The Give Back Model: Recent Episodes
Christine Petrella
The Give Back Model is a podcast where I have conversations with entrepreneurs who have successfully built a “Give Back” into the heart of their business models. This podcast features chats with businesses who have been able to give back in their own unique ways. The entrepreneurs out there can learn how others have navigated how to team up with charitable organizations and causes, while the shopper who is listening can link their values with their spending habits.
In today’s very special episode of the Give Back Model podcast, Christine speaks with Meg Stevens, the founder of Tree of Hope Creations, a company dedicated to creating motherhood keepsake and memorial pieces. During their conversation, Meg shares some of her background, how she came to be involved in her current work, and the boundaries she has developed for herself as she creates pieces for her customers using ashes, hair, burial dirt, clothing and more. She also shares her emotional connection to each and every precious shipment she receives, and her experience going viral on TikTok for her compassion and vulnerability. Please note that this episode does contain some sensitive conversation around loss of a child and miscarriages.
Meg explains how her business began as a way to help others through their grief and motherhood journeys, and then goes on to address the importance of building a platform, particularly in the context of running a business. Her experiences with using social media to promote her work are recounted, including dealing with negative comments and criticism and the importance of just diving in and starting to use social media, even if it is intimidating or scary. Meg also describes her experience with breastfeeding, and highlights the incredible support she receives from her husband, including a particularly meaningful plaque he has created for her. Listen in today to learn more about Meg's remarkable story, the beautiful, meaningful pieces she creates for her customers, and the emotional weight that accompanies this important work.
For more information and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit TheGiveBackModel.com.
Episode Highlights:
- Meg’s work with Tree of Hope Creations and how it began
- Meg’s emotional connections to each and every shipment she receives
- Her TikTok experience
- Meg’s personal and professional history
- Her experience with breastfeeding and her husband’s amazing support
- The emotional weight of handling such precious cargo
- Creating something so personal and meaningful for her customers
- Dealing with negativity online
- Being vulnerable and showing real feelings and passion in her work
Quotes:
"Hundreds of customers trust Meg and her team to create these gifts from their loved ones’ ashes, hair, burial dirt, clothing, and so much more."
"I feel like I got lucky. I got very lucky in the growth and being able to be part of so many different people's journeys and even helping people through their grief and through motherhood"
"He wanted to make me something that would mean the world, that would say, ‘Thank you for taking care of our kids. Thank you for nursing our kids.’"
"He was amazing and supportive, and I honestly couldn't ask for better."
"I'm so afraid I'm going to screw it up. I'm so afraid that I'm going to mess up and not touch someone's loved one."
"I remember getting the package and just holding my breath because I had someone's daughter in my hands."
"I was making something that she would be able to hold of her actual child."
"I get a whole lot of crap on social media, whether it be people like making fun of us for breast milk because they don't understand, or just that emotional side of it.”
"If you're scared, just do it. It can change your life."
"Those ten people that are liking your post, that's ten people that love you."
"It's worth it, it's worth it. I would do it a million times over."
Links:
The Give Back Model website TheGiveBackModel.com
Follow The Give Back Model on Instagram @thegivebackmodel
Tree of Hope Creations
Welcome to the podcast! Today's guest is Samantha Weckesser, the founder and CEO of Mama Hen Media, a boutique agency that helps women-owned businesses achieve their marketing goals through Pinterest blogging and Plan Ahead content distribution. Samantha also runs a giveback program through the sponsorship of Girls on the Run, a nonprofit organization that helps girls strengthen their confidence, minds, and bodies through a positive youth development program centered around running.
In this episode, Christine and Samantha discuss the story behind Mama Hen Media, the importance of mental health and self-care, and how Mama Hen Media's giveback program helps inspire and empower women and girls.
For more information and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit TheGiveBackModel.com.
Episode Highlights:
-The story behind Mama Hen Media
-Importance of mental health and self-care
-Mama Hen Media's giveback program
-Inspiring and empowering women and girls
-Girls on the Run program
-Importance of positive role models and mentors
-The power of running and exercise for mental health
-Combining personal and professional passions
-The value of community involvement and giving back
-The future of Mama Hen Media and its mission
Quotes:
"I started as a virtual assistant and was working under the business name Just Ask For Sam. Kind of fell into it organically through people that I met online and started working, helping business owners and just sort of grew and grew and grew."
"I loved it because I could work the hours that I wanted to and be home with my family. I have four children, ten and under, so being available for them was really important to me."
"As my business grew and my client base grew, I needed to bring on more team members and decided that the name Just Ask For Sam makes it sound like it's just me, when in fact I have now a team to support me."
"I really believe in the power of mental health and self-care and the importance of it. And so I really wanted to make sure that we were incorporating that into our business model."
"I really believe in the power of running and exercise for mental health and just the overall well-being of a person."
"So I wanted to combine my personal passion with my professional passion and be able to give back to a cause that I really believe in."
"I think it's really important for businesses to be involved in their community and give back in some way."
"I just love the fact that we are able to inspire and empower women and girls through our giveback program and through the work that we do."
"I'm really excited about the future of Mama Hen Media and just continuing to grow and make an impact in the world and help as many women-owned businesses as possible achieve their goals."
Links:
The Give Back Model website TheGiveBackModel.com
Follow The Give Back Model on Instagram @thegivebackmodel
Mama Hen Media
Girls On The Run
Filling the Gratitude Gap with Group Greeting Founder Anthony Doctolero Today’s guest on The Give Back Model is Anthony Doctolero, founder of GroupGreeting, an online digital card provider used by over ten thousand workplaces, including 80% of the Fortune 500 list. Anthony wanted his company to stand for making a difference, so a portion of each GroupGreeting card sent is put toward planting trees in areas hit hard by deforestation and wildfires. Anthony opens the episode by sharing the inspiration for GroupGreeting—a photo album sent all over the country and filled by many friends before being presented as a birthday gift. While it was an awesome idea, Anthony wondered if there was a more efficient way to do it digitally, which led to the creation of GroupGreeting. However, between starting a family and needing a steady income, it took nine years for Anthony to start running the site full-time, growing it month over month until the COVID pandemic hit, at which point the business really took off GroupGreeting’s year-over-year percentage growth in 2020 was 4,000%, which Anthony credits to the desire for remote workers to maintain their work relationships and still celebrate events together. He discusses the importance of expressing gratitude and appreciation in corporate environments and the challenge of maintaining that as remote working became the norm, with his company helping huge corporations fill the gratitude gap and maintain social connections within their teams. Anthony then talks about GroupGreeting’s give-back partnership with One Tree Planted, why he wanted to give back to the environment, and the success of the model so far, with over 125,000 trees planted and counting. And he finishes the episode by sharing his biggest challenges and most fulfilling achievements over the thirteen years he’s been cultivating GroupGreeting, including the satisfaction of facilitating one-on-one moments of appreciation and gratitude between people. For more information and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visithttp://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ ( TheGiveBackModel.com). That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back, and check out The Give Back Model merchandise, where $5 for every sale goes to non-profit organizations. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: Anthony’s journey to going all-in on GroupGreeting The impact of remote working on work relationships GroupGreeting’s give-back partnership with One Tree Planted Anthony’s plans for growth and his biggest challenge Anthony’s most fulfilling achievements
Quotes: “I was one of those kids that would buy candy at a discount at Costco and sell it on the playground, or in high school, we would do fundraisers and car washes, but I kind of treated it like a business. And there was always this thing in me that, like, had this business entrepreneurial aspect.” “All those people were at home, not connected to the people they’re seeing every day. And at the same time, there’s birthdays, there’s things that were going on, and work anniversaries, so they still wanted to celebrate. So they searched out on the search engines and found us, and we were only one of only maybe three or four people who are offering it. And it just kind of took off from there.” “We thought, as business owners, this really is our chance to make a company whatever we want. And we wanted to stand for making a difference, not only in the lives of the companies and the customers we work with but also the environment. So we were like, let’s just do it, who cares whether we succeed or we don’t succeed, at least we tried, and we tried to help the environment.” “It’s kind of like planting a tree, you know, you put the seed in the ground, you give it water, and you give it the right sun and soil and etc. But it doesn’t grow the next day, right? But what it’s doing, if you’re consistent, and you’re watering and whatnot, it’s growing...
