After learning about the achievement gap in college, and having experienced first hand the power of mentoring, Karim and a few friends developed Practice Makes Perfect. The nonprofit strives to narrow the achievement gap by providing mentorship opportunities to low-income students in New York City. A summer program that pairs low-achieving middle school students with talented high school tutors. It’s an approach that actually helps both the younger and the older students learn and grow.

Karim’s hard work has not gone unnoticed. Last month, Practice Makes Perfect was recognized at the Clinton Global Initiative University conference. And if that wasn’t enough for a single month, Karim was also named as a finalist for a 2013 Echoing Green fellowship. He’ll still need to survive another round of in-person interviews to see if he makes the final cut, but we’re confident that he will.

This spring, Karim graduates Cornell and enters the “real world.” It’s great to know that he has already helped to make the real world a little bit better. Thanks for talking with us Karim.

1. IN JUST ONE SENTENCE, WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE?  I believe I’ve been blessed with the education and perspective to help reform some of America’s most academically struggling public schools so that they work for the children attending them again.

2. HOW HAS THIS WORK CHANGED YOU? It has been my experience that when you figure out your purpose in this world, you become so much more efficient. You are no longer searching for the answer to the question of “What will I do with my life?” Decisions in life that may have been tough before suddenly feel not so tough. You build up the confidence and the energy to carry out your pursuits in a meaningful way. At least that has been my experience.

3. WHAT DO YOU GET FROM GIVING? I get a deep sense of satisfaction. As if I am honoring a commitment that I made. See, my whole life I have been given a lot. Thinking back to high school, I participated in a nonprofit called Rewarding Achievement. The organization paid students attending select inner-city public schools for passing Advanced Placement exams. My senior year I received a $1,750 check for my performance. I immediately went up to one of the co-founders who also happened to be a former corporate lawyer and thanked him. I asked him how I could repay him and he quickly responded “just pay-it-forward”. The reality is that there wasn’t much I could give to a successful corporate lawyer at the time but my word that I would. And so every time I give, I feel as if I am honoring that earlier commitment.

4. WHO IS A LIVING HERO AND WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THEM IF GIVEN THE CHANCE? There are three on my list: President Barack Obama, Richard Branson, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. If I had the chance, I would ask them all the following question: What are 10 things you know now that you wish you knew in your 20s?

5. WHAT EVERYDAY RESOURCES COULD HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR PHILANTHROPIC GOALS? Aside from money, which can never hurt a nonprofit, we are looking for people. This summer as things ramp up, we’d like to get more people and their companies engaged with us to help rebuild the schools our students attend. Additionally, we can never discount the importance of mentors for the interns we hope to bring in over the summer. If individuals have expertise in PR or business development and would like to mentor college students as they work with us for the summer, we would gladly facilitate the relationship. Last summer Nancy Nicolelis volunteered her time and it helped our intern grow tremendously.

6. WHAT IS A BURNING QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY? I’m giving the senior toast this year at It’s a Black Affair at Cornell and I will be asking my peers this very question: Who will your life’s journey be for? I feel that a life lived for oneself is a life not worth living.

7. WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOK BE? If I had to write a book, which I hope to eventually do one day, I would title it The Time is Now. Our whole lives we come up with excuses not to do things or take responsibility for things that we should. Every chapter of the book would be used to inspire the reader to take action in their personal and professional lives.

8. TELL US SOMETHING YOU RARELY SHARE IN PUBLIC?  When I was 13 years old I started two business ventures that didn’t really go anywhere. I taught myself HTML and built my first business from scratch. I was going to import electronics from China in bulk at wholesale prices and sell them at retail value to people in the United States through my company “All You Need In A Bundle”. The second was an invention for a heated toilet seat that my father and I patented through the invention submission corporation but never really took the time to further invest in the idea.

9. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHERS WHO ASPIRE TO BE CITIZEN PHILANTHROPISTS? Stop aspiring and start doing. Early on when I was starting my nonprofit, a mentor told me that I couldn’t help the poor if I was one of them. It took me two weeks to finally figure out that poor was more than just a financial status or a social class – it was a state of mind.

10. WHAT QUESTION DO YOU WISH I HAD ASKED, AND WHAT IS THE ANSWER?  I read through all of the simple questions that were difficult to ask and I was surprised I didn’t see this one: What drives you? I honestly don’t have a good answer for this question but I just figured it would have made the list. My drive has come from different things at different points of my life. As I have gotten older those motivations have changed, which I think is natural and essential. I know my early motivation was to impress my father more than my other brothers did. Then I remember wanting to be the best salesmen at our family business. At another point it was money and then it was family. Today it’s my life’s purpose and I can only wait for what tomorrow’s inspiration will be.

ORGANIZATIONAL LINKS: Main Site, Facebook, Twitter

PERSONAL LINKS: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Karim’s Blog

Anne O'Brien (far right), and her four sisters are the founders of The Tyanna Foundation.

