of an organization called "Batman4Paws", which takes Chris on adventures all over the country rescuing animals... while dressed as Batman.
When Gabby Frost was a teenager, she noticed that many of her friends, both online and in real life, were dealing with serious issues like self-harm and suicidal thoughts. She offered them her support in the best way she could, but she wished there was an easier way for young people to get connected with each other and talk about their interests, and also their struggles. Rather than wait around for this to someday exist, Gabby decided to create it herself… and Buddy Project was born.
Jamal Burger is the face behind @jayscale, Jamal's incredibly popular Instagram account featuring his stunning black & white photography. Through his photography work, Jamal created a program called The Kick Back, which works to show kids that their dreams can be limitless.
Schendy Kernizan grew up in a small village in Haiti. He loved it there but had to travel miles away to attend school, and many of his peers did not have the same opportunities. After growing up and becoming the co-director of MIT's self-assembly lab, he wanted to figure out a way to give back.
Matt Nelson is the face behind the wildly popular Twitter account @dog_rates, which rates photos of dogs on a scale of 1 - 10 (spoiler alert, they always get more than 10). Matt has found a way to use his incredible online community to make a huge impact for dogs & families in need.
When Jason Parker’s beloved dog Gunnar was hit by a truck & lost the use of his back legs, the community came together to support them. This act of kindness inspired Jason to give back & he did so in a big way. Hear the incredible story of what Jason has built, and all od the dogs & families he's been able to help.
Molly Wogan started the PAWS Project when she was just 13 years old. Now, two years later, she has helped hundreds of dogs find their forever homes and is quickly becoming an expert in the animal rescue field.
Howard Cato is the creator of the Bay Area BMXers, a BMX racing team located in Oakland, California. He fell in love with BMX riding when he was a young boy, but fell out of practice when he got older. A traumatic experience led him back to what was important in his life, and now his life's mission is giving back to his community.
Neil Shah is the CEO of a Bay Area organization called Concrn, which works to provide a 911 alternative to homeless individuals experiencing mental health crises. People can submit reports to Concrn using an app, and then Neil's team of compassionate responders travel on-location to help diffuse the situation, and connect the individual with whatever services would be serve their current situation. Neil himself has struggled with mental health issues and addiciton in the past, which keeps him grounded and close to the mission of his work.
When Todd Oldfield found out that Wendall Gill, a sweet 85-year-old man who worked at the local Lexington McDonalds for 40 years, had recently lost the love of his life, Todd knew he had to do something to help. He started off with a modest goal of helping Wendall pay off his car. What ended up happening changed both of their lives.
Have you ever had that feeling that maybe you’re supposed to be on a different path in life, but you didn’t know exactly what to do about it? Our guests today had that exact same feeling, but they did something drastic - they both walked into work and quit their jobs to search for what that new path might be, and it ended up becoming something bigger than they ever dreamed.
When Frederick Joseph first saw the previews for Marvel's Black Panther, he knew he wanted to help kids go see the movie, who might not have had the chance otherwise. He never dreamed that one simple action would turn into a worldwide movement.
February 14th, 2019, marks exactly one year since the horrible shooting took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which killed 17 students and staff members, and injured 17 others. It remains the deadliest high school shooting in United States history.
Many family members who lost loved ones that day have spent the past year fighting for change. On this episode, we are joined by one of those family members to talk about his experience, and to share his incredible efforts to create a safer world.
Mallory Brown is a self-described impact storyteller and travels all over the world meeting amazing people and helping to tell their stories. Her new project, “Walk a Mile” will take her to 26 locations around the globe where she’ll amplify the stories of hardworking women, and partner with local charities to raise awareness and support. Hear about miles 1 and 2 on the podcast, and find out why this work is so close to Mallory's heart.
Liam Hannon is an 11-year-old boy who has impacted his community in a profound way. He started a program called “Liam’s Lunches of Love”, which works to hand out free lunches to the homeless individuals in the city of Cambridge. What started out of a little garden wagon has now grown into an impressive operation, serving thousands of meals to those in need.
Hear a teaser episode for Season 2 of True Stories of Good People, full episodes out February 7th.
When Glenn O'Neill's beautiful daughter, Eliza, was diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome at the young age of 4, he and his wife were devastated. They discovered that there was a gene therapy trial that had been underway for over a decade that might help Eliza, but no funding available for a clinical trial. So, he launched a campaign to raise the money himself, with a goal that seemed nearly impossible: 2.5 million dollars
Taylor Richardson might only be 14 years old, but she has accomplished so much. Aside from training to be an astronaut, she is also a fierce advocate for representation for girls, and particularly girls of color in the STEM field. With the help of her mom, Toni, she launched an effort to help girls realize their dreams in a very impactful way.
One afternoon, Aeric McCoy found a designer purse in an alleyway. He was homeless at the time and addicted to heroin - but a voice told him that he should do the right thing and find the purse's owner. He set off across town on an impossible mission, but had no idea that that day would change his life forever, in more ways than one.
Zavion Johnson was wrongly convicted of a crime he did not commit at the age of 19, and spent the next 16 years in prison. But thanks to the incredible work of the Northern California Innocence Project, he was exonerated in December 2017, and now has a second chance at life.
14-year-old Donovan Smith and his mother, Casey, lived in homelessness for a time, and ran into a lot of hardships. After landing in Albuquerque and getting back on their feet, Donovan starting learning how to make soaps. Little did he know that his budding business would grow into something much larger than he or Casey ever expected.
When Cody Harris saw images of hate and violence start to surface from the alt-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017, he was horrified. He wanted to take action in a way that would send a powerful message - so he turned to humor.
Jeff Lew is just a regular dad, but his actions are extraordinary. He noticed an injustice happening in his his son's school, and decided to do something about it, even though it wasn't affecting his son directly. His one small action led to a nationwide trend of others getting involved, and ended up making a huge impact for families in need.
When Sophia Chang stopped at the corner of Sutter and Market in downtown San Francisco for a shoe shine, she had no idea that the kind man running the stand would end up playing a significant role in her life - and vice versa.
Most people know actor Sean Astin from his many lovable roles in film and TV - from Samwise Gamgee in Lord of the Rings, to Mikey Walsh in The Goonies, to Bob in Stranger Things. But when he's not creating memorable characters for viewers to enjoy, he's focusing on another one of his life's passions: running. And, a few years ago, he developed an after-school program that can have a profound effect on children.
Khloe Thompson is not only the founder of her own nonprofit organization, a seasoned public speaker, and a visionary forward-thinker... she's also only 10 years old.
When twenty-something Chris Salvatore moved in across the hall from an elderly woman named Norma, he had no idea that she would quickly become one of his closest friends. The story that followed is one of commitment, bravery, and unbreakable friendship.
One night, Ricky Mena was visited by his late grandmother in a dream, and she showed him his future: visiting sick children in the hospital while dressed as a superhero. When he woke up, he began Googling Spider-Man costumes... and the rest is history.
Hear stories from people who are making a difference in other people's lives, or have had their lives changed by someone kind.