Challenging Norms and Finding Your Own Path with Miriam Haart Joining Christine on today’s episode is entrepreneur, engineer, and designer Miriam Haart. Miriam’s a content creator who continues to empower women to be their true selves while learning new skills and using their voices. She’s also one of the stars of the Netflix series My Unorthodox Life, and she opens the episode by discussing becoming a public figure, the positive feedback that motivates her, and the impact of having an audience. She also shares her journey from a childhood spent in a fundamentalist Orthodox Jewish community to the transformative moment of questioning her religion to leaving the community, studying at Stanford, and getting into the tech world. Next, Christine asks Miriam for advice on how to get into crypto as a woman, for whom the industry can often be intimidating. Miriam speaks to the inequality in the tech space and the importance of encouraging women and other minorities to get involved, so they’re not excluded from the technology that shapes the world. She also has some advice on how to get started with crypto and points out that the technology isn’t just good for making money but also has the potential to do real good in the world. For example, Miriam points out her own NFT, which donates 100% of its profits—almost a million dollars—to reproductive rights organizations. She also shares how learning to code when she was a teenager empowered her and can do the same for women by giving them a way to build the world they want to be part of. And Miriam closes the show by discussing some of her next projects, including her new podcast, and sharing her message to the world—to throw off societal pressures and find your own path to happiness. For more information and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visithttp://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ ( TheGiveBackModel.com). That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back, and check out The Give Back Model merchandise, where $5 for every sale goes to charity. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: Becoming a public figure with 'My Unorthodox Life' on Netflix Miriam’s journey through religion and toward Stanford The importance of creating equitable tech How women can be empowered by the tech industry Miriam’s next projects, including new podcast 'Faking It'
Quotes: “Getting to Stanford from that background and that lack of knowledge of Math, Science, English, critical reading, critical writing, was really hard. It was really, really hard. I studied three hours every day for two years to get to Stanford, to build my score because I needed at least a thirty-one on the ACT’s because that was their minimum.” “I think it’s so important for women to get involved in the space because if we’re not involved, we will be excluded from these very deep, underlying technologies that will change the way of how we interact with each other over the next hundred years.” “A lot of the time, we think that tech just grows, and it’s like the innovation just happens. But really, there’s people who are creating these innovations. And there’s a lot of systems in which the thought happens that excludes a lot of people or promotes others. And so we have to find a way to create equitable technology.” “For women, who oftentimes don’t feel like they can just be loud and be outspoken, technology’s a way to do that and to create products and things that you wish existed for yourself. And so also, that’s one thing that I think is so beautiful about women getting into technology, it’s kind of that they get to create things that they wish existed, they get to feel empowered by being able to actually build the world they want to be a part of.” “I just encourage people to try to find a way to follow their own path, be brave, take those steps. Because at the end of the day, they won’t just make themselves feel better, be happier, but they’ll inspire...
On this episode of Give Back Model, Christine Petrella welcomes Filly Bellette to the podcast. As a cofounder of Chris and Filly Functional Medicine, a mother, and giver, she begins this week’s episode by talking about the farm she was raised on in Tasmania. She notes that her family heavily valued giving back, and this led her to volunteer to teach English alone in Kenya. While she was there, she quickly came to the realization that she was vastly ignorant of her privilege, and likewise, how she could use that privilege for good. She decided to get her PhD in Human Rights and was granted her degree the day she gave birth to her first child, an experience that would transform the rest of her life. After going through a rather traumatic birth, Filly suffered months of poor gut and mental health. It was this journey that led her to start Chris and Filly Functional Medicine, an organization that helps parents improve their own and their children’s health. Her company partners with Free to Shine, an organization based in Cambodia that educates and prevents young Cambodian girls from entering the sex trafficking ring. Through her work with Free to Shine, Filly has not only learned that you don’t need a lot of money to give back, but she also learned the importance of self worth. She draws this episode to a rather fitting close by coming to proper terms with her self worth - no longer does she believe that her worth is dependent upon her work. Filly knows now that she is enough. For more information and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visithttp://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ ( TheGiveBackModel.com). That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back, and check out The Give Back Model merchandise, where $5 for every sale goes to charity. Thanks for listening! The Finer Details of This Episode:
Filly grew up on a farm in Tasmania with a family who valued giving back.
She volunteered in Kenya alone and came face to face with her own ignorance.
Filly got her PhD in Human Rights after realizing that she didn’t have the right tools to help others.
Her experience on antibiotics after giving birth introduced her to common problems with gut health.
When Filly started functional medicine, she felt like she’d finally found her calling helping high strung parents find their footing again.
She and her family participate in a child protection organization, Free To Shine, that supports Cambodian girls to educate and save them from human sex trafficking.
Through her work with Free To Shine, Filly learned that you don’t need a lot of money to give back.
Filly recalls feeling like her self worth depended on her productivity before realizing that she was enough.
Quotes: “Their goal is to help high achieving parents with energy, mood and gut issues to end their body burnout for good.” “Our family culture was very much about giving back to others, and service and showing compassion for other people without really expecting anything in return. So I kind of feel like that was built into our family values.” “So for the next four months after I had Poppy, I had no sensation to pee. So I was using a catheter to urinate. Because I was prone to getting UTI infections, because I had this internal catheter in 2007, I was on loads of antibiotics, in and out of hospital, catching all the infections still and then going on more antibiotics. So my gut health was kind of ripped raw.” “I called myself the ‘dragon mom’, I was just screaming all the time, like, the anxiety for me showed up in screaming and losing the plot.” “Our big mission is to work with high achieving parents to end their body burnout.” “I thought they wanted something straightforward for us to provide like university tuition fees, but they didn't want anything for themselves....
Nina Rauch is Social Impact Lead at insurance company Lemonade, a certified B Corporation available in the US, Germany, the Netherlands, and France. Lemonade aims to change the way people think about insurance by focusing on strong values and charitable contributions instead of profit. Nina joins Christine today to talk about Lemonade’s groundbreaking business model, her journey to becoming Social Impact Lead, and the impressive amount of money the company has donated since 2017. Nina explains the Lemonade Giveback, the charitable core of the company, which means Lemonade annually donates its leftover dollars to a range of nonprofit partners. She discusses how this process was built into Lemonade from the beginning and describes the huge impact the program has had on organizations working with such causes as climate issues, racial justice, support for veterans, and LGBTQ+ issues. Nina goes on to describe her journey from fundraising in high school to working for Lemonade and discusses a few of the organizations that have stuck with her over the years, as well as the challenges and inspirations she’s experienced along the way. To finish up, Nina shares what’s coming up for Lemonade, including their new venture into car insurance and how to balance its environmental impact, and her plans to increase the strength of Lemonade’s voice in the climate space and ensure the company stays transparent and authentic as it continues to grow. For more information and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visithttp://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ ( TheGiveBackModel.com). That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back, and check out The Give Back Model merchandise, where $5 for every sale goes to charity. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: · Nina Rauch is Social Impact Lead at Lemonade. · Lemonade is an insurance company that tries to connect its policyholders with nonprofits as a means of making charitable contributions rather than profit. · Nina was featured in Forbes magazine this year, something that’s always been a goal of hers. · Lemonade is trying to reshape how people think about insurance, primarily through an element of their product called the Lemonade GiveBack. · Traditional insurance works through pooling small amounts of money by taking premiums from a large number of people to pay for those who need to make claims. This generally leaves money left over at the end of the year (because the amount needed can’t be predicted, so people are asked to pay higher premiums than what winds up being needed), which the insurer keeps as profit. · Lemonade wanted to differentiate itself from this model, so it created the Lemonade Giveback, which means that, once a year, the company donates its leftover dollars to its nonprofit partners. · The first Giveback in 2017 donated $53,000 to 14 different charities; in 2021, over $2.3 million went to 65 different organizations. · The best way to use Lemonade is through their app (though you can use their website as well!). · From the beginning, you choose the cause you want to Giveback to, and that cause will stay with you unless you want to make a change (which is really easy to facilitate). · The Giveback was built into Lemonade’s product from the very beginning—without it, the product couldn’t exist. It was a B Corp before its first policy was sold. · Lemonade wants to make the process of claiming insurance as simple and supportive as possible, from minimizing paperwork to making sure you can talk to a real person or get on their Slack channel when you need help. · Lemonade works with a wide range of nonprofit organizations, and Nina ensures that their values align with those of Lemonade by considering what their employees and policyholders hold dear, from climate issues, to LGBTQ+ support, to standing up for...
Molly Trerotola is the Head of Social Impact at ShoppingGives, a certified B Corporation and an award-winning technology startup focused on building an economy of giving by creating a positive impact through everyday purchases. Today, Molly joins Christine to discuss giving back involving small businesses, shoppers, and nonprofits highlighting the potential roadblocks that may arise and how ShoppingGives can help overcome them. Molly begins by discussing her passion for philanthropy work and fundraising, and the journey she has taken that has ignited this passion. She goes on to offer extensive details about the work that ShoppingGives does, how they do it, and the hugely beneficial impact is has, as well as her experiences working with Give Lively, a free fundraising platform for nonprofits. Molly concludes by sharing her wish to see more brand values front and center and actions taken by the companies to fulfill their commitments to nonprofits that their customers care about. For more information and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit http://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ (TheGiveBackModel.com). That's where you can also let Christine know about companies you've found that give back, and check out The Give Back Model merchandise, where $5 for every sale goes to charity. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: · Molly Trerotola is the Head of Social Impact at ShoppingGives. · ShoppingGives is an e-commerce platform that powers brands to give donations to nonprofits. · She has always been passionate about philanthropy work, fundraising, and giving. · She started at a global public health nonprofit in Peru, where she worked in the communications department helping to develop digital stories around their initiatives to generate more fundraising support. · Molly has committed wholeheartedly to social impact work, and when she moved to New York, she had the opportunity to dive headfirst into corporate social responsibility. · ShoppingGives helps a small business accomplish corporate social responsibility of giving philanthropy fundraising by basically providing a tech solution for brands to scale their philanthropy efforts and embed social impact within their e-commerce journey · It allows companies to give back to causes they're passionate about and lets customers choose a cause they're passionate about as part of their purchase. · A critical core component of the platform is compliance and regulation. ShoppingGives covers brands from a compliance standpoint, and gives them access to a database of 1.8 million nonprofits. · Brands donate to the ShoppingGives Foundation, a US-registered nonprofit, under section 501(c)(3), and then the foundation grants those funds to the organizations that the brands pledged the funds to. · Nonprofit organizations have challenges where they get requests, and they want to be able to support them, but they need to focus on their programmatic work. Technology like ShoppingGives, or any other innovative third-party fundraising platforms that can alleviate some of those challenges, and streamline fundraising efforts for nonprofits, is necessary. · ShoppingGives also plays a matchmaker role between brands and nonprofits. · This is Molly's third social impact tech organization that provides technology to nonprofits at no cost. · ShoppingGives is a certified B Corporation. These companies go through a rigorous assessment process to prove their positive impact in their external and external communities. · ShoppingGives contributes to or answers recurring fundraising, subscription-based giving. · Give Lively is an organization Molly worked with in the past where she helped launch the platform into the nonprofit space and worked for nonprofits to build out more technology that they could disperse...