In the world of grassroots, breast cancer organizations, The Tyanna Foundation is the Benny Hill of nonprofits. With slogans like “help keep motor-boating alive” and “save the girls,” Tyanna is an organization that combines humor, irreverence, and sass, with a healthy dose of “f-you cancer!” sprinkled on top.

Named after Tyanna Barre O’Brien who lost her battle with breast cancer at the age of 48, the foundation was launched in 1999 by Tyanna’s five daughters. Anne O’Brien, the oldest of the sisters and a Baltimore, MD resident, quickly built a presence for the organization here in “Charm City,” launching the now locally-iconic event, BreastFest, and telling women to “check your boobs, Hon!”

Since its inception, The Tyanna Foundation (with its ALL volunteer staff)  has hosted successful “cocktails-for-a-cause” style events. It has raised more than $1,000,000 for The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, along with other worthy organizations in three sister regions (Philadelphia, PA; Athens, GA; and Southern New Jersey). In 2008, Mercy renamed its imaging center: The Tyanna O’Brien Center for Women’s Imaging. Guess what? … grassroots works.

As Anne describes below, she and her sisters took  personal tragedy and used it to fuel something personally meaningful and of tremendous value for their extended communities. And while that alone is noteworthy, I really appreciate how they use good old-fashioned brand-building to infuse Tyanna with some edge and personality, which is ultimately helping to drive greater impact. Thanks Anne for answering our Talking GOOD questions.

1. IN JUST ONE SENTENCE, WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE? My purpose in life is to help people, be a good role model for others and make breast cancer suck less for the people who have to endure it.

2. HOW HAS THIS WORK CHANGED YOU?  The Tyanna Foundation is all volunteer, so one way it has changed me is that I now have a “real job” that also allows me to do my volunteer work (e.g., where I can make my own hours, meet a donor in the middle of the day, or attend a meeting at the hospital when needed).  I don’t think the work itself has fundamentally changed me, but it has become a vital part of who I am. I wouldn’t be whole without it.

3. WHAT DO YOU GET FROM GIVING? With The Tyanna Foundation, I get a lot of credit that I only partially deserve.  We have hundreds of amazing volunteers and I get to claim all of their good works in the name of our Foundation.  It’s a little humbling to be honest.  But it’s more than that – I love the feeling of helping people and being able to share that feeling with all the other volunteers.  Volunteering for Tyanna is often the first time a lot of our volunteers have ever given back to anything and it’s so great to hear how fulfilled it makes them too!

4. WHO IS A LIVING HERO AND WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THEM IF GIVEN THE CHANCE? A living hero – that’s tough for me.  The first one that comes to mind is a friend and fellow volunteer named Jill Mull.  She is a breast cancer survivor and now raises money for breast cancer.  She’s worked with a few organizations but now works with The Tyanna Foundation –which is how I got to know her.  She exudes so much strength and compassion and she makes you happy to have her in your world. What would I ask her – how do you do it?  Breast Cancer changes you and Jill has chosen to focus her energy toward making a difference, not feeling sorry for herself and it really is an inspiration to me.

5. WHAT EVERYDAY RESOURCES COULD HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR PHILANTHROPIC GOALS? A part-time (8-10 hrs/week), volunteer, administrative assistant. I work best when I have a person who I can funnel things to because I’m a little all over the place. My mind goes in a million directions and my best years with Tyanna were when I had a really strong administrative person by my side who was extremely organized and kept me on target.  Right now I don’t have that and I REALLY miss it.

6. WHAT IS A BURNING QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY? Has your life been affected by breast cancer and if so, what have you done about it?  There are so many ways to give back and if breast cancer is a cause that means something to you – make the time to make a difference.

7. WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOK BE? “I’m the Chubby One.” I feel like I say that all the time because me and my 4 sisters run the Foundation together, and every time I show someone a photo I always say “I’m the chubby one”.  The Tyanna Foundation is really a calling for all of us in all of the cities where we live, so if I wrote a book about Tyanna or giving, it would have a photo of me and my sisters on it and I’d have to say… “I’m the chubby one.”

8. TELL US SOMETHING YOU RARELY SHARE IN PUBLIC? People think I am really confident, strong and laid back but I actually cry at commercials and have to workout to combat stress.  I can suck it up when I need to but I love to be in places that I’m comfortable in and love Baltimore because it’s a small town that pretends it’s a city – just my speed.

9. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHERS WHO ASPIRE TO BE CITIZEN PHILANTHROPISTS? Jump right in.  Pick your passion and go for it.  Whether it’s animals or kids or clean air – go for it.  I don’t know a nonprofit that doesn’t want help so don’t waste another day.  Make a phone call, meet some new people who will soon be your new best friends, share your talents and you will be surprised at how much more you receive in return.

