Generous Impact

Welcome to Generous Impact. In this episode, Bret and Amanda Brummitt are joined by Ira Kaufman, a rabbi, social worker, and healthcare executive. Instead of focusing on a single organization, this episode delves into how Ira spends his life serving his community in various impactful ways.

Ira shares his journey from New Jersey to Cincinnati, exploring his background in rabbinical school, social work, and healthcare. Amanda discusses his work with Halcyon IV and how their approach to caring for people with dignity and hope left a lasting impression. The conversation reveals how Ira's dedication to meeting the needs of his community has shaped his life and that of his family, who are all deeply involved in community service.

The episode highlights several of Ira's initiatives, including the Bikur Cholim of Cincinnati, which provides kosher meals and support to hospital patients, and the soon-to-be-launched volunteer emergency medical service service, Hatzalah of Cincinnati. Additionally, Ira talks about his involvement with the local Burial Society and ritual baths. Other organizations where Ira humbly spends his time include Congregation Zichron Eliezer, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and Mesivta of Cincinnati. 

They also discuss that having a healthy business while also doing good is possible.  Really caring for the team is vital and Ira mentioned the book Patients Come Second by Britt Berrett and Paul Spiegelman that really inspired him.  And, small world moment.  Amanda had the joy of working for Britt earlier in her career!

Ira also offers valuable insights on balancing a demanding career with a commitment to community service, emphasizing the importance of seeing the beauty in others and fostering a supportive work environment. This episode is a powerful reminder of the impact one person can have through dedication, compassion, and a genuine desire to help others.

It’s a family affair in the Kaufman household with the whole family giving back to the community from meal prep to transportation to just being there for people. We hope you’ll be inspired to be there and care for your own community and see the beauty in other people.  

Join hosts Bret and Amanda Brummitt on this heartwarming episode of Generous Impact, featuring Brian Allison from NMDP (formerly National Marrow Donor Program) and inspiring transplant recipient, Briana Donis. Discover how NMDP saves lives through cell therapy, and listen to Bri's incredible journey of survival and her unwavering gratitude for her donors. This episode is a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact of marrow and stem cell donation.

Brian shares the mission and operations of NMDP, including the challenges and triumphs of matching donors with patients in need. Bri recounts her personal story, from diagnosis to recovery, highlighting the critical importance of donor registries. Learn how you can get involved, whether by registering as a donor or supporting the cause through various volunteer opportunities.

Be inspired by Bri’s resilience and Brian’s dedication, and find out how you can make a difference in someone's life. Visit Be The Match to learn more and get involved.

Welcome to Generous Impact! In this episode, hosts Bret and Amanda Brummitt are joined by Marshay Love, Partnership Manager with Rise Against Hunger. Marshay shares her inspiring journey from a probation officer to a key player in the fight against global hunger.

Discover how Rise Against Hunger aims to eradicate hunger by providing immediate food assistance and building sustainable food systems for the future. Marshay delves into the organization's impactful programs, including meal packaging events and sustainable agriculture projects, and highlights their ambitious goal to end world hunger by 2030.

Learn about the incredible stories of volunteers and beneficiaries, and how you can get involved in making a difference. Whether through hosting a meal packaging event or simply spreading the word, there are numerous ways to contribute to this noble cause.

Tune in for a heartwarming and enlightening conversation about the power of community, resilience, and the drive to create a hunger-free world.

In this episode, we are joined by Thurman and Torrence Thomas, founders of Tankproof. Listen in as they share their incredible journey from the swamps of Louisiana to becoming full-time musicians and nonprofit professionals.

Discover how Tankproof is making a difference by teaching swimming lessons, providing food security, and fostering community connections in Texas, Louisiana, California, and New York. Hear about the life-changing impact of their programs and their inspiring personal stories, including a near-drowning experience that fueled their mission.

Don't miss this inspiring conversation with two dedicated and humble individuals who are changing lives one swim lesson at a time. Visit Tankproof.org for more information and to support their cause.

We are joined today by Jodi Schrobilgen, Executive Director of Hope Clinic.  A big thank you goes out to our friend Alliance Samaragwa for introducing us to Jodi and Hope Clinic. 

In this episode, you’ll hear how Hope Clinic provides free, compassionate, and quality healthcare to underserved and uninsured people in Austin including resettled refugees.  They remove barriers to accessing crucial medical resources to Austinites in need regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or religious affiliation. 

Learn more about them at HopeClinicAustin.org.

