Charity Talks

American Indian College Fund

Cheryl Crazy Bull, the President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, joins Charity Talks.  The College Fund has been providing scholarships to Native American students for over 30 years.  In addition to scholarships, the College Fund provides critical funding to tribal colleges and universities, as well as support to students after graduation.  Cheryl and Brooke discuss how through its various programs, the College Fund is creating positive and sustainable changes for Native communities, even across generations. (0:23). 

 

Website:  https://collegefund.org/

 

Giving What We Can

Luke Freeman, the Executive Director of Giving What We Can, is this episode's guest.  Giving What We Can was founded by Oxford philosophers Toby Ord and William MacAskill to inspire donations to the world's most effective organizations.  It was one of the first groups focused on Effective Altruism, which is a movement and philosophy that advocates for using evidence and reason to determine how to make the greatest impact when giving one's time or money.  During this episode, Luke and Brooke discuss how Giving What You Can has already inspired thousands of people to pledge to donate 10% of their lifetime income to the most effective nonprofits. Perhaps you too will be moved to take one of its pledges.  (0:20).

Website:  https://www.givingwhatwecan.org

Ronald McDonald House Charities

Kelly Dolan, the CEO and President of Ronald McDonald House Charities, joins Charity Talks.  The mission of RMHC is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families.  It is best known for its Ronald McDonald House® programs around the world, which provide support and housing for parents when their child is being treated in a hospital.  But RMHC does so much more, including through its Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® programs, which bring medical, dental and healthcare resources to underserved communities, and several learning centers, which are built where they are most needed globally and teach children basic skills through fun and engaging activities.  You are sure to be surprised, and inspired, by all of the work that RMHC and their volunteers do.  (0:24).

Website:  https://www.rmhc.org/

National Organization for Rare Disorders

Debbie Drell, the Director of Membership for the National Organization for Rare Disorders, is this episode’s guest.  NORD is the leading advocacy organization representing patients and families affected by rare diseases, and is committed to the identification, treatment and cure of 7,000 rare diseases. For almost 40 years, NORD has led the way in voicing the needs of the rare disease community, driving supportive policies and education, advancing medical research, and providing patient and family services for those who need them the most.  Tens of millions of people are impacted by rare disorders, and NORD's goal is to improve the lives of every member of the rare disease community.  (0:24).

 

Website:  rarediseases.org

 

The Conservation Fund

Whitney Flanagan, the Marketing and Communications Director of the Conservation Fund, joins Charity Talks.  The Conservation Fund protects America’s most critical lands and water to provide greater access to nature, strengthen local economies and enhance climate resiliency.  The Fund's programs focus on land and water conservation, wildlife preservation and community development, as well as cultural conservation of the country's most important historical sites.  With projects across America, the Fund’s work has positively impacted just about every person in the country.  (0:25).

 

Website:  https://www.conservationfund.org/

 

High Impact Athletes

Marcus Daniell, the Founder and CEO of High Impact Athletes, is this episode’s guest.  Marcus is a professional tennis player and two-time Olympian representing New Zealand, and founded HIA after he engaged with the Effective Altruism philosophy and movement.  Effective Altruism asks “how can we best help others,” and answers that with, “by using evidence and reason to find the most effective causes to contribute to and by using our time and money to do the most good we can.”  HIA and Marcus (who has pledged to donate at least 10% of his annual winnings to nonprofits in the global health, environmental and animal welfare sectors), have been recruiting other athletes to take that pledge and learn how they too can do the most good with their charitable dollars and high profiles.  (0:30).

Website: https://highimpactathletes.org/

Team Rubicon

Art delaCruz, the CEO of Team Rubicon, joins Charity Talks.  Team Rubicon is an international disaster response nonprofit that unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly provide relief to communities in need.  Team Rubicon’s over 130,000 volunteers deploy across the United States and the world wherever disasters strike. And during the current pandemic, Team Rubicon has supported over 1.7 million vaccinations in 105 cities through mass, mobile and fixed vaccination sites, as well as distributing millions of pounds of food.  In total, Team Rubicon is making a big difference wherever vulnerable and at-risk populations need them the most.  (0:24).

 

Website:  https://teamrubiconusa.org/

 

National Down Syndrome Society

Kandi Pickard, the President and CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society, is this episode’s guest.  As the leading human rights organization for individuals with Down Syndrome, NDSS’s goal is a world in which all those who live with this syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life, realize their life aspirations and become valued members of welcoming communities.  NDSS accomplishes this through national advocacy, educational programs, an employment program that seeks to increase access to the workplace for those with Down Syndrome, and the National Buddy Walk program which raises awareness for the Down Syndrome Community. Through these programs, NDSS has made a huge impact on so many people’s lives.  (0:24).

Website:  https://www.ndss.org/

Temple Grandin

Dr. Temple Grandin, professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University, is this episode’s guest. Dr. Grandin is a trailblazing advocate for the humane treatment of livestock, an inventor, a best-selling author, and a widely-sought speaker on autism.  In 2010, Time 100, an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, named her in its “Heroes” category, and that year she was the subject of the award-winning semi-biographical film Temple Grandin. During the podcast, Dr. Grandin discusses growing up with autism, how those with autism think about and process the world, and what led to her breakthroughs in the understanding and treatment of animals.  (0:35).

To watch the interview on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/FUbTNOrb14c

Children Incorporated

Ronald Carter, the President and CEO of Children Incorporated, joins Charity Talks and discusses CI’s mission to help impoverished children in the United States and 22 countries around the world.  CI does this in two key ways: through child sponsorship and special funds.  Sponsorship ensures that children in poverty get the basic necessities, such as food, clothing and school supplies.  Special funds take one-time donations and use them to support feeding programs, skill training programs and housing improvements, among many needs that CI addresses.  Combined, these impactful programs are helping thousands of children each year.  (0:25).

Website:  https://childrenincorporated.org/