10. WHAT QUESTION DO YOU WISH I HAD ASKED, AND WHAT IS THE ANSWER? What is the inspiration for what you do?  And the answer is – my mom – Tyanna O’Brien.  I am the oldest of 5 girls and when my mom died of breast cancer (I was 25 at the time), we all knew we had to do something to honor her because she made a difference in the lives of so many people.  We grew up volunteering ALL THE TIME,  so starting an all-volunteer organization made sense.  I feel very lucky that I grew up that way because giving feels really stinking good and if everyone did it a lot of problems would be solved.  She is our inspiration.

ORGANIZATIONAL LINKS: Main site, Facebook, Twitter

Perhaps then it’s fitting that this week’s Talking GOOD interview is with Dr. Ronald Delanois, orthopedic surgeon at Baltimore’s Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics (part of the LifeBridge Health System), where he is considered an expert in complex hip, knee, and shoulder reconstructive surgery. Ronald is the subject of this feature not for being a skilled surgeon only, but because of how he’s using his talents to serve his extended communities.

Ronald is a key advocate for the Save-A-Limb Walk, Ride, and Festival. These are events that support the Save-A-Limb Fund, an organization dedicated to saving limbs from amputation and providing hip and knee replacements to patients in the United States and abroad. Here he is talking about the ride, why it was created, and the problem it addresses.

Ronald’s medical generosity extends well beyond Maryland. In 2011, he traveled with a medical team to his home country of Haiti, where he had not been since the age of 16. There, he and his colleagues performed 32 surgeries over a one-week period, treating people who had been stricken with birth defects and who have no access to advanced medical care. You can see and hear Ronald talking about this experience here.

Dr. Ronald Delanois: thank you for your work, your commitment to easing suffering, your dedication to cause, and answering our Talking GOOD questions.

1. IN JUST ONE SENTENCE, WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE? I feel like it is to give back to those who are less fortunate.

2. HOW HAS THIS WORK CHANGED YOU?  Being involved with the Save-A-Limb Ride, Walk and Festival over the last five years has given me some new perspectives on those who are truly in need.   For example, I took a medical mission trip to Haiti through the Save-A-Limb Fund and got to see firsthand how good we really do have it in the U.S.

3. WHAT DO YOU GET FROM GIVING? The personal satisfaction of knowing that what we are doing is helping make life better for somebody.

4. WHO IS A LIVING HERO AND WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THEM IF GIVEN THE CHANCE? The Dalai Lama.  I would ask him, “What is your greatest motivation in life?”

5. WHAT EVERYDAY RESOURCES COULD HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR PHILANTHROPIC GOALS? With the Save-A-Limb Ride, we find that our supporters are our best resource.  They get out there and form teams and recruit their families and friends to the cause.  We just need more people to join us and either sign up to participate in the ride or to give to the cause.

6. WHAT IS A BURNING QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY? I have two actually.  What causes are you most passionate about in life?  And what are you doing to help support them?

7. WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOK BE? Being a Surgeon Is Just My Day Job.

8. TELL US SOMETHING YOU RARELY SHARE IN PUBLIC? I am a collector of pens from all over the world.

9. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHERS WHO ASPIRE TO BE CITIZEN PHILANTHROPISTS? It goes hand in hand with my question to this community.  What is your passion?  Whatever it is, find a way to support it.  You could start an event like we did.  Or give to your favorite organization.  Or like many of our Save-A-Limb supporters, find a creative way to raise awareness about your cause.  But whatever you do, don’t sit by and let an opportunity pass you up.

10. WHAT QUESTION DO YOU WISH I HAD ASKED, AND WHAT IS THE ANSWER? I think it would be, “What keeps you committed to your cause?”  And my answer, “The people whose own commitment often puts mine to shame.”

ORGANIZATIONAL LINKS: Main Site, Facebook, Twitter 

It was a feat of organizing tenacity, worthy of a veteran education advocate. So you might be surprised to learn that a primary player behind this coup was 26-year-old educator and law student, Yasmene Mumby. I say “might be surprised,” because if you already know Yasmene, then you know that she gets the job done! Yasmene, along with her BEC co-Chair, Jimmy Stuart, were able to galvanize the collective passion and commitment of this community and affect meaningful change. That ain’t easy to do.

My challenge with this intro is that I need to keep it succinct, yet I could go on and on about Yasmene and all of her accomplishments. So in the interest of brevity, I now present Yasmene’s prolific résumé in the length of a single tweet: Cochair @becforourkids, Dir. Cmty-Engagement @KIPPBaltimore, founder Team ORGANIZE, co-founder @theintersection, student @UMDLaw #driven

Who said tweeting can’t be an expressive form of prose?!? Yasmene is a Baltimore girl through and through. A graduate of The McDonogh School, The Johns Hopkins University, and now a student at The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, she is using her excellent education to ensure that “all children in Baltimore City receive an excellent education.” Keep up the amazing work Yasmene and thanks a ton for answering our Talking GOOD questions.