JD Dilks is a writer, podcaster, and founder of a non-profit mental health meeting center in Bloomsburg, PA. Today he joins Christine to discuss his experience with mental health and addiction issues, and they begin their conversation with a trigger warning for anyone who may not be prepared to hear stories of suicide, child abuse, and addiction. JD talks about experimenting with drugs and alcohol at the age of 11, then spiralling into alcoholism after a traumatic life event at age 12. He opens up about the shame that often comes with addiction, finding closure after the death of his fiancée, and supporting others who are on the path to sobriety. JD tells Christine about creating a community of support for LGBTQ+ youth in particular and leaving toxic masculinity behind as a culture, then shares a powerful story about sex trafficking that was featured on his podcast. You’ll also hear why the 12-Step program is so crucial to recovery, which step was the most challenging for JD, why people need to realize they want help on their own, and what you can do if you know someone who’s facing addiction. Today’s conversation highlights the importance of educating ourselves about mental illness and addiction, recognizing the warning signs, and spreading more love through the world as we hold a supportive and welcoming space for those who may be struggling. You can learn more about MJs Progress Not Perfection https://my.bio/mjspnpmca (here). For more information, and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visithttp://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ ( TheGiveBackModel.com). That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back, and check out The Give Back Model merchandise, where $5 for every sale goes to charity. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: JD Dilks is a writer, podcaster and founder of a non-profit mental health meeting center He shares his experience with mental health and addiction issues, as well as his recovery Stigma around mental illness and addiction JD and his wife opened their mental health facility in May 2021 They host AA meetings, NA meetings, trauma meetings, LGBTQ+, medical marijuana meetings, tarot meetings and much more Importance of meeting in person when going through recovery JD began experimenting with drugs and alcohol at age 11 and spiralled into alcoholism after a traumatic event at age 12 Pressure on men and boys to push down their feelings and not show their emotions How his center is building a community of support, especially for young people Being open about the shame that often comes with addiction JD’s important dates along his journey to sobriety Finding closure after losing his fiancée Supporting others through sobriety and accepting that he cannot save everyone Time management Nicole’s story of sex trafficking as shared on JD’s podcast Socially acceptable stereotype of moms drinking wine after a hard day needs to change Everyone’s speed bumps are different, but rock bottom is always getting to the point where you know you need to change Why the 12-Step program is so crucial to recovery and how it can apply to any issue that makes your life unmanageable Step 3 (turning over to a higher power) was the most challenging for JD JD’s comedy career According to https://drugabusestatistics.org/ (drugabusestatistics.org), 19.4% of people have used illicit drugs at least once You can check out JD’s podcasts and support MJs Progress Not Perfection https://my.bio/mjspnpmca (here) If someone you know and love is struggling with addiction, https://al-anon.org/ (Al-Anon) or https://www.nar-anon.org/ (NAR-Anon) meetings are incredibly helpful People are not ready to get help until they truly want it for themselves - you usually cannot force it JD compares addiction to being in an abusive relationship
· Quotes: “I'm like a walking stigma when it comes to my...
On today’s episode, Christine welcomes Robin Peters, the Executive Director of Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. In 2005, the Firehouse Sub founders established a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The charity provides lifesaving equipment, prevention, education, scholarships, and continued education and disaster relief for first responders and public safety organizations, as well as support for members of the military. Since its inception, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has awarded more than $62.5 million dollars to Hometown Heroes in 49 states, Puerto Rico, and now in Canada. Today, Robin discusses her personal journey into the giving space, and about how the two brothers, Chris and Robin Sorensen, came together in 1994 to start Firehouse Subs and subsequently Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. She also talks about the foundation’s locations and its expansion, and shares ways you can support the nonprofit and save lives, which includes buying from the food chain and providing equipment to fire departments through the Book of Giving program. She goes on to discuss the expensive cost of equipment, the impact of COVID, and the challenges she faces in her position. Robin concludes with the stories that have been brought to her from first responders and the most fulfilling aspect of being a part of this foundation. For more information, and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visithttp://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ ( TheGiveBackModel.com). That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back, and check out The Give Back Model merchandise, where $5 for every sale goes to charity. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: · Robin Peters is the executive director of Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. · She started out in the nonprofit sector when she started in advertising. · When she moved to Jacksonville, she started working for social service agencies, and that led her to Firehouse Subs because they were one of the companies that was so philanthropic and so supportive of anything any Jacksonville nonprofit was doing. · Firehouse Subs was started as a restaurant company in 1994 by two brothers, Chris and Robin Sorenson, who were former firefighters. · The inspiration to start Firehouse Subs Public Safety was born from the two founders being former firefighters, who had already given back to the community and were supporting whatever local activities that were going on. · The founders became involved in service during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 through providing food and other volunteer services to survivors and first responders, which focused them on how they could impact communities across the country, especially as the restaurant brand was growing, therefore establishing Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation as a nonprofit. · Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is a separate 501 (c)(3) which provides the ability to do a lot of giving back with Firehouse Subs as a corporate donor. · Firehouse Subs and Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation are located in 49 states and its expansion to Canada. · They deal with different governments and rules in Canada, as well as great opportunities, raising funds, and impacting first responders on both sides of the border. · Peopke can support the Foundation through purchasing from the food chain, donations, and the Book of Giving program. · Rounding up your purchase to the nearest dollar to donate to Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is another wayt o wupport it. · Fundraising campaigns are valuable to the foundation. · The Book of Giving program provides fire departments the equipment that they need in emergencies such as vehicle extrication tools, automated external defibrillators (AED), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), etc. ·...
On today’s episode, host Christine Petrella welcomes Masami Sato, the founder of B1G1: Business for Good. B1G1 is a global giving initiative that’s quickly grown into a global movement. B1G1 helps businesses embed giving right into the heart of their everyday activities. B1G1 makes business giving easy, effective and meaningful. It focuses on connecting small-to-medium-size businesses with more than 500 carefully selected, high-impact giving projects. Since 2007, B1G1 has come together with more than 3,000 businesses from all industries around the world, creating over 250 million giving impacts, just by doing what they normally do. Today Masami joins the show from Singapore to discuss the goal and mission behind B1G1, her story of founding the company 14 years ago, and how her team decides which worthy causes to work with. Masami explains how even the tiniest donation can make an impact with B1G1. She also expands on the spirit of giving that drives the B1G1 initiative, describes their annual “study tours” to projects they support, and shares her inspiring thoughts on seeing people come together to transform the world, one small step at a time. To learn more about B1G1 and their focus on creating a world that’s full of giving, visit B1G1.com. For more information, and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit https://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ (TheGiveBackModel.com). That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back, and check out The Give Back Model merchandise, where $5 for every sale goes to charity. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights:
● Masami Sato is the founder and CEO of B1G1: Business for Good
● She is a 2-time TedX speaker, an AMAZON best-selling author, and winner of the Sustainable Business Award
● The goal of B1G1 is simply to create a world that’s full of giving by turning everyday activities, like getting a cup of coffee or reading an inspiring book, into something that can create a positive impact
● They have worked with thousands of businesses who have embedded giving in what they do, and together created just over 250 million giving impacts around the world ● B1G1 began in 2007 ● The idea behind B1G1 started while Masami was running a previous business that focused on access to healthy eating and nutrition for families in her community ● She began by giving a small percentage for every frozen meal sold to help a child in need ● B1G1 was borne out of a desire to help other small businesses do the same ● How her team fully vets which “worthy causes” to work with ● Part of their criteria is finding companies that can break down their activities into small units of impact
● Their goal is to make it easy for even small businesses to give back ● With B1G1, the tiniest of donations still make an impact ● For each guest booked and each podcast episode released, Christine is donating toward access to a safe house for children saved from sexual abuse in Nepal, and shelter provided for a night for homeless children through B1G1 ● There are many unique ways that business owners can give back, and a variety of different causes they can give toward, depending on what they are most passionate about ● How Global Goals has impacted the B1G1 model ● If we all give just a little bit, together we can make a massive difference ● Having common goals helps bring us together as well ● Before the pandemic, B1G1 held annual “study” group tours so that people could actually visit the projects they were supporting ● Encouraging this compassion and “giving spirit” is one important step to transforming the world ● Impact milestones that the B1G1...
