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What if preparing students for college could also prepare them to change the world?

In this powerful episode of Act to Impact, host Brandi DeVries sits down with Shellee Howard, Founder and CEO of College Ready and Empower Education, to explore how education can be a catalyst for lifelong purpose and global impact.

Shellee has helped more than 3,000 students gain acceptance into their dream schools and secure over $40 million in scholarships, but her mission didn’t stop at college admissions. After a life-changing trip to Uganda, Shelley launched Empower Education, a nonprofit that removes barriers to learning for children in underserved communities around the world.

In this conversation, Shellee shares how a single moment sparked the creation of schools in Uganda, how student-led passion projects are transforming lives globally, and why helping young people identify their “why” is just as important as test scores and GPAs. 

If you’re a parent, educator, or someone who believes in using your gifts to make an impact, this episode will inspire you to think differently about education, leadership, and what’s truly possible.

💡 Key Takeaways from This Episode

• Education is more than academics — it’s about helping students discover who they are, what matters to them, and how they can serve others.
• Teenagers want to make an impact, but often don’t know how—guidance and opportunity unlock their potential.
• Student-led initiatives create exponential ripple effects, empowering both the giver and the receiver.
• Access to education changes entire communities, especially when barriers for girls and underserved populations are removed.
• Purpose-driven service strengthens college applications while also shaping future careers and leaders.
• Small actions can spark global change—one conversation, one trip, or one “yes” can alter countless lives.

👉 Parents of middle or high school students: Visit collegereadyplan.info to take advantage of Shellee’s free 30-minute consultation and help your student discover their purpose, passion, and path forward.

💛 Are you inspired to take action? Take action and make an impact on a child affected by childhood cancer. Support the much-needed funding for childhood cancer by making a donation NOW to CCRF!

Subscribe and Follow: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday.

Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and former Mrs. Minnesota International 2025.

Thank you to guest Shellee Howard. Listen to her podcast "Parents: Is Your Teen College Ready?"

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Just three weeks after welcoming her daughter into the world, Melissa Kultgen was diagnosed with Stage 2C melanoma—after four doctors told her the spot on her lip was “nothing to worry about.”

In this powerful episode of Act to Impact, host Brandi DeVries sits down with Melissa, now seven years cancer-free, and Debbie Churgai, Education Program Manager at the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF), to talk about why trusting your instincts matters, how early sun damage impacts lifelong health, and why prevention starts in childhood.

Melissa shares her journey from growing up in toxic tanning culture to becoming a melanoma survivor, educator, and ambassador for SunAware, MRF’s free K–5 sun safety curriculum. Together, they unpack practical ways families can protect their skin, build confidence, and teach kids that sun safety is about celebrating your skin—not fearing the sun.

✨ Key Takeaways

• You are your best health advocate. If something looks or feels off, trust your instincts and act quickly.
• Most sun damage happens before age 18, making early education critical in melanoma prevention.
• Monthly self-skin checks using the ABCDEs of melanoma can catch changes earlier than annual exams alone.
• Sun safety is a daily habit, just like brushing your teeth—not just a summer thing.
• SunAware empowers kids to protect their skin while feeling confident, capable, and proud of who they are.
• Advocacy doesn’t have to be big—small actions can create powerful ripple effects in your community.

🎯 Act to Impact Call to Action

Want to turn awareness into action?

👉 Explore the FREE SunAware program from the Melanoma Research Foundation—available to parents, schools, youth groups, and communities nationwide.
👉 Use it at home to teach your kids simple, lifelong sun-safe habits.
👉 Share it with your child’s teacher, school nurse, principal, or local youth organization.

🔗 Learn more and access the curriculum for SunAWARE.

💛 Are you inspired to take action? Take action and make an impact on a child affected by childhood cancer. Support the much-needed funding for childhood cancer by making a donation NOW to CCRF!

Subscribe and Follow: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday.

Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and former Mrs. Minnesota International 2025.

Thank you to guest Melissa Kultgen. 

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What does it actually mean to serve on a nonprofit board, and how do you know if it’s right for you?

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone curious about serving on a nonprofit board or volunteer committee. Dr. Abbie Miller breaks down common misconceptions about board service, explains how boards identify and leverage diverse skill sets, and offers practical advice for getting started—even if you don’t think you’re “qualified.” You’ll walk away understanding how board service can be both deeply fulfilling and powerfully effective when done with intention.

💡 Key Takeaways

• You don't need to have a high-paying job to serve on a nonprofit board—organizations value skills, experience, and passion.
• Board service is more than attending meetings; it requires energy, engagement, and belief in the mission.
• Serving on a committee can be a powerful first step before joining a full board.
• Sharing your personal “why” is often the most effective way to inspire others to support a cause.
• Nonprofits need diverse expertise—from healthcare and finance to marketing, governance, and storytelling.
• Seed funding and early support can create a ripple effect that leads to large-scale impact.
• The right board role should align with both your values and your capacity.
• Taking the first step—even a simple email—can open doors to meaningful leadership opportunities.