1. IN JUST ONE SENTENCE, WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE?  My purpose in life is to live presently and to travel the world honoring the light in every human being.

2. WHAT DO YOU GET FROM GIVING?  I get a sense of calm and existence. I feel as if I am contributing to the world and valuing the time I have living.

3. HOW HAS THIS WORK CHANGED YOU? This work has led me to my truer self. A giving self. I grew up in Baltimore and tied much of my identity to school work. What else was there to focus on from age 6 to 21? As soon as I graduated from college, I headed straight to West Baltimore to teach. Being a teacher, creating Team ORGANIZE, and now co-chairing the Baltimore Education Coalition have allowed me to focus my day around giving to others. I get that from my grandfather, Dr. Shirley (Rex) Clinton. My first best friend. He was a pediatrician in West Baltimore during the late 1960s to 1990s. My grandfather loved honoring West Baltimore’s growing families by bringing their new light into the world. He became a pediatrician because he’d rather bring new life into the world than risk losing one. I wanted to be like my grandfather, but I knew my weaknesses. So I decided to help bring new life into the world as a history teacher.

4. WHO IS A LIVING HERO AND WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THEM IF GIVEN THE CHANCE? I absolutely look up to California’s Attorney General Kamala Harris, her classic grace and intellect. Attorney General Harris inspires me as I continue to develop as a law student and young woman in leadership.  All the while, Harris seems grounded and modest. Quiet power. I’d like to ask her, from where did she learn her strength and resolve? And can we meet for coffee???

5. WHAT EVERYDAY RESOURCES COULD HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR PHILANTHROPIC GOALS? The Baltimore Education Coalition works because everyone voluntarily pitches in. We have no paid staff. This is a labor of passion and commitment for all involved. [SEE BELOW FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF BEC AND WHO IS INVOLVED.] It’s an all hands on deck effort. We worked with 120+ parents, teachers, administrators, and community members to execute this 3,000 person rally for better school buildings in Baltimore City. We can use volunteer talent in many areas: Oral historians, a website designer, bus transportation to and from events, printed materials, audio/visual stagers. You name it. Just email me: ymumby@kippbaltimore.org

6. WHAT IS A BURNING QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY? What was the moment when you realized your purpose in life? Are you fulfilling your purpose or running from it?

7. WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOK BE? Don’t fight the universe! Life eventually falls into place. I am a person that NEEDS answers; I don’t really do well with uncertainty. So often I have to remind myself to stop searching and finding more to do. The path I am to walk is already laid out in front of me. I have to remind myself that I am where I am supposed to be. Remember, I have a problem with standing still!

8. TELL US SOMETHING YOU RARELY SHARE IN PUBLIC? If I’m not moving, involved in something worthwhile and uncharted, I feel wasteful…as if I am not maximizing life and its given experiences during the seconds, minutes, hours allotted. So I practice yoga  to help me stand still and reflect. Yoga is the only thing that surrenders me.

9. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHERS WHO ASPIRE TO BE CITIZEN PHILANTHROPISTS? Be honest. Value other people. Share your appreciation for them. Recognize their collective work.

10. WHAT QUESTION DO YOU WISH I HAD ASKED, AND WHAT IS THE ANSWER? QUESTION: Why are you still in Baltimore? ANSWER: I am one of the very few kids that stuck around Baltimore. Many of my friends from high school and undergrad could not wait to leave this town. And they did. I can’t. Every time in my life I have tried to leave and build my life somewhere else, Baltimore never lets me go. There have been moments and experiences that ground my commitment to Baltimore. It makes it hard to leave. I have never lived anywhere else. Yet.

ORGANIZATIONAL LINKS: Baltimore Education Coalition Main Page, BEC on Facebook, BEC on Twitter, KIPP:Baltimore’s Advocacy Page

More on the Baltimore Education Coalition (as written by Yasmene)

The Baltimore Education Coalition is the broadest citywide linkage of 25 organizations working for Baltimore’s children. We have stopped over $100 million dollars in proposed cuts to City Schools. We supported and won the bottle tax that will leverage $155 million for school construction. Most recently, we successfully advocated and won the passage of an unprecedented $1 billion financing plan  to improve school facilities with 3,000 parents, students, teachers, administrators, and community leaders for Baltimore City’s 85,000 students.