Today’s guest is Jorge Lopez-Doriga, Chief Sustainability Officer for AMARUMAYU, a movement born at the heart of the Amazon Jungle to protect its precious forest and empower its guardians through the commercialization of Amazonian superfruit juices. Jorge joins Christine from Lima, Peru to discuss his passion for protecting the earth, redirecting his life’s work and focus from marketing to sustainability in 2014, and the undeniable connection between our bodies and the universe - by protecting one, you are protecting the other. Jorge explains the origins of the AMARUMAYU movement, the meaning behind its name, and the goals of the company. He details the four intricate symbols in their powerful logo, and how they come together to represent living in harmony with our environment. You’ll also hear about the extraordinary nutritional value of Amazonian superfruits, such as the Buriti and Camu Camu, the “ Natural Revolution,” which aims to transform people into more conscious consumers, and Jorge’s advice to help younger generations become more aware of how to protect Mother Nature. Christine asks Jorge about the important role women play as leaders in the Amazon community, how the evolution of technology is affecting its local workers, his biggest challenges coming from the Zen community and moving those values over to his mission with AMARUMAYU, as well as his most fulfilling moments on this journey. If we could all bottle up just a speckle of Jorge's energy and dedication towards such an important cause, we would all be in a better place by putting our Mother Nature's needs first. To learn more about AMARUMAYU’s mission to protect biodiversity, empower Indigenous people, and restore equilibrium to our planet, visit http://amarumayu.com (AMARUMAYU.com.) For more information, and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit http://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ (TheGiveBackModel.com). That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back, and check out The Give Back Model merchandise, where $5 for every sale goes to charity. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: Jorge has always been passionate about protecting the earth He also has a background in marketing; he redirected his life and focus on sustainability in 2014 http://amarumayu.com (AMARUMAYU )is the real name of the Amazon - it means the “river serpent,” and the serpent represents life and wisdom The logo includes an Indigeneous person (the true guardian of the Amazon), the fruits of the Amazon, a snake (again, life and wisdom), and a heart (the spirit of harmony and collaboration) Their product is a nonalcoholic superfruit beverage Superfruits have a much higher concentration of vitamins and minerals than other fruits like oranges The new Natural Revolution aims to shift the way people consume, and transform them into more conscious users The three questions conscious users ask themselves are: Is it good for me and my health? Is it good for the environment? Is it good for society? In the Industrial Revolution, companies were only concerned with whether they were satisfying the needs of their customers With the new Natural Revolution, companies also need to satisfy the needs of Mother Earth AMARUMAYU superfruit juices are good for the earth and good for you - no sugar or artificial colors They buy directly from Indigeneous communities who harvest these superfruits in the middle of the Amazon It’s not agriculture, it’s wild harvesting It’s important for younger generations to know that the actions of one single person can have an impact Use your purchasing power to give back and contribute Women have always been leaders in the Amazon community, and they are typically more connected to nature than men The market economy has arrived in the Amazon, and the workers there want to embrace technology and generate income, but still protect their precious natural resources It takes a great
Andy Choi is the founder and CEO of Do Good Points, a digital platform that's working to bridge the gap between nonprofits and individuals seeking to make a difference in the world. Andy never imagined starting a business in the social impact space, but starting Do Good Points felt like answering a calling to give back. Do Good Points is a loyalty program that allows members to earn points through small actions, like sharing information on social media, which then convert to monetary donations toward causes that align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. This helps to drive nonprofit growth while making it fun and easy for people to discover organizations and donate. Today Andy joins the show to discuss what inspired him to start a business in the nonprofit world, his intention to break down barriers between intention and action when it comes to doing good, and how we can support nonprofit organizations that are struggling due to the pandemic. Andy reflects on how micro actions and one-on-one conversations add up to create a collective impact, and using technology to help charities appeal to younger donors, as well as thrive in a bigger ecosystem together, rather than competing for limited grants and resources. You’ll hear about the ROG (Return on Giving) philosophy at Do Good Points, changing the narrative around doing good as a business, why mental health is a cause so near and dear to Andy’s heart, and his uplifting insights on redefining ourselves for the better as we re-enter the world following the pandemic. You can learn more about Do Good Points, and how they can help you give with the most impact, at https://www.dogoodpoints.com/ (DoGoodPoints.com). For more information, and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit http://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ (TheGiveBackModel.com). That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back, and check out The Give Back Model merchandise, where $5 for every hoodie sold goes to charity. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: Andy Choi was initially working in digital marketing at a big tech company https://www.dogoodpoints.com/ (Do Good Points) started as a side hustle, and felt like answering a calling to give back He noticed big companies incorporated giving back during the holidays, and started to wonder why they couldn’t do this on a regular basis One of the main goals of Do Good Points is to break down the barriers between intention and action when it comes to doing good Everyone wants to do good, but tend to put it off until they have the time or money - Do Good Points removes those barriers and encourages people to give from what they have today Members earn “Good Points” through micro actions like learning or sharing on social media - once they earn enough Good Points, this converts into an actual cash donation toward causes that align with the https://sdgs.un.org/goals (UN’s Sustainable Development Goals) This allows you to make a charitable donation without spending a single dollar COVID presented many challenges to the nonprofit space, including Do Good Points and the causes they support Now that we are finally easing out of “Survival Mode,” we can start to focus elsewhere and help those who are really in need We can all take small steps to help solve problems in the world - micro actions add up to something bigger Andy believes in effective altruism - How can we use our resources to make the most impact? Scarcity mindset in the nonprofit world - organizations are competing for grants and a finite number of resources Andy believes the market is big enough so everyone can thrive rather than compete against each other Do Good Points uses technology to their advantage in helping to address this problem Also helps to appeal to younger population of donors “Return on Giving” is similar to the idea of “Return on Investment” - through Do Good Points, you can feel good...
Sammi Jaeger is a creator, entrepreneur, and freelance integrator. She is the founder of Fuel Collective, which empowers couples to create thriving relationships, and co-host of the Date Forever podcast. She is borderline obsessed with the way the quality of our relationships impacts the quality of our lives, and she uses her unique blend of knowledge about business, relationships, and contribution to work, towards creating a better world. Sammy is a huge advocate of the UN Global Goals, and knows that the key to making true global progress starts with the quality of our relationships. Today Sammi joins Christine to discuss her passion for giving couples the proactive tools and resources they need to keep their relationships fueled and prevent them from breaking down, rather than taking a reactive approach once your relationship is already experiencing difficulties. She talks about the stigma of seeking relationship guidance for married couples, the pressure to uphold the illusion of a perfect union on social media, and the marketing challenge of appealing to an audience who may not realize they have a problem yet. She details the experience of launching Fuel Collective with her husband, Nathan, starting their podcast to learn as much as possible from relationship experts and psychologists, and what it’s been like to live in lockdown and run a business together through the pandemic. Sammi encourages entrepreneurs who are working with their spouses to define their roles from the start. She also tells Christine about giving 20% of their profits to pre-vetted education projects through the B1G1 (Buy One, Give One) organization, as well as their involvement with The Global Goals initiative. Finally, Sammi reflects on how building better relationships can build a better world, and tells listeners about Fuel Collective’s exciting courses and products to come. To learn more about Fuel Collective’s movement toward better relationships, visit FuelCollective.com.au or listen to the Date Forever podcast. For more information, and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit TheGiveBackModel.com. That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back, and check out The Give Back Model merchandise, where $5 for every hoodie sold goes to charity. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: ● Sammi flips the model of Relationship Coaching from reactive to proactive ● Sammi and her husband noticed many of their close friends were already going through breakups and divorces by their mid- to late-20s ● They noticed that these couples did not have models or tools for how to have a healthy relationship ● They found plenty of resources for how to find a partner and mend your relationship after it’s already hit a rough patch, but they noticed a lack of information for couples who wanted to keep their relationship fueled and prevent it from breaking down in the first place ● There is still a stigma around seeking relationship guidance for married couples ● People still believe that you meet ‘the one’ and love is all you need
● Couples try to uphold the illusion that they have a perfect relationship and do not admit to hardship or seek support ● Sammi’s metaphor about calling the fire brigade - you call them as soon as the fire starts, not after it’s already engulfed half your house in flames ● Marketing challenge of appealing to an audience who may not realize there is an issue in their relationship yet ● The Date Forever podcast is all about making time to date yourself and your chosen person forever, through all of life’s big events and commitments ● John and Julie Gottman of the Gottman Institute emphasize the importance of quality time with your partner, and creating new and exciting experiences together ● The idea for Fuel Collective came first...
