GTZP | A Non-Profit Podcast about Volunteering and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR‪)‬ Joseph Smalzer

In this episode we interview Elizabeth Cushing, CEO at Playworks. Playworks’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

Playworks is the leading national nonprofit leveraging the power of play to transform children’s physical and emotional well-being. With more than 25 years of experience, the organization aims to bring out the best in every kid and hopes that one day, every child in America will get to play every day. Through direct-service coaching of youth and providing training and consultation for adults working with kids, Playworks partners with elementary schools, districts, and community-based organizations to bring games and youth development practices. With an emphasis on social, physical, and emotional skill-building, students feel included while being active and developing valuable skills needed to thrive in and out of the classroom. During the 2023-2024 school year, the nonprofit is ensuring more than 600,000 youth in over 1,300 schools and community partners experience safe and healthy play during and beyond the school day nationwide.

Want to learn more, donate, or get engaged?


Donate: https://donate.playworks.org/give/46209/#!/donation/checkout


Website: https://www.playworks.org


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakeRecessCount


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playworksrecess/


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/playworks


YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/playworksorg


Twitter: https://twitter.com/Playworks

In this episode we interview Diana Canant, Founder and CEO at LifeSpheres. LifeSpheres’s mission is to To build resilience that empowers people to thrive by resolving trauma in peer-communities globally.

LifeSpheres, a California 501(c)(3) Public Charity and a South African NPO, facilitates trauma healing through a community program. They create safe spaces for deep listening and mutual support, addressing trauma effectively and affordably. Their PeerCommunity CoCare Program serves diverse communities, offering workshops on deep listening skills and tailored CoCare sessions. Graduates can further support others and access resources through follow-up workshops. Operating on a commitment-based model, LifeSpheres offers free services with support from donors who share their mission.

Want to learn more, donate, or get engaged?


Donate: https://www.turningthetideoftrauma.org/contact


Phone: 1.650.275.2537


Email: info@lifespheres.org


Website: https://www.lifespheres.org/


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurningTheTideOfTrauma/


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turningthetideoftrauma/


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianacanant/

Lynn Margherio, founder and CEO of Cradle to Crayons, discusses the mission of the organization to end clothing insecurity for children. She shares her personal inspiration for starting the organization and the initial activities they undertook to understand the needs of families. Lynn highlights the growth of Cradle to Crayons over the past 20 years, from supplying 2,000 packages to children in the first year to projecting a million packages this year. She emphasizes the impact of the organization through feedback from agency partners and volunteers. Lynn also addresses the ongoing need for essential items and the importance of policy changes to support families in need. She outlines the future goals of Cradle to Crayons, including raising awareness, educating the community, and distributing more packages to children across the United States.

Takeaways


Cradle to Crayons aims to end clothing insecurity for children by increasing access to affordable, appropriate, and adequate clothing.
The organization has grown from supplying 2,000 packages in the first year to projecting a million packages this year.
Feedback from agency partners and volunteers highlights the impact of Cradle to Crayons in providing essential items to children and families in need.
There is an ongoing need for essential items, and policy changes are necessary to support families in need.
Future goals of Cradle to Crayons include raising awareness, educating the community, and distributing more packages to children across the United States.

Want to learn more, donate, or get engaged?


Donate: https://www.cradlestocrayons.org/donate-now/


Website: https://www.cradlestocrayons.org/


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c2cboston/ | https://www.instagram.com/c2cphiladelphia/ | https://www.instagram.com/c2cchicago/ | https://www.instagram.com/c2cnyc/


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cradlestocrayons/


YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/cradlestocrayons

In this episode we interview Nate Pietrini, Ed.D., Executive Director at High Jump. High Jump equalizes access to education for Chicago middle school students who have exhibited academic ambition and potential and who are of limited economic means. We provide academic enrichment, counseling and support to students of diverse backgrounds, with the goals of sending our participants to superior college preparatory schools, ensuring their success while they are there, and enhancing their ability to gain admission to highly regarded four-year colleges and universities.

High Jump empowers Chicago’s middle schoolers to become well-rounded leaders through our tuition-free programs, which offer one-of-a-kind experiences, resources, and educational support for curious and motivated 7th- and 8th-grade students who want to challenge themselves academically.