We are public schools, traditional, and charter. We are after-school programs and neighborhood associations. We are education policy organizations and religious institutions. We are:

ACLU of Maryland, Advocates for Children  and Youth, Afya Public Charter School, Baltimore Curriculum Project, BUILD, The Cathedral of the Incarnation, Child First Authority, City Neighbors Foundation Council, The Coalition of Baltimore Charter Schools, Community Law in Action, Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc. (CHAI), Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance, Elev8 Baltimore, Greater Homewood Community Corporation, KIPP Baltimore, League of Women Voters of Baltimore City, Maryland Education Coalition, Mt. Washington Elementary/Middle, PTA Council of Baltimore, Reservoir Hill Improvement Council, Roland  Park Elementary/Middle School Parents, School Social Workers in Maryland, Southwest Baltimore Charter School, and Supporting Public Schools of Choice.

TFA is a national organization where recent college graduates commit to teaching school for two years in under-served communities. The organization is filled with passionate and intelligent people, many who go on to become education advocates (just like Courtney and this former Talking GOOD interviewee).

Courtney joined TFA as a corps member in 2000, and taught second grade in New York City for three years. She then went on to law school, where she continued to immerse herself in children’s education, by co-founding a student organization called Child Advocacy, Research, & Education. She also worked as a legal aid for the program Just Children, and was awarded the Family Law Book Award at graduation (an award given to the student who shows the most potential in the practice of family law!). In 2010, Courtney took her current position at TFA.

Providing meaningful educations to our Nation’s children is an imperative, but in many respects our current system is broken. Courtney has seen what it takes to do the job on the front lines, and now she is empowering a corp of young teachers to do the same. Thanks for talking with us Courtney!

1. IN JUST ONE SENTENCE, WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE?  To work for social justice by creating educational and leadership opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds.

2. HOW HAS THIS WORK CHANGED YOU? As a 2^nd grade teacher through Teach For America in Washington Heights (in New York City), I witnessed the inequities my students faced coupled with their unlimited potential and desire to succeed. This experience seeded a passion for ensuring all children receive the educational opportunities they need and deserve. As I’ve continued as a law student with a focus on child advocacy and juvenile justice and now an organizational leader at Teach For America in Baltimore, I’ve gained a deeper sense of what it will take collectively to create the systemic social change our kids’ futures demand.

3. WHAT DO YOU GET FROM GIVING? Two big rewards: First, I’m continually challenged to learn more about the rich histories of Baltimore’s neighborhoods and the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of our students, communities, and partners. By learning more about others, I inevitably learn more about myself. Second, I’m continually inspired to be working alongside so many incredible educators, administrators, non-profits, students and families.

4. WHO IS A LIVING HERO AND WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THEM IF GIVEN THE CHANCE? Malala Yousafzai: In what ways do you see the world changing as a result of your brave campaign for the education of girls in Pakistan?  What advice would you have for other students across the world who want to advocate for expanded educational opportunities for all students, regardless of race, class, or gender.

5. WHAT EVERYDAY RESOURCES COULD HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR PHILANTHROPIC GOALS?  Your personal expertise. Teachers are always in need of people willing to offer mentorship opportunities, be a role model, and bring real-world relevance to classrooms throughout Baltimore.

6. WHAT IS A BURNING QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY? What can each and every one of us do to help ensure that every Baltimore child graduates high school ready for a college opportunity?

7. WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOK BE? “Life Between Days” is the name of a short story collection I have been working on in spurts for years.

8. TELL US SOMETHING YOU RARELY SHARE IN PUBLIC? I spent a year of my adult life living in my parents’ attic writing fiction and substitute teaching.

9. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHERS WHO ASPIRE TO BE CITIZEN PHILANTHROPISTS? Make it as personally meaningful as possible. Reflect on what is most important to you and from there, think about your own resources, skills, and talents and find the bridge between what you care most about and what you can uniquely offer.

10. WHAT QUESTION DO YOU WISH I HAD ASKED, AND WHAT IS THE ANSWER? QUESTION: What’s number one on your bucket list? Even if I did write the question, not sure that I could pick just one! ANSWER: land a double axel, teach pre-kindergarten, and read every novel that has won a Pulitzer Prize in fiction.

ORGANIZATIONAL LINKS: Main Site, Facebook, Twitter 

I’ll keep this post short and let the video do the talking.

In early 1998,  some friends asked me to join them in this thing called the Boston to New York AIDS Ride. It would involve getting on a bike, pedaling for 260+ miles over 3 days, and raising a gargantuan $1,800 to benefit AIDS charities. At that point in my life, I had never raised money for a cause, I had not been on a bike since pre-driver’s license, and I most certainly had never participated in a large-scale event with a predominantly gay and lesbian population.

The ride changed me. It taught me that I could undertake physical challenges never thought possible; that epic undertakings have the power to galvanize tremendous support for causes; and that diversity is something to be embraced, not feared. It also introduced me to cycling.  This single event, which happened on one amazing three-day weekend in September ’98 did all of this for me. Major ripples in the pond of my life, which have continued to grow — not diminish — from their point of origin.