Today’s guest is Mary Lynn Schroder, the founder of In Blue Handmade, a leather and waxed canvas goods business out of Asheville, NC. In Blue Handmade has sold over 90,000 items and has a partnership with Feeding America, where they’re able to donate 50 meals for each bag sold. Mary Lynn chats with Christine about leaving her job in the music industry and finding her passion for sewing, which then evolved into working with leather. They talk about surpassing her earliest vision for In Blue Handmade, having her father as a mentor, the experience of growing her operation, and finding suppliers who share her value system. Mary Lynn tells Christine how she came to partner with Feeding America in 2019, and decided to give back on a bigger scale once the pandemic began. She details her experience working with their philanthropic department to develop a give back model that incorporated every item sold, and how this endeavor has inspired her amazing team more than ever. They discuss the important work that Feeding America is doing to address food disparity in this country, how customers can harness their purchasing power to support small businesses who also give back, and Mary Lynn’s undeniable passion for designing and creating. Mary Lynn encourages new entrepreneurs to build a business plan that is unique to their strengths, recognize where they need help, and delegate accordingly. You’ll also hear about relating to customers on a personal level, Mary Lynn’s work with Trauma Textiles to help Indigeneous female artisans in Central America to receive a fair wage, and what’s next for In Blue Handmade. To learn more about Mary Lynn’s inspiring story of giving back while doing what she loves, visit InBlueHandmade.com. For more information, and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit TheGiveBackModel.com. That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back, and check out The Give Back Model merchandise, where $5 for every hoodie sold goes to charity. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: ● In Blue Handmade is a leather and waxed canvas goods business in Asheville, NC ● They have sold over 90,000 items ● They have a partnership with Feeding America where they donate 50 meals for each bag sold ● Business was launched in 2008 after Mary Lynn moved from Chicago and left her job in the music industry ● She began sewing and making her own curtains - this evolved into working with leather ● She is self-taught ● She now has a 6500 square foot warehouse and 10 full-time employees ● In 2011, Mary Lynn’s goal was to sell 5,000 items on Etsy within the next 10 years - they have sold 90,000 ● Her father works for the University of Illinois and is Mary Lynn’s business mentor ● Initially Mary Lynn only used recycled materials, but made the leap to creating consistent relationships with suppliers who shared the same values
● It’s a building process as you go, and knowing your trade inside out is hugely beneficial ● In Blue Handmade partnered with Feeding America in 2019 ● COVID motivated Mary Lynn to kick up their contribution ● They worked with Feeding America’s philanthropic department to create a give back model that incorporated every item sold ● One in seven people face hunger, and one in six children face hunger ● Having a culture of giving back is very motivating for Mary Lynn’s team ● COVID has inspired Mary Lynn to design new items with a more utilitarian purpose ● They’re donating at least 50 meals for every item sold ● Feeding America story about Lamont, who became visually impaired after a devastating accident at his job and was unable to work - he went to Feeding America for support, and later volunteered there to reciprocate the help he had received ● Mary Lynn is able to do what
Dr. Lonny Green is the Medical Director at Rejuvenate MD Wellness Medspa in Richmond, VA. Dr. Green has been a practicing surgeon in Richmond for over 20 years, with a Bachelor of Science Degree from Stanford University, and a Medical Degree from the UCLA School of Medicine. Dr. Green has a passion for health and wellness, and today he joins Christine to talk about his medical journey, and the dedication that he and his all-star team have for giving back to their community. Dr. Green tells Christine about his background working in Urology, Hormone Replacement Therapy, supervised weight loss, and Botox injections, as well as opening his own practice in July 2015. He credits his success to surrounding himself with strong, intelligent women, both personally and professionally, and explains how his incredible team worked together to overcome the challenges they faced due to COVID. Dr. Green explains how he got the nickname “Ninja Injector,” why he recently decided to focus solely on facial aesthetics, and his mission to help people become, not a different version of themselves, but their best selves naturally. He breaks down how his practice hosts parties and raffles to raise funds and awareness for several causes, including intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. And he offers his advice to business owners who want to give back, but may not be able to due to financial strains during the pandemic. When entrepreneurs find their true path, there comes a time when they need to decide whether to dive right in or walk away from the pool as a whole. Today Dr. Green shares his story of taking that leap, persevering through setbacks to build a thriving business, and using his platform to do good and give back to his community. To learn more about Dr. Green, his amazing team, and all the great work they do, visit Rejuvenate-MD.com. For more information, and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit TheGiveBackModel.com. That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back, and check out The Give Back Model merchandise, where $5 for every hoodie sold goes to charity. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: ● Dr. Green’s medical journey and background in Female Urology ● His work in Hormone Replacement Therapy for menopausal women ● Early backlash against Premarin and Provera - studies on these hormone replacements were stopped because of concerns that they caused breast cancer and stroke ● But these drugs were not derived from human compounds ● Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy replicates your own natural hormone level ● European studies that looked at this method found no increased risk of breast cancer or stroke ● There was a huge demand for this life-changing therapy, but American College of OBGYN did not yet approve of it
● Dr. Green went ahead and opened his own practice to help women and men with Hormone Replacement Therapy ● Started Rejuvenate in July 2015, but only began practicing there full-time one year ago ● His amazing team helped him deal with the challenges of COVID ● Recently shifted his practice to working solely on facial aesthetics (Botox injections, fillers, microneedling, etc.) ● His passion for helping people become the best version of themselves and keep it natural ● Everyone has the right to decide what will make them feel happy inside, including facial procedures like what Dr. Green offers ● Rejuvenate was in the red for 4 years before turning a profit, but Dr. Green always included giving back as part of their mission ● Their goal is simply to help others ● They don’t sell Botox or fillers - they sell confidence ● His support for the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, local homeless shelters, and Safe Harbor Shelter ● They use their annual Christmas...
Miriam Nelson is the president and CEO of the Newman’s Own Foundation. She has held leadership roles at academic institutions, contributed to public policy initiatives, is a best-selling author, and is regularly featured in the press. Today she joins Christine to talk about the origins of the Newman’s Own Foundation, how it pioneered the cause-driven Give Back Model, and donates 100% of their profits to charities worldwide. Actor, philanthropist, race car driver, and advocate, Paul Newman, created his salad dressing with a friend in 1982, and agreed to sell it on the condition that he would never compromise the quality of his product, and he would give away all his profits. Newman’s Own has remained true to this mission since day one, and has given away over $570 million to great causes all over the world. Miriam shares her academic background, her work around nutrition and women’s health, and how she got involved with the Newman’s Own Foundation. She talks about the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, which was founded by Paul Newman in 1988, and gives seriously ill children the opportunity to experience summer camp together. Christine asks Miriam how she decides which organizations Newman’s Own will work with, what makes their corporate culture unique, and why it’s important for Miriam to be heavily involved in the day-to-day operations as a leader. Miriam shares which organization she is most inspired by, her advice for girls and women who want to give back as an entrepreneur, and how to get our younger generation involved in giving back. Finally, Miriam discusses the important work that lies ahead in addressing food insecurity for children, and helping those who have been hardest hit by the pandemic, and she encourages listeners to spread the word that Newman’s Own gives away 100% of their profits. To learn more about this incredible organization and support their mission to “give it all away,” visit https://newmansown.com/ (NewmansOwn.com). For more information, and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit http://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ (TheGiveBackModel.com). That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back, and check out The Give Back Model merchandise, where $5 for every hoodie sold goes to charity. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: https://newmansown.com/ (Newman's Own) pioneered the Give Back Model They have given away over $570 million to great causes all over the world Miriam shares the history of this extraordinary organization Paul Newman, the actor, philanthropist, racecar driver and advocate created this salad dressing with his best friend in 1982 Loved ones encouraged him to sell it, and he agreed on the condition that he would never compromise the quality of his product, and he would give away all the profits They have given away 100% of their profits since day one Founder Paul Newman was passionate about using the power of a company to do good in the world Miriam shares her academic background, work around nutrition, and how she got involved with Newman’s Own She began as a recipient of their funding during her time at Tufts University https://www.holeinthewallgang.org/ (Hole in the Wall Gang Camp) gives children who are seriously ill the chance to experience summer camp together https://seriousfun.org/ (SeriousFun Children’s Network) also delivers unforgettable camp experiences that have a life-changing impact for sick children Newman’s Own works with thousands of organizations, but is beginning to narrow their focus on working with children who are facing adversity - specifically children who are ill or experiencing food insecurity Their core value is to take their work seriously, but not themselves Miriam is heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of the organization She is deeply passionate about using the full power and resources of the foundation to have the
Ryan Shell is the founder of The Home T, a super soft and comfy t-shirt company with wildly creative styles and images. The cause at the heart of The Home T is what keeps pushing this entrepreneur to give back. Here today to talk about his journey, is entrepreneur and board member for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Ryan Shell. From starting at a street fair in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to founding a hugely successful t-shirt business, Ryan never lost the core cause of giving back to MS research, a cause that is very near and dear to his heart. Today he joins Christine to discuss how his Give Back Model works at The Home T, the importance of pushing through setbacks, and never losing focus of your cause. Ryan begins by sharing the inspiration behind The Home T, and explains how a bout of homesickness led him to develop the simple design of a state with the word “Home” written on it. He talks about his humble beginnings with a simple table at a street fair, his company’s quick success and celebrity exposure, and his commitment to donating 10% of their profits to MS research from Day One. Ryan opens up about not being able to give back to every cause he would like to, and struggling with the feeling that he could always be doing more. He tells Christine about learning by trial and fire on his journey to entrepreneurship, his experience appearing on ‘Shark Tank,’ the personal reason behind his Give Back Model, and other charitable causes he is hoping to raise awareness for. Today’s episode is an important reminder to stay focused and keep going no matter what setbacks you might incur, because you never want to look back and wish you had taken that leap to follow your passion. To support The Home T and learn more about their mission to help fund MS research, visit http://www.thehomet.com/ (www.TheHomeT.com). For more information, and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit http://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ (TheGiveBackModel.com). That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back, and check out The Give Back Model merchandise, where $5 for every hoodie sold goes to charity. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: Idea for “Home T” started from the simple idea of being homesick for his home state Came up with the design of a state with the word “Home” written on it Donated 10% of profits to Multiple Sclerosis research from Day One Ryan began with a table at a street fair in Williamsburg, Brooklyn Sales took off instantly, and celebrities like Hilary Duff were photographed wearing his shirts Impact of what they have been able to donate as a small company - over half a million dollars New t-shirt designs and expanding their catalogue Not being able to give back to every cause he would like to and feeling like he could always do more How his professional background in Marketing helped him prepare to launch his own business, but learning along the way by trial and fire as well Ryan appeared on ‘Shark Tank,’ but due to network commitment to promote another charity that month, his repeated mentions of MS research were edited out Raising awareness for other foundations as well (Alzheimers and breast cancer) The constant chase of being an entrepreneur, always wanting to do more The personal reason for his Give Back, and also donating his time Ryan’s advice for entrepreneurs who want to give back as part of their business - stay focused and keep going
Quotes: “We really put this very simple design together, which just had the shape of a state and the word Home on it. And it's one of those ideas, you're like, yeah, this is kind of cutesy - it's never going to become a thing.” “From Day One, we donated 10% of profits to Multiple Sclerosis research. It's a cause that's near and dear to a number of friends that I have, and family members.” “I think the hardest thing about giving back is not being able to give back to...
