Difference Makers

About Difference Makers

Profound and enlightening conversations with remarkable people who make a difference through innovative and inspiring charity work.

Publisher

Al DeCesaris

Category

business · education · news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Dec 2020

Latest episode

2 Dec 2023

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Dec 2023

   Rachel Huston: Taylor Anne Foundation

   In this episode, Rachel Huston, president and founder of the Taylor Anne Foundation, talks about their inspiring work honoring the life and legacy of Taylor Anne Burns Huston while raising awareness and funds for pediatric cancer research. Each day 47 children in the US are diagnosed with cancer and it is the leading cause of death by disease for children yet only a small fraction of funds is designated to find treatments and cures. Our goals are to honor our Taylor Anne while helping to fund research with the dream of finding effective treatments and cures for various childhood cancers so that every child has a fighting chance to live and have an actual childhood! Taylor Anne Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit started in 2023 to honor the life and spirit of Taylor Anne Burns Huston. Taylor Anne, or TayTay, was a vibrant, loving and joyful child. She loved to dance, sing, run and spread love wherever she went. When Taylor was 6 years old, she was diagnosed with a rare but aggressive brain tumor, of which there is no cure nor treatments that have shown to be very effective. Taylor underwent multiple rounds of radiation, surgeries, and two clinical trials all with a joyful spirit, and rarely complaining. Throughout her journey, Taylor Anne had the strongest faith and in August of 2022, Taylor went to Heaven passing away at the age of 7. Taylor inspired us all to be better people and make an impact on this world. It is with her spirit that we started this Foundation to make a difference in the world of pediatric cancer with a dream to find a cure. To learn more, visit www.taylorannefoundation.org (https://www.taylorannefoundation.org/) Difference Makers Individuals who make a difference through innovative and inspiring charity work OTHER GREAT EPISODES .fusion-blog-shortcode-2 .fusion-blog-layout-grid .fusion-post-grid{padding:12.5px;}.fusion-blog-shortcode-2 .fusion-posts-container{margin-left: -12.5px !important; margin-right:-12.5px !important;} * Linda Rozell-Shannon: Advocating for the Accurate Diagnosis and Appropriate Treatment of Vascular Birthmarks (https://differencemakers.org/linda-rozell-shannon/) Linda Rozell-Shannon: Advocating for the Accurate Diagnosis and Appropriate Treatment of Vascular Birthmarks (https://differencemakers.org/linda-rozell-shannon/) * Samir Lakhani: Saving, Sanitizing, and Supplying Leftover Soap (https://differencemakers.org/samir-lakhani/) Samir Lakhani: Saving, Sanitizing, and Supplying Leftover Soap (https://differencemakers.org/samir-lakhani/) *

2. 

   8 Aug 2023

   Matt Baehr: Homes for HOPE

   In this episode, Matt Baehr, Executive Director of Homes for HOPE, talks about their inspiring work partnering with the building industry to alleviate global poverty through Christ-centered microenterprise development programs.

3. 

   19 Dec 2021

   Carol Rosenstein: Music Mends Minds

   In this episode, Dr. Carol Rosenstein, co-founder and Executive Officer of Music Mends Minds, talks about her inspiring work creating musical support groups for individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and other neurological disorders.

4. 

   10 Oct 2021

   Paula Foust: Baby Bundles

   In this episode, Paula Foust, Executive Director of Baby Bundles, talks about their inspiring work providing clothing and other baby essentials to families in financial need to help give newborns a positive start to life.

5. 

   9 Aug 2021

   Sarah Kelley: Set Free

   In this episode, Sarah Kelley, CEO of Set Free, talks about their inspiring work rescuing children from slavery, providing fresh water and medical aid, and planting churches.

6. 

   22 Jun 2021

   Meghann Gunderman Sehorn: The Foundation For Tomorrow

   In this episode, Meghann Gunderman Sehorn, founder and Executive Director of The Foundation For Tomorrow, talks about their inspiring work offering vulnerable children the opportunity to succeed through quality education. The Charlotte, NC native credits her parents with her entrepreneurial and philanthropic spirit. At just 12 years old Meghann wrote and published an athletic log and diary for children and used the proceeds to fund her first non-profit, The Charlotte Youth Sports Foundation, to provide athletic opportunities for disadvantaged youth in North Carolina. Later, as part of her studies at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, Meghann traveled to East Africa to do research and volunteer. This experience grabbed her and later called her away from her job at Barclays Capital. In late 2006 she founded and became Executive Director of The Foundation for Tomorrow (TFFT), a Tanzania-based NGO that focuses on providing access to quality education for orphaned and vulnerable children, educational reform through resourcing, and training teachers. To date, TFFT has invested over $8M in orphan and vulnerable children’s education and psychosocial support, Teachers Training initiatives, and Life-Skills Curriculum Development and Programming throughout Tanzania. Still an avid runner, Meghann launched TEAM TFFT as a way to engage service and sport and spread awareness for TFFT. TEAM TFFT is a peer to peer giving platform that allows people to hike, bike, run and raise your way both domestically and in abroad. Meghann has lived and worked in the United States, the UK, and Tanzania and speaks both English and Kiswahili. She received a British Masters of Arts in International Relations and Human Geography with a focus in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Meghann was named one of SouthPark Magazine’s Women to Watch, and Charlotte’s 30 under 30 in 2013. She was also named Charlotte's Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Outstanding Emerging Philanthropist, a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, and attended and presented at Davos at the World Economic Forum’s 2013 annual meeting. Meghann currently serves on the NC Advisory Board of US Global Leadership Coalition, working to influence state policymakers to increase our International Affairs budget and promote a smart power approach to development and diplomacy. (https://differencemakers.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Meghann-Sehorn2-scaled.jpg) (https://differencemakers.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Meghann-Sehorn3-scaled.jpg) (https://differencemakers.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Meghann-Sehorn4-scaled.jpg)The Foundation for Tomorrow (TFFT) addresses vulnerability through the power of quality education. With consistent and thoughtful investment in students and teachers in Tanzania, we offer orphan and vulnerable children the opportunity to succeed. Our holistic services include access to quality schooling, health and psychosocial support, and life skills programs. TFFT also works to improve the quality of instruction, resources in the classroom, and school management to ensure widespread, sustainable impact. Our goal is straightforward: change the trajectory of a child’s life through the power of education. Our implementation of this mission is unique because of our individualized approach. It is comprehensive and all-encompassing: serve the whole child; improve the quality of instruction; strengthen the community. We are people from around the globe, with diverse expertise, who are passionate about education and work towards systemic change. The Foundation For Tomorrow (TFFT) squarely focuses our wor...