The man responsible for this ride was Dan Pallotta,  founder of Pallotta TeamWorks, and innovator of the multiday AIDSRides and Breast Cancer 3-Days. In 2002, after raising unprecedented amounts of money for causes, Dan’s company went out of business. His sponsors abandoned him and he was vilified by the media for being an unethical leader. His story is outlined in great detail in news articles, in his book Uncharitable, and in the TED talk featured above. In my heart, I knew Dan had been wronged, but I was unable to articulate why. Now, I don’t have to because this fantastic TED talk — one of the best I’ve seen — does it succinctly and powerfully.

In 2007, I had the opportunity to take Dan out for lunch in Boston. I told him “thank you for changing my life.”

Chris Bradshaw, this week’s rock-star citizen philanthropist, wants to know how your life would be different if you had never had access to books when you were young. Sit with that question for a moment. Personally, I find it chilling to think about the abyss this would have created in my own childhood, and how not having books would be a major handicap to one’s creativity, education, and emotional expression.

In 2004, Chris was traveling through the landlocked southern African nation of Lesotho when she learned that the country had only a single library. The seed was planted, and in 2005, Chris founded the African Library Project, an organization dedicated to building libraries and distributing children’s books throughout the continent of Africa. Today, her organization has shipped one-million books overseas and built 1,000 libraries in nine different countries (check out this piece from The Huffington Post and this post from What Gives 365 to learn more).

Chris is no stranger to doing “GOOD.” For ten years she was a YMCA executive, directing camps and conference centers in Indiana, California, and North Carolina. She also worked with nonprofits serving the homeless, children of war torn countries, a soup kitchen, and home schooling education and support services. I truly admire Chris’ adventurous spirit and her drive to educate and inspire. Here’s to you Chris, and here’s to a million more donated books!

1. IN JUST ONE SENTENCE, WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE? Glad you are starting with an easy one! I want to live fully and use my gifts to help equalize some of the inherent injustices in the world…for starters.

2. HOW HAS THIS WORK CHANGED YOU? Now I’m more optimistic about humanity. I work with hardworking, compassionate people from North America and Africa who are acting on their convictions to improve the planet, and that is a source of daily inspiration.  On the other hand, living with one foot in the developed world and one foot in the developing world makes me less tolerant of complaints about trivial inconveniences.

3. WHAT DO YOU GET FROM GIVING? I definitely get more than I give…a sense that I and others like me can help create a better world filled with meaningful personal relationships.

4. WHO IS A LIVING HERO AND WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THEM IF GIVEN THE CHANCE?  I want to ask Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton, Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi:  What is your “self-talk” when you know that your toughest decisions will inevitably hurt perfectly lovely people?

5. WHAT EVERYDAY RESOURCES COULD HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR PHILANTHROPIC GOALS?  Just start a library!  We’ve created a system where Americans and Canadians can start a library in Africa. Each book drive organizer collects 1,000 gently-used children’s books, raises about $500 to cover the costs of shipping, and expends some elbow grease to sort, pack and mail them.  1,000 books + $500 = 1 African Library Project.  It’s easier than you think.

6. WHAT IS A BURNING QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY? How would your life be different if you had never had access to books?

7. WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOK BE? Changing Lives, Book by Book

8. TELL US SOMETHING YOU RARELY SHARE IN PUBLIC? Now in the second half of life, I’ve become obsessed with playing basketball.

9. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHERS WHO ASPIRE TO BE CITIZEN PHILANTHROPISTS? Dream big, start small, and keep at it.  Include others in the process and you will have given even more.

10. WHAT QUESTION DO YOU WISH I HAD ASKED, AND WHAT IS THE ANSWER? Why are you focusing on library development when there are so many challenges in Africa? I’ve traveled and lived in 60+ countries. I’ve discovered how lucky I was to have been born in a developed country.  I haven’t had to spend my life getting out of extreme poverty ($1.25 per day).  Getting out of poverty without an education is almost impossible.  Getting an education without books or information is also nearly impossible.  I am working towards making the impossible possible for those who need it most.

ORGANIZATIONAL LINKS: Main Site, Facebook, Twitter, Chris Bradshaw’s Twitter

Joshua is the founder and President of Joshua’s Heart Foundation, a Miami-based organization dedicated to combating hunger and helping individuals improve their quality of life.

Joshua’s story begins on an average Sunday. His grandmother gave him $20 to spend however he liked (that’s a lot for a college student, imagine how much it would have been for a 5 year old!). While riding in the car on his way to church, Joshua spotted a homeless man and knew he needed to give him the money. Joshua’s mother suggested that they buy the man a meal instead, but Joshua insisted on giving him the money.

Soon after, Joshua saw a Feed The Children commercial on TV and realized that his purpose in life was to help those suffering from hunger. It took some doing to convince his mother that he was serious, but shortly thereafter Joshua’s Heart Foundation was born. Today, six years later, the organization provides food for homeless individuals, hungry families, and school children. Other programs include visiting the elderly, working in a community garden, healthy cooking lessons, and a Junior Advisory Board.