Corporate Culture of Giving Back with Kevin Wilson of Dominion Payroll Show Notes: Today Christine chats with Kevin Wilson, Director of Community Engagement at Dominion Payroll, about the impact a company can have just by including a specialized position focused solely on giving back. Founder and CEO of Dominion Payroll, David Gallagher, always included community involvement in his entrepreneurial vision, but Kevin explains how his role provided the lens to focus that work and make it part of the company’s corporate culture. Kevin discusses the strategies he has used to encourage employees to make an impact in their communities without impacting their paychecks. He also shares the challenges he has faced in his charitable work during the pandemic, his optimism moving forward, and the professional benefits a position like his can bring in terms of long-term client and employee satisfaction. Kevin shares the most touching story of someone he has helped through his role at Dominion Payroll, and tells Christine which charitable causes he’ll be working with next. For more information, and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit http://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ (www.TheGiveBackModel.com). That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: Kevin’s role at Dominion Payroll and the decision to create a position focused solely on giving back His strategies for encouraging employees to get involved with their communities as much as possible Sixteen hours of community Paid Time Off (PTO) Half-day of volunteer engagement every quarter, as well as a volunteer collection drive Incorporating community involvement into the corporate culture of Dominion Payroll Working with the Gallagher Foundation to reduce the stigma of teenage mental health issues Consistently supporting other nonprofit organizations through annual races and events The challenges he has faced during the pandemic – continuing to support charities while keeping employees safe Professional benefits of giving back in terms of client and employee satisfaction What’s next for Kevin and Dominion Payroll Quotes: “In that middle market, there are not a lot of companies that invest in this, so I think that it's a unique space that I feel pretty privileged to occupy.” “As we were growing, there was a real need to sort of fill the space, because it is core to who we are culturally, and we think that that we can make a pretty compelling business case for it.” “We don't want to do it in a way that comes off as green washing or lip service to this type of work. We really do want to have an impact.” “One of the first things that I did when I joined the company - I wanted to remove as much friction between employees and being able to give back as possible. So the first thing that I implemented was that all of our full-time employees get sixteen hours of community PTO (Paid Time Off). “That is really important because I want people to feel comfortable making an impact, but I don't want to impact their paycheck.” “I think that the real success is that, like I said, we don't define it on an individual event basis. It's like, How can we build this culture, how do we incorporate this into the fabric of who we are and what we're doing?” “The benefit of sending our dollars, and our visibility, and that consistent support, is so critical.” “The pandemic was disproportionately affecting lower wage earners, people of color. And there are families that, frankly, they had empty cupboards - and that is an image that is immediately accessible to everybody… So at that time, it was like, that's number one. Let's just make sure that our community is fed and then we can go from there.” “The biggest challenge over the course of the last year is the fact that I would proactively reach out to some non-profits, and they’d say,...
Show Notes: Michele Liddle, owner of Perfect Granola, is an entrepreneur who has a mission to end hunger and give people opportunities to get out of the cycle of poverty. Every year, her company is able to donate 5% of profits, and thousands of pounds of granola, to homeless shelters, outreach centers, and food banks nationwide. Today Michele speaks with Christine about her past volunteer experience, where she noticed a lack of healthy food pantry options, as well as allergy-free options, and how that inspired her to launch her company in 2016. Michele talks about using her own kitchen to develop recipes with her family, how she found nationwide distribution for her products, and her current top seller. Michele discusses the high poverty rates in Rochester, NY, and her mission to create systemic change in the fight against hunger. She tells Christine about her partnerships with the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection in Rochester, as well as House of Mercy, Food Link, and Pepsico’s ‘Food For Good’ Initiative. She explains the importance of school nutrition, and shares the most touching story of someone she has helped. Michele encourages entrepreneurs to stay the course with their Give Back mission, and tells Christine what’s next for Perfect Granola as they continue to grow and raise awareness for food insecurity. To learn more about Perfect Granola and the important work they are doing, please visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/perfectgranola (www.Facebook.com/PerfectGranola). For more information, and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit http://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ (www.TheGiveBackModel.com). That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: Michele’s volunteer experience and her mission to provide healthier, allergy-free options to food pantries Choosing granola as the first product to launch into the market Using her home kitchen to develop recipes, and being able to accommodate soy-free and gluten-free requirements Making recipes as a family and having her kids as taste testers Top seller is currently Maple Pecan Date Distribution as the largest hurdle in starting her business Finding retailers first to gauge interest before developing the product Rochester’s poverty rate of 32% (double the national average) and low graduation rates Michele’s work with the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection to encourage at-risk youth to graduate high school Partnerships with House of Mercy and Food Link in Rochester Mission to create systemic change in the fight against poverty and hunger How to raise awareness, stay informed, and get involved Working with Pepsico ‘Food For Good’ Initiative to make sure children and families have access to food throughout the year Protocols to keep recipes completely allergen-free Her plans to continue growing Perfect Granola and giving back to homeless shelters, outreach centers, and food banks The importance of school nutrition Her advice for entrepreneurs whose heart is with the cause - never let your mission take a back seat
Quotes: “We really wanted to make sure that healthy products were getting on the shelf of the food pantries. Because I was volunteering at our local food pantry, I noticed that there was a lack of healthy food and also a lack of allergy-friendly foods.” “[Granola] was our first product to launch into the market with the whole expectation that this would become a staple on the food pantry shelf, and then we could hire the people walking into the food pantries, and give them a living wage, job, and medical benefits, so then they didn't have to continue going to the pantry. They would actually get a paycheck and be able to go shopping.” “We do make it all in my home kitchen first. It’s my test kitchen with my two young daughters. And they're all made with food that you would find in a normal...
Join Christine today as she talks with Mike and Anj, two of the three partners that make up Sous Casa, a delicious frozen food company that donates at least one meal per order to their nonprofit partners. Mike shares his long-standing passion for how bad frozen food tastes, how he developed the business idea with cofounder, Jim Hamilton, over tennis, and how the pandemic inspired them to actually launch their company. Anj talks about her background working with nonprofit organizations, and her experience serving as the initial conduit from kitchen to hungry families before being brought on to the Sous Casa team. Mike and Anj also discuss the food pantries they are currently partnering with, how their Give Back Model has evolved over the past year, and the collaborative process behind their gourmet recipes. They explain the need for more nutritious, quality food drive donations, and share their thoughts on the larger issues at hand, poverty and food insecurity. To order from their tasty menu, donate, or learn more about their mission to get well balanced, convenient, and nourishing food into everyone’s freezer, visit https://eatsouscasa.com/ (EatSousCasa.com). For more information, and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit http://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ (www.TheGiveBackModel.com). That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: The idea for frozen, yet very tasty delivery food Anj’s experience working with local nonprofits, and serving as the initial conduit to get food where it was needed most, before being brought on to the team One-Year Anniversary and launching a business at the beginning of the pandemic Evolution of their Give Back Model from Buy One, Donate One, to donating one meal per order instead in order to maintain the quality of their food Organizations that Anj is currently working with Christmas and Thanksgiving donation drives Stories of how they have been able to help their community Jim’s creative chef skills and the team effort to come up with new menu items regularly The need for better quality donations at food pantries and the larger issue of poverty Their mission to spread the word about food insecurity Quotes: “Our first iteration, our first test kitchen, included a one-to-one donation for anyone who would buy our frozen burritos. We just needed to get people to try them and figure out recipes, and see if it was worth doing it on a bigger scale.” “I have been talking about how bad frozen burritos are for over a decade now.” “Most nonprofits serving people living in poverty, especially people in public housing, were pivoting really quickly to get food to the door of the families they served.” “Jim, as a touring musician with rock bands, was quickly not very busy [because of COVID]… My job involves travel as well, so I was grounded for a bit. We said, You know what? If we don’t do it now, we’re probably never going to do it, so let’s see what it looks like.” “We’ve trimmed it down a bit, because the Buy One, Donate One is very unstainable with the quality of the food that we’re providing… We tried to figure out what would be a reasonable, viable donation ratio that we could keep up with. We commit to one per order - we donate a lot more than one per order.” “If you want to go above and beyond, you can buy a burrito pretty much at cost, and we’ll find someone that needs it in town.” “One thing that has certainly become very evident in all of this is, the need far outweighs the supply that we have.” “It’s a team effort from a creativity standpoint.” “Sometimes I think Jim’s favorite days in the kitchen are the days he gets to create a new recipe from what he has left over. And that’s the time I think he’s the most inspired.” “At that time, they were so isolated, so they were so excited to see us, and talk to us, and...