7. 

   15 May 2021

   David Rose: Advocating on Behalf of the Rare Disease Community to Bring about Dramatic and Wide-Reaching Change

   In this episode, David Rose of Rare Revolution Magazine talks about his inspiring work advocating on behalf of individuals living with rare diseases to bring about dramatic and wide-reaching change.

8. 

   21 Apr 2021

   Col. Richard & Janet Munn: Advocating on Behalf of the Poor, Marginalized, and Oppressed to Put an End to Injustice

   In this episode, Colonels Janet and Richard Munn, directors of The Salvation Army International Social Justice Commission, talk about their work advocating on behalf of the poor, marginalized, and oppressed to put an end to injustice in the world.

9. 

   1 Mar 2021

   Amy Eldridge: Providing Hope and Healing to Orphaned and Vulnerable Children

   In this episode, Amy Eldridge, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Love Without Boundaries, talks about her inspiring work providing hope and healing to orphaned and vulnerable children.

10. 

    15 Feb 2021

    Linda Rozell-Shannon: Advocating for the Accurate Diagnosis and Appropriate Treatment of Vascular Birthmarks

    In this episode, Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon, President and founder of the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation, talks about her inspiring work advocating for the accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Vascular Birthmarks.

11. 

    1 Feb 2021

    Samir Lakhani: Saving, Sanitizing, and Supplying Leftover Soap

    In this episode, Samir Lakhani, founder and Executive Director of Eco-Soap Bank, talks about his innovative work saving, sanitizing, and supplying leftover soap for the developing world.

12. 

    3 Jan 2021

    Ray Zahab: Educating and Empowering through Expeditions

    In this episode, Ray Zahab, founder and Expeditions Director of impossible2Possible, talks about the charity’s innovative work using experiential learning-based expeditions to educate and empower students across the globe.

13. 

    2 Jan 2021

    Bryan Springer: Providing Mobility via Free Joint Replacements

    In this episode, Dr. Bryan Springer, co-founder and Medical Director of Operation Walk Carolinas, talks about the charity’s inspiring medical mission trips performing life-changing joint replacement surgeries at no cost for people in need in Developing Nations.

14. 

    1 Jan 2021

    D’Anne Rudden: Connecting the World through the Gift of Hearing

    In this episode, D’Anne Rudden, AuD talks about her inspiring mission work as a global hearing ambassador with the Starkey Hearing Foundation fitting hearing aids for people in need around the world.

15. 

    1 Dec 2020

    Al DeCesaris: Difference Makers

    AL DECESARIS: DIFFERENCE MAKERS GLOBAL COMMUNITY Al DeCesaris is the founder of Difference Makers Global Community and an advocate for charity work. His passion for charity work developed over a decade ago when he and his sister started organizing events to raise awareness and funds for the research and treatment of Sturge-Weber syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that afflicts his niece Jenna. Following the ground-breaking discovery of the cause of Sturge-Weber syndrome in 2013, Al created a series of challenging charity adventures in honor of his niece. The first was a solo coast-to-coast bike ride from Santa Monica, California, through 14 states and over 3,000 miles, to Ocean City, Maryland. The following year, without a support team and with no marathon experience, Al covered 22.5 miles per day for three consecutive months as he ran from Lubec, Maine down the entire East Coast to Key Largo, Florida –1,935 miles in all! In 2017, Al returned to the road for an exciting adventure, which had him hiking the historic Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) across Spain. Each day of his 31-day, 555-mile journey was dedicated to a different person living with Sturge-Weber Syndrome. Through his charity adventures, Al has created awareness about Sturge-Weber Syndrome in both the United States and Spain, raised critical funds for medical research, and brought hope to his niece Jenna and countless others living with this devastating disorder. Al also wrote about his experiences on the road and shared those inspirational accounts in his books entitled, Crossing America For A Cure (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692284303/)and Running The Coast For A Cure (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692687599/). To further the efforts to find a cure for Sturge-Weber syndrome, Al donates all profits from the sale of his “For A Cure” books to medical research. (https://differencemakers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Back-cover-pic2-e1569095125960.jpg) (https://differencemakers.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0338.jpg) (https://differencemakers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/back-cover-pic1-e1569095187280.jpg)A purpose-driven community that celebrates innovative and inspiring charity work and empowers people to make a difference through the Difference Makers Podcast, Adventures for Charity, and difference-making bookS. LEARN MORE (https://www.differencemakers.org) Difference Makers Individuals who make a difference through innovative and inspiring charity work OTHER GREAT EPISODES .fusion-blog-shortcode-13 .fusion-blog-layout-grid .fusion-post-grid{padding:12.5px;}.fusion-blog-shortcode-13 .fusion-posts-container{margin-left: -12.5px !important; margin-right:-12.5px !important;} *

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Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

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