Joshua’s hard work and big heart have not gone unnoticed. Last fall, Joshua was honored as a Champion of Change and wrote a blog entry for the WHITE HOUSE. In addition, Joshua was featured on NBC news, and a speaker at the YPO Global Leadership Summit in 2011. He also wrote this moving piece for Why Care.

I am moved by Joshua’s vision, drive, and kindness. His actions are filled with purpose and he asks for nothing in return. I can’t wait to see what Joshua will accomplish in the future, I’m sure he’ll be a force to be reckoned with! Thanks for talking with us Joshua.

1. IN JUST ONE SENTENCE, WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE? My purpose in life is to help those who are in need.

2. FOR YOU, IS DOING “GOOD” PRIMARILY A SELFLESS OR SELFISH BEHAVIOR? I believe doing good is a selfless act because when you help others you are caring for them and not yourself, so it is a selfless behavior. When I give, it’s doing something good in the community; it’s helping my neighbor or a stranger. Whenever I help out in the community I have a good feeling in my heart. That’s how I know I am doing something selfless and good rather than selfish and bad. 

“At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.”  ― Mother Teresa

3. WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THEM IF GIVEN THE CHANCE? I have a few heroes, Oprah, Bill Gates, Mother Teresa, to mention a few, but two of my personal heroes are Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi.  Gandhi stood up for what he believed in and did it in non-violent ways and made a huge movement in India. Martin Luther King Jr. followed in Gandhi’s footsteps and he made a bigger impact in the United States and the world. Today, because of MLK’s determination we have a better society. These people inspire me for multiple reasons. One they never gave up no matter the obstacles and two they believed in what they did and stayed on course. If you just believe in what you are doing you can succeed. There is a famous saying that goes “Do what you love and love what you do.” I care not only about giving food but helping people in general. I would probably ask them if they have any advice for me.

4. WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOK BE? The title of my book is “What’s Your Purpose?”

5. WHO WOULD PLAY YOU, IN A  MOVIE ABOUT YOUR LIFE? I believe Jaden Smith would play me or I could play myself. I am in drama as an elective in school so I have some idea of what I am doing.

6. WHAT IS A BELIEF THAT IS CORE TO YOUR BEING? One of my main beliefs is if you believe that something will happen it will happen as long as you want it, it will happen. Let me give you an example. If you are on your way to work and you say I am going to be late you are going to be late. Construction is going to stop you, and everything that could happen to prevent you from being early will happen, that is because you placed it out there. You must stay positive at all times. This is one of my main beliefs. I am also a highly devoted Christian.

7. IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING? I would be doing this. I could only do this. This is my purpose in life. If I didn’t do this, I would have no purpose in life. When I graduate from college I want to be a scientist and I will still be assisting those who are in need. How can I not do this?

8. TELL US SOMETHING SURPRISING ABOUT YOURSELF. I love to sail, surf, and I am an avid reader. I also like to sing and when I was younger I used to model.

9. IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE WISH GRANTED THAT WAS TRULY POSSIBLE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I would want everyone to be able to have food or let there be world peace in order to help end world hunger. If this is not possible then I would like to have a fundraiser that would raise enough funds that would allow me to create or build accessible sites with food for every needy person in need of food. They would also work at these sites to help themselves.

10. WHAT QUESTION(s) DO YOU WISH I HAD ASKED, AND WHAT IS THE ANSWER? What is the greatest need for you organization and how would filling that need help you towards your mission? My greatest need for my organization would be to receive donations so we can help more people and improve our programs to help people. With more donations we can spread our mission nationally and then internationally. ”I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” ~ Edward Everett Hale.

ORGANIZATIONAL LINKS: Main Site, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter

LeeAnne Beres brings 20+ years of experience to the world of environmental activism, and is Executive Director of Earth Ministry and Washington Interfaith Power & Light (WIPL). Earth Ministry is an organization dedicated to engaging the Christian community in environmental stewardship. WIPL is a project that brings members of different religions together to respond to climate change.

Before joining Earth Ministry in 2005 LeeAnne was the Associate Director of Save Our Wild Salmon and the Outreach Director of the NW Energy Coalition. She also held positions with the Marine Fish Conservation Network, Greenpeace, and various other campaigns. LeeAnne also spent TWO YEARS on a commercial fishing boat in the Bering Sea. LeeAnne is one fierce lady! That takes a whole lot of guts and spunk. Last year, LeeAnne received the Headwaters Award, an honor bestowed on leaders who have made significant contributions to the Northwest’s clean and affordable energy future.

Here at Talking GOOD we have done a few other environmental profiles (like this and this) and I am so happy to add LeeAnne to the mix! I must say, she is one indominatable spirit. Fighting for clean water and energy is tough, and LeeAnne never lost faith. In fact, she has her faith to guide her. LeeAnne you’ve inspired me to keep on fighting the good fight!