💛 Are you inspired to take action? Take action and make an impact on a child affected by childhood cancer. Support the much-needed funding for childhood cancer by making a donation NOW to CCRF!

Subscribe and Follow: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday.

Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and former Mrs. Minnesota International 2025.

Thank you to guest Dr. Abbie Miller. 

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In this episode of Act to Impact, host Brandi DeVries sits down with Karri Seland—former Miss Minnesota Galaxy 2025, United States of America’s Miss Wisconsin 2024, marketing professional, and founder of the STAR initiative. Karri shares how her own experience with loneliness inspired her to create real, tangible change for children through Buddy Benches and her children’s book, A Seat for Friendship.

Through STAR Karri is helping elementary school students build friendships, practice kindness, and feel seen. From fundraising and installing Buddy Benches to empowering educators, parents, and kids to take action, Karri proves that meaningful impact often starts with one simple idea and the courage to follow through.

⭐ Takeaways

• The STAR initiative helps foster inclusion and kindness in elementary schools.
• Buddy Benches serve as a visible signal that a child is looking for friendship or support.
• Small, intentional actions can create lasting ripple effects in communities.
• Pageantry helped Karri build confidence, leadership skills, and the drive to act.
• Children (and adults) thrive when they feel seen, included, and supported.
• Your personal experiences can become powerful platforms for change.
• Knowing and using your strengths is key to making a meaningful impact.

💛 Are you inspired to take action? Take action and make an impact on a child affected by childhood cancer. Support the much-needed funding for childhood cancer by making a donation NOW to CCRF!

Karri's Book: A Seat for Friendship

Subscribe and Follow: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday.

Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025.

Thank you to guest Karri Seland. 

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When a family is facing childhood cancer—or grieving the loss of a child—many of us want to help but don’t know what to say. In this episode of Act to Impact, host Brandi DeVries sits down with Abby Breyfogle, a mom, advocate, and nonprofit leader whose family has experienced both survivorship and unimaginable loss.

Abby shares her journey as the mother of identical twins diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia as infants, the heartbreak of losing her daughter Kendal at just two years old, and the joy of celebrating her twin Kenedi as a survivor. Together, Brandi and Abby have an honest, compassionate conversation about grief, community, and the real do’s and don’ts of supporting families facing childhood cancer.

This episode equips listeners with practical, meaningful ways to show up—what to say, what not to say, and why actions often matter more than words. Abby also shares how her family turned pain into purpose by creating a childhood cancer journal to help other families navigate diagnosis and treatment, and how her children continue Kendal’s legacy through advocacy and fundraising.

Whether you’re supporting a friend, a classmate, a neighbor, or simply want to be more confident showing compassion in hard moments, this episode will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and ready to act.

💡 Key Takeaways

• You don’t need the perfect words—presence and action matter more than speeches
• Simple phrases like “I’m so sorry” and “I’m here” are often enough
• Avoid minimizing grief or trying to “fix” the pain with platitudes
• Asking permission before using a child’s name can be deeply respectful
• Showing up with meals, notes, or quiet support can mean everything
• Grief doesn’t go away—it changes, and families carry both joy and sadness
• Children can play a powerful role in supporting classmates with cancer
• Advocacy often begins with lived experience and small acts of courage
• Creating space to talk about loss helps families feel less alone
• Everyone has a role to play in supporting the pediatric cancer community

💛 Are you inspired to take action? Take action and make an impact on a child affected by childhood cancer. Support the much-needed funding for childhood cancer by making a donation NOW to CCRF!

My Childhood Cancer Fight - A Journal

Teagan's Twice the Fight Fundraising Page

Subscribe and Follow: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday.

Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025.

Thank you to guest Abby Breyfogle. 

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Focus: Your light doesn’t end on Christmas — it’s just beginning.
Action Prompt: Write one commitment for how you’ll keep making an impact in 2026.

Subscribe and Follow Act to Impact: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday.

Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025.

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Focus: The greatest gift you can give is yourself — your time, love, and light.
Action Prompt: Be fully present with someone you love today.

Subscribe and Follow Act to Impact: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday.

Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025.

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Focus: You’re writing a story of love through your actions.
Action Prompt: Share your favorite “impact moment” from this year.

Subscribe and Follow Act to Impact: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday.

Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025.

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Focus: Impact isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress.
Action Prompt: Reflect: What has brought you joy this month?

Subscribe and Follow Act to Impact: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday.

Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025.

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Focus: Your hope might be the miracle someone’s waiting for.
Action Prompt: Send an encouraging message to a friend who’s struggling.

Subscribe and Follow Act to Impact: Don’t miss an episode! New episodes drop every other Wednesday.

Hosted by Brandi DeVries: Advocate, fundraiser, and Mrs. Minnesota International 2025.

STAY CONNECTED.
IG: instagram.com/brandi.devries
Watch every episode of Act to Impact on YouTube? Watch now.