Ashley Janson is the owner of Light & Be, a bracelet company that donates $5 for every piece sold to help fight human trafficking around the world. Today she talks with Christine about her artistic background and passion for creating, the decision to start her own jewelry company during the pandemic, and the devastating statistics that led her to chose human trafficking as her cause. Ashley explains how her social media community has influenced the design of her bracelets, how she has adapted to her growing popularity, and her plans for new products and events moving forward. She also shares the significance behind her company name, Light & Be, and encourages us all to be a light in this world. Human trafficking is a $150 billion industry, and the United States leads all other nations in consumption. There is an estimated 40 million people trapped by human trafficking today. If you are a human trafficking victim, or have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP to 233733. You can learn more about Ashley’s mission to raise donations and spread awareness for this important cause at https://shoplightbe.com/ (ShopLightBe.com). For more information, and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit http://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ (www.TheGiveBackModel.com). That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: What led Ashley to start her entrepreneurial journey and spread awareness about human trafficking Her creative background and interest in creating jewelry Deciding to take the leap and launch her company during the pandemic The logistics of getting her business up and running, and how quickly it took off Using her Instagram page as a platform to facilitate conversations with customers and generate feedback for future designs Her growing popularity and Give Back Model of $5 per bracelet sold Why Ashley chose human trafficking as her charitable cause The heartbreaking statistics of human trafficking and how to raise awareness Victims can be of any age, race, gender, nationality, or socioeconomic status New products and designs to come Including flyers at in-person events that will include information and statistics about the cause The importance of talking about human trafficking, educationg ourselves, and spreading awareness Operation Underground Railroad Rescue started in 2013 and has since rescued over 4,000 victims of human trafficking (http://www.ourrescue.org (www.ourrescue.org)) The inspiration behind the name “Light & Be,” and Ashley’s mission for us all to spread light and do good in this world
Quotes: “In a world where you can be anything, be a light.” “In 2020, during the pandemic, me and my husband were talking about it, and doing some more research, getting statistics, watching videos. We were like, We need to do something. Something needs to be done. And I’ve always wanted to create something... I didn’t know what it was going to be.” “There was a lot of trial and error. I was ordering samples and seeing the quality of everything, and then as far as shipping, I had issues with shipping delays due to COVID… There were some setbacks.” “In the beginning, when I put out my first collection of bracelets, it was very diverse. I feel like it wasn’t very cohesive. And so I really wanted to hear from the listeners what they liked.” “We give back $5 for every single bracelet that is sold - [it] goes to Operation Underground Railroad. In the beginning, I knew that I wanted it to be a significant amount per bracelet, so we could make a bigger difference.” “We have, as of today, raised over $1000 for our rescue, which I’m very excited about!” “Currently there is an estimated over 40 million people who are in human trafficking today… 1 in 4 of those is a...
Show Notes: Christine is thrilled to welcome her dream guest and one of the reasons she started this podcast, Jess Ekstrom. Jess is the founder and CEO of Headbands of Hope, where for every item sold, her company donates a headband to a child with an illness. She is a rockstar entrepreneur, an inspirational public speaker, and she has her own Mic Drop Workshop that helps bring more female speakers into the industry. To hear her incredible story and the journey of how she started this Give Back company, pick up her book, Chasing the Bright Side, where she dives deep into her journey and gives you a look of what it takes to grab hold of your passion and just do good. Jess tells Christine about her experience working with Disney and the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and what inspired her to launch Headbands of Hope. She speaks about the importance of believing in yourself and your idea wholeheartedly, being motivated by other people’s entrepreneurial journeys without comparing yourself to them, and overcoming Imposter Syndrome. Jess explains why she loves the term, “It’s just business,” and encourages entrepreneurs to remove their ego and self-worth from what they’re creating so they can focus on solutions objectively. She shares how a gut wrenching setback early on actually drove her to become more resourceful, resilient, and optimistic. And you’ll hear about the many fun products, partnerships, and fundraisers Jess has underway to help children with illnesses feel confident and beautiful during such a difficult time. You can learn more about Jess, purchase some fantastic headbands, and get involved with her important cause by visiting https://www.headbandsofhope.com/ (HeadBandsOfHope.com) or https://jessekstrom.com/ (JessEkstrom.com). For more information, and other episodes on companies and entrepreneurs who give back, please visit http://www.thegivebackmodel.com/ (www.TheGiveBackModel.com). That’s where you can also let Christine know about companies you’ve found that give back. Thanks for listening! Episode Highlights: Jess’s Airstream adventures and her passion for traveling Christine’s moving experience of hearing one of Jess’s speeches for the first time Jess’s background with Disney and Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the inspiration behind Headbands of Hope Her revelation that your career can be more than just clocking in and out - it can build up to something bigger than us The importance of believing in yourself and your idea wholeheartedly Asking for help and opinions, and using the promise of free food as compensation Being inspired by other people’s journey rather than comparing yourself to them Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Removing your ego and self-worth from the thing you’re creating Embracing the expression, “It’s just business” Jess’s gut wrenching setback with a manufacturer early on, and how it led her down the path of optimism and resilience rather than giving up Learning from mistakes and doing better in the future The idea for Headbands of Hope, and giving headbands to children who have lost their hair due to cancer The company’s fun products and website Jess’s idea for the Worst Fundraiser Ever, a no-money fundraiser that raises gifts of kindness in place of dollars Current collaborations with Under Armor and Sharpie, and personally supporting women business owners Jess’s touching story of helping a little girl gain the confidence to go back to Kindergarten after losing her hair
Quotes: “From the moment you started talking, honestly, until the end - I could probably give that speech. I mean, I have just soaked it up. I laughed. You took us through experiences. You took us through your journey. And I cried. You got me hard. I’ve really enjoyed your transparency of your journey, and just being so open and honest.” “I worked in the Magic Kingdom at Hollywood Studios, and I was a PhotoPass photographer. So I got to take pictures...
Alan Donegan of PopUp Business School and Rebel Entrepreneur Show Notes: Alan Donegan is the co-founder of PopUp Business School and a legend in the Petrella household. He started PopUp Business School with Simon Paine in 2012 to help others start their own business without debt or formal business plans. Today Alan speaks with Christine about the misconception that making money and doing good are opposites, his frustrating experience seeking support while starting his own business, and how this led him to look for a better way. He talks about his mission to change the way entrepreneurship is taught around the world, and to help people create their own sustainable income. He also explains how his company is able to give courses away for free using corporate sponsorship programs, and how entrepreneurs are adapting their businesses during the pandemic. Alan shares some great advice on finding your passion and turning it into a business, and encourages listeners to get outside their comfort zone to find success. Alan’s Rebel Entrepreneur podcast covers a range of fantastic topics, including when to quit your day job and dealing with overwhelm. He also offers a free 10-week personal finance course called the Rebel Finance School, where students learn how to live a financially abundant life. You can learn more about these and other incredible free opportunities and resources that Alan and his team are offering at https://www.alandonegan.com/ (AlanDonegan.com). Episode Highlights: · Starting a business while giving back and not going into debt · Origins of PopUp Business School and Alan’s journey to entrepreneurship · His experience growing up in a household with great debt · His mission to change the way entrepreneurship is taught around the world · Every business makes the world a better place · Robin Hood Business Model and using sponsors to offer free courses · Example of couple who started an escape room business using PopUp principles · How businesses are adapting during the pandemic · Finding your passion and turning it into a business · Risking time, energy and rejection in entrepreneurship rather than money · Free Rebel Finance School offered on Zoom Quotes: “The biggest misconception for me is people think that making money and doing good are the opposites. And if I want to do good, I need to take a job with a charity and not make any money. And if I want to build a business, I need to be sleazy, corporate.” “I just think entrepreneurship is taught backwards all around the world… Everywhere you go, it’s taught backwards. I’m on a mission to change that, Christine. I’m going to change that around the world, and help people make money, do something they love, and have a bit more fun.” “The way to get wealthy in life is to help other people.” “I believe that every business, I don’t care what you do, helps other people.” “Of the 380 people that came along, we started 122 businesses, and of those 122 businesses, 75% were still trading five years later.” “We have a far higher success rate, without using debt, than people who are lending money to help people start businesses. I think that says a huge amount.” “I think entrepreneurs quite often don’t know enough about the numbers. They’re passionate about the flowers, the product, the thing. But they forget to look at how much it costs.” “The message I would have for everyone here is problems are going to happen. Problems are a sign you are alive. There is only one group of people who don’t have any problems, and they’re in the morgue.” “It’s not that you won’t have problems or crises, it’s how you respond to them and...