We provide a holistic learning program to help learners develop the skills they need to thrive wherever they go. The program consists of six weeks of daily instruction in the summer and an average of two Saturdays each month during the school year. Our curriculum exposes students to culturally relevant literature, themes, rigorous math instruction, and experiential learning.

What makes a student a scholar? A love of learning and a desire to seek experiences to challenge themselves socially and academically. Our students are intellectually curious and academically motivated; many are the first people in their families to attend college.

Want to learn more, donate, or get engaged?


Donate: https://highjumpchicago.org/donate


Phone: 312-582-7700


Email: ask@highjumpchicago.org


Website: https://highjumpchicago.org/


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highjumpchi


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highjumpchicago/


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/high-jump/


YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@highjumpchicago



Guest Information


Guest Name: Nate Pietrini, Ed.D. 


Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-pietrini-ed-d-70652354/

In this episode we interview Ausra Tallat-Kelpsa Di Raimondo, Board President at Blue/Yellow USA. Blue/Yellow USA's mission is to provide medical care, humanitarian, and non-lethal aid to Ukraine.

Blue Yellow USA's mission is to provide non-lethal medical aid and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. They deliver aid to high-risk areas near the front line and underserved areas. The organization was founded in 2019 and is driven by a historical connection to Ukraine and a desire to support its struggle for independence and democracy. They provide non-lethal aid such as protective gear, medical equipment, and rebuilding materials. Blue Yellow USA plans to continue fulfilling needs, rebuilding infrastructure, and maintaining support in the long term. They are seeking volunteers and support from individuals and encourage advocacy to ensure aid reaches Ukraine.

Takeaways


Blue Yellow USA provides non-lethal medical aid and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, focusing on high-risk and underserved areas.
The organization was founded in 2019 and is driven by a historical connection to Ukraine and a desire to support its struggle for independence and democracy.
They provide non-lethal aid such as protective gear, medical equipment, and rebuilding materials.
Blue Yellow USA plans to continue fulfilling needs, rebuilding infrastructure, and maintaining support in the long term.
They are seeking volunteers and support from individuals and encourage advocacy to ensure aid reaches Ukraine.

Sound Bites


"Our mission is to provide non-lethal medical aid and care and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, to its citizens, its defenders, all the way down to its animals."
"We've been very much involved in that history. I do a lot of research. I've been doing it for 30 years in on World War Two and in this area of what happened in Lithuania, the Baltics and other countries that are our neighbors."
"Short-term, we see ourselves fulfilling all these needs, including protective protection needs. Once the victory is gained, we will need less of the protection type stuff, but we will need a lot of the rebuilding materials, rebuilding medical facilities, providing them with equipment, providing them with trained personnel that now will be willing to come and work with different people."

Want to learn more, donate, or get engaged?


Donate: www.foblueyellowukraineusa.org/donate


Phone: +1 (630) 770-6551


Email: blueyellowusa@foblueyellowukraineusa.org


Website: www.foblueyellowukraineusa.org


Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/blueyellowusa/


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-yellow-for-ukraine-usa/


YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blueyellowukraineusa


Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlueYellowUKR



Guest Information


Guest Name: Ausra Tallat-Kelpsa Di Raimondo


Guest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ausra.marija.desiree


Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ausra-tallat-kelpsa-di-raimondo-529180b/

In this episode we interview Vriti, Co-founder & President and Mike Peck, VP at Ed3 Dao. Ed3 DAO’s mission is to empower educators with the knowledge and tools in emerging technologies like AI & Web3, ensuring every student is equipped for the future workforce.

Ed3 DAO is a global community for educators who wish to catalyze innovation in education and reimagine learning with emerging technologies, with a focus on AI & Web3. First, we Educate. We provide free global learning events for educators both virtually & IRL, as well as partner with universities to deliver coursework for teacher development programs. Second, we Empower. We give micro-grants to members who want to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and we invite our members to take ownership of our community through a distributed governance model. Third, we Elevate. We help educators and institutions implement projects and innovations using AI & Web3, such as Learner Employment Records and virtual reality curriculum. 

Want to learn more, donate, or get engaged?


Email: people@ed3dao.com


Website: https://www.ed3dao.com/


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ed3dao/


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/81369342/admin/feed/posts/


Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ed3DAO



Guest Information


Guest Name: Vriti Saraf


Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vriti-saraf/