It is a rare human that touches our soul. When my path crosses with these angels on earth there is something indescribable that happens. Dena Betta shares her message of love and resilience after losing her 14-year-old daughter, Jenna, in a tragic accident.

Join us today to hear our fascinating conversation with today's guest, Sister Judy Vaughan. We discuss everything from her work in founding Alexandria House to her tattoo, her motto, her sheroes, their feature in Justin Beiber's video, and most importantly to her tireless dedication to the community. 

Katie Norris founded Fotolanthropy, a nonprofit that combines photography + film + philanthropy to share inspiring true stories of people who have overcome adversity. When I first read about her, I knew I needed to meet her.

Today's guest, Meredith Seacrest, is the Executive Director of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. And yes, she is Ryan Seacrest's sister. I'm excited to share our inspiring conversation about their families' journey in service and the incredible way they are using their gifts to help eleven children's hospitals across the country.

Have you ever had a call that changed your life? Brian Mavis and his wife Julie both did and that call was to help children. More specifically the 400,000 children who are part of the foster care system in this country. Three-quarters of those children will be reunited with their family or another family member. The remaining 100,000 children need forever homes. What these children have in common is that they all need a home whether a temporary or a permanent one.Join us today for a fascinating conversation with Brian Mavis as he shares his family's calling and journey in starting America's Kids Belong. The remarkable story of what one family has done to change what family means for thousands and thousands of children.

We never know when life is going to change in an instant. Kyle Stefanski is one of five children who grew up with a big happy family in Cleveland, Ohio. Kyle's mom Rhonda was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2014 and passed away eight short weeks later. Their family was devastated but knew that their mom, Rhonda would want them to do something positive for others. The result and legacy is a nonprofit called, Rhonda's Kiss, a nonprofit organization that supports cancer patients with the non-medical expenses that come with cancer.

There is nothing more painful or devastating than the death of a child.  When Charlie Ternan died last spring at age 22, just three weeks shy of his college graduation, from fentanyl poisoning it devastated his family and the community.  The pill he got online turned out to be a fake painkiller made of the dangerous opioid fentanyl.  Since Charlie's death, his parents, Mary and Ed Ternan have been researching fake pills and fentanyl and have formed a nonprofit, Song For Charlie dedicated to warning young people about this growing danger.

In today's episode, we discuss the origins of Alma's Backyard Farms. The journey that brought Richard Garcia and Erika Cuellar to Compton and to begin their nonprofit organization. What fuels them to do this work and the life lessons learned in the process of creating this amazing organization that exists to reclaim the lives of formerly incarcerated people.

With my first episode, let me re-introduce myself to those of you who are just joining us. My name is Heidi Johnson and I am the founder of Charity Matters.  Ten years ago, after starting a nonprofit with a group of friends,  I decided that the world was focusing on the wrong people.  I began a search to find my tribe, an incredible group of entrepreneurs who worked tirelessly to solve the problems of humanity.  Nonprofit founders.  I was one but I wanted to understand why millions of people across the country started businesses to help people?

Project HOPE places power in the hands of local health care workers to save lives around the world.  In this episode, Rabih and I discuss how he – a civil engineer with no medical background – became involved with the work of Project HOPE and how that experience has changed his life forever.