Tarah Morris of Perfectly Frank Restaurant Show Notes: Today on the podcast is Tarah Morris, the owner of Perfectly Frank in Norfolk, Virginia. Perfectly Frank is a “one size fits all” restaurant, making not only delicious hot dogs, but also a mouthwatering menu of grilled chicken, homemade chili, melts, burgers, and milkshakes. But the food is not the only thing attracting customers far and wide. Tarah’s huge heart and everything she has overcome this past year is the focus of this beautiful story. Tarah began her career in the restaurant industry at 14. She waited tables before purchasing a business of her own, and began the process of franchising. Tarah tells Christine why she ultimately decided to scale back in favor of the small, hometown feel she enjoyed by having only one location, and how the pandemic made her realize that this was truly the right decision for her. Even though her world had crashed because of COVID-19, Tarah shares how she used this as an opportunity to do good and give back to her community. Tarah’s story is a testament to what a fearless leader she is. By opening her heart and her kitchen, she has inspired an entire community to come together through fundraising, push forward, and provide delicious food for those in need – no questions asked. You can learn more about Tarah’s incredible journey (and menu!) at https://www.perfectly-frank.com/ (Perfectly-Frank.com). Episode Highlights: Tarah’s background in the restaurant industry and how she started her own business Her informal business approach Perfectly Frank’s extensive menu Tarah’s experience as the pandemic hit and how it affected Perfectly Frank Turning COVID-19 into an opportunity to give back and feed her community Tarah’s decision not to franchise and how the pandemic made her realize it was ultimately the best thing she could have done Perfectly Frank’s’ fundraising community Tarah’s advice for entrepreneurs who doubt whether they can succeed
Quotes: “We expanded a little bit. We started franchising and opened a couple more store fronts, but I hated it because it took the personal element out of it. I didn't want to bounce back and forth between all these locations - I wanted to get to know my customers. “At Perfectly Frank, it's just so full of personality and the customers are a huge part of what makes us the way we are.” “I've always run my business with my heart and the way it felt, and it’s kind of scary because I don't know a lot about the numbers and why things are the way they are in the paperwork, but I just keep moving and it works out.” “We fall into this group where we don't have backing behind us like McDonald's or Chick-fil-A or Wendy’s. We're not a big franchise… We're kind of in this weird niche where our prices are pretty cheap. You can come eat there for seven to ten dollars, but we don't get a lot of the perks that these big chains get. So yeah, I was nervous. And I felt comfort that we weren't alone, but it was like, I don't have anybody behind me holding me up.” “I worked eighty hours a week. I was there all day, every day. I was cooking, doing curbside, you know, whatever it took to stay open.” “The board that you posted outside says, ‘If you're broke and hungry, we got you. One free meal per customer per day, no questions asked.’” “Honestly, we don't even know, when we're cooking, if they are paying a customer or not. It doesn't matter. They're treated just like anybody else.” “We've also put out there, the meal doesn't even have to be for you. It could be for your neighbor. Maybe your neighbor is sitting on his porch, disabled, and you just bring him a hot meal.” “What's wild is that you start this business, you're in the industry, you're waiting tables, you take on this business. It morphs, it grows. Then total catastrophe hits. This awful, awful, horrible thing hits, and you don't know...
Chris Dennis of GivePet Show Notes: Today’s guest is Chris Dennis, the founder and owner of GivePet, a premium dog treat company based in Overland Park, Kansas, that gives back to local animal rescues and shelters with every purchase. Chris started his career in the pet industry in 2000, and launched his own company in May 2016. For every bag of treats purchased, GivePet donates enough treats for at least 10 shelter dogs. Chris focuses on growing distribution and retail accounts, along with daily operations of business. Christine chats with Chris about his passion for dogs, his origins in the pet industry, how he made the leap to becoming an entrepreneur, and the details of GivePet’s Give Back Model. By working with a highly regarded marketing team, and having the support of his family, Chris is leading the mission to help every dog feel special while in a shelter. Chris details the unique process of how GivePet works with distributors to make that happen, and the decision to make their branding and packaging so transparent. Chris explains what sets GivePet treats apart from the rest, why the need for healthy treats in shelters is so important, and shares his advice for new entrepreneurs. To support GivePet and purchase premium, natural treats that give back to animal shelters, visit https://givepet.com/ (GivePet.com). Episode Highlights: Chris’s first dog and his family’s passion for rescuing dogs Beginnings in the pet industry Chris’s idea to make his company work and also give back His quick turnaround from employment to launching his own business GivePet’s mission and how Chris selects which partners and shelters to work with Transparent branding and packaging What makes GivePet treats premium - no salt or sugar Biggest hurdle Chris has had to overcome Need for healthy treats in rescue shelters especially Advice for new entrepreneurs - passion and setting weekly goals
Quotes: “I was kind of entrepreneurial from an early age. My dad owned his own business… It’s kind of in my DNA.” “My business plan was to run a lean business...not waste a lot of money, and I could give back.” “People to this day ask me how I can afford to give back, and it’s real simple - we don’t spend marketing dollars on commercials and newspaper ads… We choose to give back and that’s our marketing plan.” “I worked on setting the business up for about a year and a half.” “I was really active in the entrepreneurial community.” “Every dog deserves to feel special.” “You are very transparent about where that is going, and what their money is doing to give back.” “Whenever I find out that there’s a business that’s giving back, I’m pretty much going towards them every single time.” “We use a lot of superfoods, and the ingredients are just clean and legible, and there’s nothing in there that you would wonder what it is, or if it’s healthy for your dog. Everything is all-natural, human grade.” “I usually seek out a partner that has that same philosophy in mind first, and then we work together to tweak it into the formula that I would like to present to the consumer.” “We took less margin to offer a better product.” “The biggest hurdle is to gain distribution.” “Then when you get in with one...you have to educate their sales people, form relationships with them, make sure you get a good launch, and you maintain that business that you have in the stores.” “Do something you’re passionate about and find a way to make a living at it.” “One piece of advice that I like to give people is to set a weekly goal, and no matter how small or big that goal is, accomplish something every week.” “There’s no perfect time to start a business.” Links: Follow The Give Back Model Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegivebackmodel/...
Brad and Bryan Manning of Two Blind Brothers Show Notes: Brad and Bryan Manning are two blind brothers on a mission to cure blindness. At a young age, they were both diagnosed with Stargardt Disease, a degenerative eye disease that causes blindness over time. To fight back, they left their former careers to start Two Blind Brothers, a small charitable clothing company that donates 100% of its profits to drive life-changing research for a cure for blindness. Their condition has inspired a special vigilance for details, a passion that carries over into the construction of their clothing line. Two Blind Brothers focuses on quality, comfort, and sense of touch. Today Christine talks with these two incredible entrepreneurs about how a shopping experience sparked the idea to create their own clothing line, their mission to help fight blindness, and how a viral video catapulted their brand to the next level of success very quickly. By using their sense of touch, Brad and Bryan realized they could embark on a mission to make super soft clothes and donate 100% of the profits to the Foundation Fighting Blindness. This episode will highlight the importance of having passion for your project, having a support system in place on your entrepreneurial journey, and how reaching out and making a human connection can have both personal and professional benefits. Brad and Bryan show us how your greatest challenge can actually be your greatest gift. To learn more about Two Blind Brothers and check out their Shop Blind experience, visit https://twoblindbrothers.com/ (twoblindbrothers.com). It’s more than a clothing line - it’s a movement. Episode Highlights: Brad and Bryan’s background and diagnoses as young children The inspiration behind Two Blind Brothers and their commitment to fighting blindness Their viral video and the power in telling their story “Shop Blind” experience as the cornerstone of their business Brad and Bryan’s most touching stories of people they have helped Current status in the fight to cure blindness Paying it forward and their support for other Give Back Model companies Plans to expand and continue engaging with community
Quotes: “You have proved time and time again that obstacles in life are merely a stepping stone to help create a massive impact in this world.” “Your greatest challenge is your greatest gift.” “The reason that we did this was for fun and to help the Foundation Fighting Blindness.” “It’s really a team effort.” “In the course of a month, we had been seen by 14 million people. We thought at that time, no one gets this kind of opportunity, no one gets to have this much fortune early.” “They’re shopping for your mission. They’re shopping for your cause.” “When you’re blind or visually impaired, one of the things you learn is just little bits of trust in people.” “When you’re little, those unscalable actions are your best weapon against big organizations. They have the budget to spend on advertising, but they aren’t getting on the phone.” “Our goals are just to meet more people, surprise and delight as much as we can.” “It’s more than a clothing brand, it’s a movement.” Links: Follow The Give Back Model Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegivebackmodel/ (@thegivebackmodel)
As a former online TV host, Amy will make you laugh until you cry and find a way to make every #momlife moment humorous - even on the days when adulting seems way too hard. Amy has an award-winning sales and leadership background in coaching and managing very dynamic teams. As a coach, Amy has built her career on bringing out the best in everyone around her and helping each person she touches perform at their best, and believe in themselves. As a coFounder of Give Her Courage, Amy has committed her life's work to help women know their worth and break the paradigm that comes with age. Amy’s website https://givehercourage.com/ (https://givehercourage.com/) Give Back to the Show: https://thegivebackmodel.com/give-back