Advertise on podcast: Charity Talks

John Gungie Rivera, the founder of the Cristian Rivera Foundation, is this episode's guest.  John started the foundation in honor of his four year old son, Cristian, who was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare brain tumor located in the stem of the brain. During the podcast, John and Brooke discuss DIPG, Cristian's story, and how the Foundation is helping to improve the lives of those suffering from this tumor.  Cristian's experience reflects the importance of the Foundation's work.  (0:16). Website: https://cristianriverafoundation.org Videos: https://cristianriverafoundation.org/videos/

Brad Corrigan, the director of the film Ileana's Smile, co-founder of the band Dispatch, and founder of Love Light + Melody, joins Charity Talks.  In 2006, Brad founded Love Light + Melody and built a global community of supporters who are helping transform the lives of children, primarily in Nicaragua, and serving families on the frontlines of crisis and poverty through education and music.  Brad and Brooke discuss what led Brad to nonprofit work and his experience creating the film, as well as the impact of his nonprofit.  All proceeds from Ileana's Smile go towards funding the expansion of Ileana's School of Hope.  (0:29). Website:  https://www.lovelightandmelody.org

Robin King, the CEO of the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF), is this episode's guest.  As Robin and Brooke discuss, NSF provides critical support for warriors, veterans and families of Naval Special Warfare.  It offers assistance in a wide variety of areas, from health to education.  NSF provides millions of dollars in comprehensive services, enabling SEALs to thrive despite the challenges of elite service.  (0:20). Website:  www.navysealfoundation.org

Meg Smith, the CEO of Cure Alzheimer's Fund, joins Charity Talks.  Cure Alzheimer's Fund is dedicated to funding research with the highest probability of preventing, slowing or reversing Alzheimer's disease.  The brain is the most complex organ in the human body, and as Meg and Brooke discuss, that leads to a wide range of promising targets for potential research.  Since its inception, Cure Alzeimer's Fund has distributed almost $230 million to researchers around the world.  Most significantly, Cure Alzheimer's Fund's work has already deepened the understanding of Alzheimer's genetics, lifestyle factors, and potential diagnostics and treatments.  (0:32). Website:  https://curealz.org

Lauren Hendricks, the President and CEO of Trickle Up, is this episode's guest.  Trickle Up partners with women in extreme poverty to build economic opportunities through programs rooted in the "Graduation Approach."  As Lauren and Brooke discuss, Trickle Up's programs reach the most marginalized communities including women, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, and people facing forced displacement.  Founded in 1979, Trickle up has served over 500,000 participants in their programs and has impacted over 2 million lives.  (0:26). Website:  https://trickleup.org

Susan Combs, the Founder of Pancakes For Roger, joins Charity Talks.  Susan founded Pancakes for Roger to honor her father, Major General Roger E. Combs, by helping veteran address the unique challenges they face during and after their service.  Through partnerships with 501(c)(3) organizations and initiatives tailored to veterans' needs, Pancakes for Roger strives to make a meaningful difference in their lives.  (0:21). Website:  https://pancakesforroger.org

Marijana Savic, the Founder and Director of Atina, and Board Director of Global Fund for Children, is this episode's guest.  Atina is a Serbia-based nonprofit that fights against human trafficking.  As Maja and Brooke discuss, not only does Atina help the transition process for trafficking victims, it also works to support the rights of women generally.  Given Maja’s decades of helping these often ignored survivors, it is not surprising that she received this year's TIP HERO (Trafficking in Persons Hero) award from the U.S. Department of State.  (0:37). Website:  www.atina.org.rs

Maya Ajmera, founder of the Global Fund for Children (GFC), and President & CEO of Society for Science and Executive Publisher of Science News, joins Charity Talks. GFC invests in innovative, community-based organizations around the world to help children and youth reach their full potential and advance their rights. Founded in 1921, Society for Science is dedicated to expanding scientific literacy, access to STEM education, and promoting scientific research. It also founded and produces the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. In this episode, Maya and Brooke discuss how GFC and Society for Science are helping young people globally.  (0:24). Websites:  https://globalfundforchildren.org/; https://www.societyforscience.org/