Today, we are joined by Kam Galeazzi Neth of Little Heroes. In this episode, you’ll hear how Kam has filled a need by focusing on photography for families in the midst of a terminal illness. Knowing that a professional photo session is never on the forefront of anyone’s mind when they hear that themselves or a loved one has a few months or a year left to live, Kam and her team step in to provide a gift and an experience that the family will get to enjoy after their family gets a little smaller.  

Find them at LittleHeroesInc.org.

We are joined today by Michelle DeGrate, Executive Director of Lightpath Health.  A big thanks to Tawnia Wise for the introduction!  When Tawnia says a nonprofit is doing good stuff, you know it’s true! 

In this episode, you’ll hear how Lightpath Health is dedicated to developing and investing in programs that expand access to primary care for their neighbors without health insurance in the communities that need it most.​

Keeping the needs of their neighbors as the number one priority paired with a braintrust like Catalyst Health make this small non-profit incredibly powerful. 

Find them at LightpathHealth.org.

We are joined today by Dr. Amy Grosso with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).  In this episode, you’ll hear how AFSP is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss.  This includes funding scientific research, educating the public about mental health and suicide prevention, advocating for public policies in mental health and suicide prevention, and supporting survivors of suicide loss and those affected by suicide. 

Learn more at https://afsp.org/.

In the latest episode of Generous Impact, our hosts, Bret and Amanda Brummitt, welcome Dr. Amy Goddard, a seasoned physical therapist and devoted board member of Transform DRC. Spanning from Webb City, Missouri to Texas and making significant strides in healthcare, Dr. Goddard shares her inspiring journey, engaging endeavors, and how her life experiences have fueled her passion to transform lives beyond the physical therapy landscape.

Amy details her first mission trip to Nairobi, Kenya, and her subsequent volunteer work in several African countries such as the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Sudan, and South Sudan. It was during these travels that she met two extraordinary individuals, Marie Jeanne and Theo, whose selfless contributions to their community left an everlasting impact on Amy and her 60-year old mother who accompanied her on one of these life-altering trips.

The episode also delves into the troubling history and present-day challenges of the Democratic Republic of Congo, covering chapters from being colonized by King Leopold II of Belgium to the ongoing modern-day slavery and exploitation related to cobalt mining. Throughout the profound conversation, listeners gain an enlightening perspective on Transform DRC's mission and the inspirational stories of resilience and transformation.

Providing a compassionate narrative attached to Transform DRC's formation and progress, the episode highlights the pivotal contributions of their many programs. The episode ends on a hopeful note, emphasizing the immense value of empathetic involvement, individual efforts, and every act of goodwill. It underscores the necessity to continue shedding light on the under-reported humanitarian crisis in the DRC, as we collectively strive for significant, lasting change.

Learn more at TransformDRC.org.

In the Generous Impact podcast, hosts Bret and Amanda Brummitt, explore the vital work of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) North Texas, with its Executive Director, Dr. Athena Trentin. This illuminating conversation delves into the organization's efforts to combat mental health stigma, the barriers to treatment, and their work in cultivating a culture of help and hope.

Dr. Trentin shares her inspirational journey, from small-town Northern Michigan to being a voice in mental health advocacy in North Texas. She opens up about her personal experiences, shedding light on the transformative power of mental health care. This moving narrative tells the story of NAMI's mission to turn tales of trauma into narratives of empowerment.

The podcast emphasizes the importance of mental health education and community, discussing how organizations like NAMI empower individuals to seek help and offer support. It highlights the power of family conversations, the challenges related to laws about adult patients, and the role of diverse treatment strategies in mental health care.

NAMI's role as a provider of rich resources for recognizing the impact of mental health issues on families is discussed, with a focus on their various offerings such as classes, support groups, and programs. The show underlines the need for culturally sensitive mental health resources as a means to empower individuals and families navigating mental health challenges.

Charting the unique experiences of diverse racial, faith-based, ability-based communities and particularly the Indigenous community, the episode emphasizes the need for bespoke services. It also explores the contributions and drive for inclusivity that form the core of NAMI's approach. The discussions shed light on key factors shaping mental health service delivery, from trauma and advocacy to cultural significance.

With a strong note of sincerity, this episode concludes by highlighting the development of community programs designed to support first responders and emphasizes the importance of self-care and community service. It amplifies the call for volunteers, donations and more engagement with NAMI to keep providing free services and inspire more individuals in their journey towards mental health.