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'Big Brothers Big Sisters' began over 100 years ago as an alternative to the juvenile justice system when a group of adults realized they could help vulnerable kids by giving them connection and meaningful relationships. Now with over 230 chapters in the United States, they have many programs to help youth reach their full potential in a variety of ways.

On this episode I feature Jill Sundstrom, who is the President and CEO of 'Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah'. She shares some great stories and outcomes that show the impact this organization is having on the ‘bigs’ who volunteer with them and the ‘littles’ who they support.

Listen to this episode to hear the many ways anyone can get involved in supporting the children and youth in your community. Or if you are part of a nonprofit, you might hear some great ideas for how you can continue to grow and evolve so you can not only help the people you serve, but give more opportunities for others to volunteer with your organization.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah

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Kenra Keddington has been a Camp Director for Royal Family Kids Camp for 22 years. These are week-long summer camps for 7 to 11 year old foster kids. Kenra says their main goal every year is to pour love and connection into each participant and give them the chance to just be a kid again.

The camps are 100% volunteer run, with some of their volunteers being previous camp attendees who return as teenagers to help create those same experiences they enjoyed as kids.

Kenra shares some really sweet stories in this episode and gives the beautiful reminder that anyone can do something to help uplift the most vulnerable in our communities.

Links mentioned in episode:

For the Children: Royal Family Kids Camps

Royal Family Kids Camp Salt Lake City

Royal Family Kids Camp Utah

For the Children Nonprofit

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The story of Joe Tuia’ana’s nonprofit begins after he had the opportunity to help a man in a suicide crisis and literally love him off the ledge. After that experience, he learned that there weren’t any resources for men’s mental health and suicide prevention where he lived, so he decided to start creating them. Now he runs his nonprofit the ‘I Love You, Bro Project,’ where they sponsor support groups and hold workshops for men to help them find connection and purpose as they navigate mental health challenges.

Joe’s heart and sincerity in the work he does really comes through in this episode and it left me feeling motivated to make sure I’m connecting and lifting up the good men in my life. Listen to hear more of Joe’s story and about the good, and necessary, work he is doing.

Links mentioned in the episode:

I Love You, Bro Website

I Love You, Bro Instagram

I Love You, Bro Facebook

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Deb Yokshas is a volunteer with Utah County Search and Rescue, who handle all outdoor search and rescue operations in the county. Not only is their team of rescuers 100% volunteer, but they also each pay thousands of dollars of their own money to be certified and have the right personal gear. These are people who are committed on a whole new level to helping and serving in their community.

Deb tells some great stories in this podcast about some of her experiences (I think she’s the kind of person you would love to talk to at a party and just listen to all the stories she has to share). She also talks about her own journey of joining Search and Rescue and the skills it takes to be part of the team.

I promise after listening to this episode you will want to personally go find a first responder volunteer in your community and thank them for the good and tireless work they do!

Links mentioned in the episode:

Utah County Search and Rescue Website

Utah County Search and Rescue Instagram

Utah County Search and Rescue Facebook

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Training for and running a 5k can not only be a great goal to accomplish…but also a way to champion the causes you feel passionate about. Many nonprofits and other organizations use 5ks to create awareness and raise funds to support the work they do.

In this episode I’m giving tips and encouragement so that the next time you see a 5k for a cause that matters to you, you can go and participate with full confidence. Give it a listen and be inspired to sign up for a race this summer.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Couch to 5k Running Program

Hal Higdon's Training Programs

findarace.com

raceentry.com

Strava App

Wright Sock for running

Episode 18: Abby Whiting and Organizing Her 'Physical Health for Mental Health' Run

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‘Choose Kindness PG’ is a nonprofit located in Pleasant Grove, Utah. It all started after some citizens felt there was division in their community. They went to the city council proposing a plan to promote a culture of kindness and service in their city. It began with organizing kindness clubs in the local schools, and spread from there to community events, and now they also celebrate a ‘Choose Kindness’ month in February.

My guests on this episode of the podcast, Rebecca Cardon and Ruth Horsley, are the current co-chairs of ‘Choose Kindness PG.’ They share some great stories and experiences they’ve had while volunteering with this nonprofit, and also give a lot of fantastic ideas anyone could use to incorporate a similar movement in their own city.

Division and discord is unfortunately too commonplace in our society right now, but organizations like this one and people like Rebecca and Ruth are proving that we have the power to change that within our own communities, one person and one small act of kindness or service at a time.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Choose Kindness Website

Choose Kindness Instagram

Choose Kindness Facebook

We've Been Loved Service Project

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'Fish for Garbage' is a nonprofit that was organized by a bunch of outdoor enthusiasts who noticed significant amounts of trash littering stream banks and lakeshores of popular fishing locations in Utah. They started by encouraging local anglers to collect garbage each time they went out fishing, and then began organizing official events inviting volunteers and locals to come help pick up trash.

Now they organize around six cleanups every year in the spring and summer that mobilize hundreds of volunteers all over the state. They recently reached the impressive milestone of removing over 100,000 pounds of garbage since their first beginnings in 2015.

My guest on this episode is Jared Winkler, the President of 'Fish for Garbage'. He tells a little more about the work they do with educating kids and others about taking stewardship for the outdoors, and at the very end I had him share some of the most ‘interesting’ things they’ve found in all the cleanups he’s been a part of.

With the weather warming up and all of us spending more time outside, this is a great episode to remind everyone that picking up a little trash truly can make a difference. Give it a listen and you might even feel inspired to host your own local cleanup.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Fish for Garbage Website

Fish for Garbage Instagram

Fish for Garbage Facebook

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Looking for a very doable but also impactful way to serve someone around you today? Consider giving a genuine compliment, to a stranger or someone you know. It doesn’t need to feel forced either. Just take the good thoughts you’ve already had about somebody else, and have the courage to share them. You can do it through text, in person, or even write them a note.

I originally aired this episode in August of 2023, but I wanted to share it again because in it I tell a cool experience I had several years ago that taught me the true power a compliment can have.

Giving a genuine compliment really is a beautiful way ANYONE can serve.

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