Dan Hubbard, the founder and Director of 4Amanda.Org, is this episode’s guest. 4Amanda is a non-profit foundation that provides emergency financial support to cancer patients.  The foundation is named for Amanda Pagans-Hubbard, Dan’s deceased wife, who with Dan set up the foundation before her passing.  As Dan and Brooke discuss, the financial challenges that coincide with cancer treatment are often as crippling as the disease.  4Amanda is dedicated to helping those cancer patients and their families with the fiscal difficulties that accompany the diagnosis and treatment.  4Amanda has only existed for a couple of years, but it has already made a huge difference in the lives of many suffering from cancer.  (0:36). Website:  https://4amanda.org/

David Coker, the President of Fisher House Foundation, joins Charity Talks.  The Foundation builds comfort homes where military and veteran families can stay free of charge while a loved one is in the hospital, and are located in military and VA medical centers around the world.  The Foundation also operates the Hero Miles program to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members, as well as the Hotels for Heroes program, which allows family members to stay at hotels near medical centers without charge.  In addition, the Foundation manages a grant program that supports other charities and scholarship funds for military children, spouses, and children of fallen and disabled veterans.  Overall, the Foundation has helped hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom are going through the toughest times of their lives.  (0:28).   Website:  https://fisherhouse.org/

Joey Savoie, the Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Charity Entrepreneurship, is this episode’s guest.  CE’s core mission is to launch high-impact nonprofits by connecting entrepreneurs with effective ideas, training and funding.  As Joey and Brooke discuss, each year CE dedicates hundreds of research hours to identifying the most effective charity ideas.  It then recruits aspiring entrepreneurs, and through its two-month incubation program, provides them with training and funding to turn these idea into high-impact organizations.  CE’s systematic approach has already led to the launch of 32 highly effective charities in the areas of animal welfare, health and development policy, mental health and happiness, family planning, capacity building and health security.  (0:26). Website:  https://www.charityentrepreneurship.com/

Andrea Goodman, the CEO of I AM ALS, joins Charity Talks.  I AM ALS was founded by Brian Wallach and his wife Sandra after he was diagnosed with ALS in 2017.  ALS is a terminal neurodegenerative disease that robs people of their ability to move, speak, eat, and breathe, usually in less than five years.  Brian and Sandra founded I AM ALS to find a way to empower people who are living with ALS to be a part of finding the solution for their disease.  As Andrea and Brooke discuss, I AM ALS is a patient-led community that provides critical support and resources to those living with ALS, caregivers and their loved ones.  It also empowers advocates to raise mainstream awareness and lead the revolution against ALS in driving the development of cures.  I AM ALS is infusing hope in so many who are suffering from this disease.  (0:30).   Website:  https://iamals.org/

Titus Syengo, the Executive Director of Teaching at the Right Level Africa (“TaRL”), is this episode’s guest.  TaRL began as a joint venture between Pratham and J-PAL (whose Global Executive Director — Iqbal Dhaliwal — was a guest on Charity Talks last year).  Its primary goal is to strengthen children’s foundational literacy and numeracy skills by using its evidence-based approach.  As Titus and Brooke discuss, TaRL is supporting governments and organizations in over 14 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, helping them to build the capacity to design, deliver and scale impactful programs.  TaRL’s goal is to help every child across Africa build foundational skills for a better future.  (0:29). Website:  https://teachingattherightlevel.org/

John Renouard, the Founder and Executive Director of WHOlives, joins Charity Talks.  On a trip to Africa in 2010, John was shocked to see how little access to clean water many villages he visited had.  So, working with college engineering students, he invented the “Village Drill,” which is a low cost, hand-operated water drill, and then started WHOlives.  Since then, WHOlives has helped bring clean, safe water to over 12 million people in 40 countries.  In addition, when John learned that girls were being subjected to female genital mutilation and essentially sold into slavery as “child brides,” he again decided to do something about it.  Working with local police and government authorities, WHOlives has helped support their efforts to enforce the laws prohibiting these appalling practices.  Given the impact John and WHOlives has had, it is not surprising that the American Red Cross presented John with an International Hero Award in 2015.  (0:37).    Website:  https://wholives.org/

Marko Kasic, the Founder of FundLife, is this episode's guest.  FundLife works directly on the ground in the Philippines, where a very high percentage of children live in poverty and without access to the tools to develop flourishing lives.  FundLife has developed a youth-led, community-first approach to ensure that all children there have an equal opportunity.  As Marko and Brooke discuss, through a variety of programs, including education and empowerment, as well as emergency humanitarian programming and peace building, FundLife is helping thousands of children reach their full potential.  (0:26).   Website:  https://www.fundlife.org/