Thanks for talking with us!

1. IN JUST ONE SENTENCE, WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE? To borrow the title of my favorite poem by Marge Piercy, my purpose in life is “To be of Use.”

2.  FOR YOU, IS DOING “GOOD” PRIMARILY A SELFLESS OR SELFISH BEHAVIOR? I’m called to do good as part of my faith. As it says in Micah 6:8, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.”

3. WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THEM IF GIVEN THE CHANCE? Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek. His vision of a future where people of all races, sexes, and religions are not only equal but working together toward a common goal of exploration and mutual understanding really made an impression on me as a child. Although he’s passed on, I’d love to ask him how he overcame the prejudices of the 1960′s to put such a forward-thinking TV show on the air – and if he was aware of how many people he inspired.

4. WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR BOOK BE? My Earth Ministry colleague Jessie Dye and I have thought about co-authoring “Faithful Advocacy for God’s Creation”, a how-to guide for people of faith to speak up for the environment through public policy advocacy. We’re off to a great start in a recent issue of our newsletter, Earth Letter.

5. WHO WOULD PLAY YOU, IN A  MOVIE ABOUT YOUR LIFE? I’d be honored if Jodie Foster played my part. She’s got an indomitable spirit that resonates with me and I think we share the trait of always taking on new challenges and pushing ourselves harder. She doesn’t shy away from difficult roles but her comedies show that she also has a wicked sense of humor.

6. WHAT IS A BELIEF THAT IS CORE TO YOUR BEING? I believe that together we are stronger. No matter how effective we are individually, when we join together for the common good, amazing things happen.

7. IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING? Helping others is hardwired into my personality so I’m sure I’d still be working for some kind of nonprofit. I love to travel so maybe I’d be overseas as part of an international service corps or global environmental organization.

8. TELL US SOMETHING SURPRISING ABOUT YOURSELF.  Even though I’ve worked to protect the environment my whole career, I don’t particularly like trees – they make me feel hemmed in and claustrophobic. I prefer wide-open spaces (think Arizona desert or broad Montana river valleys) where I can see forever and really breathe. So I find it ironic that I live in the Evergreen State surrounded by nothing but trees, and at a job where some people would call me a tree-hugger!

9. IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE WISH GRANTED THAT WAS TRULY POSSIBLE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I wish that we would solve the problem of climate change, which is one of the most important moral issues of our day. Left unchecked, climate change will have devastating impacts on global weather, food and water availability, political conflicts and immigration, and the health of our human and natural communities. We can and must do better.

10. WHAT QUESTION(s) DO YOU WISH I HAD ASKED, AND WHAT IS THE ANSWER? QUESTION:What was the most formative experience in your life? ANSWER: I worked as a biologist on commercial fishing boats in Alaska for several years right after college. Being the only woman on board and serving as the government’s oversight of fishing regulations was certainly challenging at times. It taught me a lot about self-sufficiency and hard work, and made me realize if I could do that, I could do anything. And there’s nothing like a fishing boat losing power at night in 30 foot seas to put things into perspective.

ORGANIZATIONAL LINKS: Main Site, Facebook, YouTube, Blog

Talking GOOD interviewee Diane Moran and her hero, Dr. David Suzuki

Every week, one of my standard Talking GOOD questions has been: “WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THEM IF GIVEN THE CHANCE?”

Almost every week, whenever it’s been possible, I’ve privately reached out to the interviewee’s “hero,” to see if they would respond to the person’s question on our blog (or by email). Well … after 45 weeks of trying, I am so unbelievably excited to share that philanthropist, Dr. David Suzuki, co-founder and former board member head of Canada’s David Suzuki Foundation has answered my request. Last Friday, his communications rep emailed me Dr. Suzuki’s response to featured do-gooder, Diane Moran.

Here was what Diane originally asked: “My male hero is David Suzuki. He has been a driving force in our society as a planet protector and champion of change. My question to him: Do you ever get discouraged with the many environmental issues like global warming and other obstacles that are among us today and how do you deal with that?

And Dr. Suzuki’s response: “I am honoured to be named as her male hero, but I’m just one of thousands of people working in our various ways to make Canada a better place. It has been very, very discouraging to watch Canada’s rapid international decline from a country that talked about the value of wilderness and protecting the environment to one that is mocked at global conferences as a disruption in climate and biodiversity negotiations. What keeps me going is the grassroots activity and the widespread public support for environmental groups as a direct result of the government’s attacks on them. -David Suzuki

I am so proud that Talking GOOD can serve as a platform to not only showcase someone’s inspirational story of giving back, but that it could serve as a direct conduit to that person’s hero. AMAZING! Please share this post, if this story moves you to. Thanks!!!