Our friend Steve Lufburrow is president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Houston and with him is Barbie Parker, their vice president of Fund Development and Public Relations. The pandemic hasn't slowed Goodwill down as much as you might fear. They moved all their services online, making them even easier to access. In person or online, Goodwill's services are free. They implemented Employability 12 week program – paid !- training program for people with employment barriers. The 2022 Moreton Achievement Awards Luncheon. Honored Rebecca Johnson, an extraordinary woman with a incredible story to share.
Go to www.goodwillhouston.org and consider making a donation. Their services are among the best in the world.

Dave Moss is a McDonald's Owner and Operator and founder of Hire Houston Youth. Juliet Stipeche was the Director of Education for the City of Houston when we talked about the inception of this very successful program which was born out of tragedy, Dave explains how a friend's legacy turned into one of the major job events of the year for young Houstonians. They next big job fair is at the George R Brown Convention Center on June 11th from 10AM to 2PM. All you have to do is show up!
Hundreds of companies are participating in the year-round programs and there are currently well over 13,000 job and internship opportunities on their job board.
Go to www.hirehoustonyouth.org for more information.

Anne Marie Blacketer is the CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America – Texas Gulf Coast Chapter. Lupus is a rare and currently incurable disease that is not benefitting from much media exposure nor is it receiving enough research funding. The Lupus Foundation is changing this by creating support groups and sharing advice on how to alleviate Lupus symptoms. Staying active, taking medicine (although there are currently very few options), staying out of the sun and diet are all important considerations. We also discuss the cruel nature of Lupus which is difficult to diagnose. Often, people suffer for years before being properly diagnosed.
The Lupus Foundation online: www.lupus.org/texasgulfcoast

Christine Holland is the CEO of Rebuilding Together Houston. They are Disaster Recovery Experts they celebrating serving the Houston area for 40 years. They help the most vulnerable among us (the elderly, veterans and others fallen on hard times), with repairs to their homes. Making homes safer, more comfortable and more prideful is their mission. We discuss the importance of homeowner's pride and how their army of volunteers are making enormous improvements to the lives of the people they serve. Volunteering is simple and fun and you don't need any construction experience. Anyone can help out. Go to www.rebuildinghouston.org to get involved.

Jacque (Jacky) Daughtry is the executive director of Literacy Now. Since the pandemic has accelerated the decline in reading abilities among children, Literacy Now has created programs to help kids keep up with their reading levels. From Lunch Brunch Mentoring, Parent Partnerships and the Reading Express Mobile Classroom, these highly successful programs are powered by volunteers. Literacy Now is also sharing their curriculum with other organizations. They keep evolving their programs as the need changes. Go to www.literacynowhouston.org if you'd like to volunteer or donate.

John Huckaby is the CEO of AIDS Foundation Houston. We discuss the beginning of his tenure which coincided with the beginning of the pandemic and how they kept their programs going during lockdowns. There is great news about treatments, including the free B.E.S.T. Box, an at-home HIV Testing kit, STI treatment, the PrEP program which is a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis treatment that comes in a daily pill that help at-risk patients avoid infections. Finally, the amazing Camp Hope which gives a normal camp experience to kids living with HIV. Go to
www.afhouston.org for more info.

Rana McClelland is the President and CEO of Houston Hospice, and Dr. Elizabeth Strauch is their medical director and vice-president medical affairs. They offer a beautiful and hopeful picture of what it is like to work in hospice care. Houston Hospice is a nonprofit organization that provides uncompromising, compassionate, end-of-life care to patients and families across 13 counties in Texas. Since 1980, they have served patients of all ages, races, ethnicities, with or without insurance. They follow a Nonprofit Hospice Model which includes a Pediatrics program, grief support and Veterans care. Go to www.houstonhospice.org

Barry Ward is the executive director of Trees For Houston. They will plant 1 million trees in Houston in the next decade and we discuss how this is made possible in one of the most philanthropic cities in the world. Houston's can-do attitude is like a superpower.
We also discuss how planting trees restore some natural habitat for the billions of migratory birds who stop over in our area every year and how green spaces improve well-being. Houstonians can also get a tree to plant on their property for free. The application process is very easy. Go to: www.treesforhouston.org

Adam Farris is the founder and President of Younique Abilities and an autism advocate. He lives with Tourette syndrome and autism and he talks about how his company gives opportunities to people living with special abilities and how his dad helped him overcome Tourette by taking him out in public when he was young.
With Adam is his dad, Anthony Farris, who is a case manager for Casa de Esperanza de Los Ninos. He is also certified in metal health first-aid and a peer-recovery support specialist. Anthony discusses how Casa de Esperanza de los Ninos helps parents break the cycle of poverty by providing comprehensive residential and family support programs for the long term. The goal is to help them thrive for good.
Got to www.casahope.org for more info and for Adam's company: www.youniqueabilities.com

Walter Ulrich is the CEO of Medical Bridges and he has vivid stories to tell of operating a non-profit dedicated to exporting medical care to the poorest corners of our planet during a pandemic. He starkly contrasts the challenges of operating in a pandemic versus in normal times. The troubles in our shipping supply chain is literally preventing Medical Bridges from saving lives.
Because the USA's medical community generates nearly $9 billion in surplus product every year (much of it makes sense, as we discuss) but with the help of Medical Bridges, Houston Hospitals can save the surplus and help it save lives in places where there aren't any clinics. In fact, one of the coolest actions Medical Bridges can take involves sending a "Clinic in a Box" built by A&M student. www.medicalbridges.org