Philanthropy in Phocus

About Philanthropy in Phocus

The Nonprofit Sector Connector – From the Attic of Tommy D! Amplifying the Message of Nonprofits Organizations in the Nonprofit Sector do Incredible work to serve and impact our society in so many ways! On Philanthropy in Phocus, each week, Tommy D celebrates and amplifies the story of a specific nonprofit organization by interviewing the founder or executive director. The program provides a platform for the organization’s leader to discuss the organization, from its beginning. The conversation will highlight its programs, the impact it makes on the community as well as what the future of the organization. Of course, Tommy D will always look for ways to add value through connections playing The NonProfit Sector Connector.

Publisher

Tommy DiMisa

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Jan 2021

Latest episode

23 Jan 2026

Latest episodes

4 of 167 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   23 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Ending Isolation Through Inclusion: Best Buddies

   Tommy DiMisa interviews Britt Carroll and Izzy Ades-Lawlor from Best Buddies New York, who describe how their organization fosters inclusion and opportunity for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through friendships and various support programs.

2. 

   16 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Change Lives with Us: Hamptons Community Outreach

   Tommy “Tommy D” DiMisa is back “in the attic” for Episode 239 (recorded January 16th), and he’s joined by Marit Molin of Hamptons Community Outreach (HCO)—an organization proving that the Hamptons are far more than the “white parties and yachts” stereotype. In between the mansions are pockets of families living with food insecurity, kids without coats, and homes in dangerous disrepair—and Marit saw it up close. Marit shares how a single moment sparked the mission: a child at her dining table didn’t want to stop doing arts and crafts because she didn’t have paper or markers at home. That heartbreak became action—a free, six-week Hamptons Art Camp (launched in summer 2018), running 9–3 and designed to give underserved kids safety, creativity, and real summer memories, while also easing the burden on working parents. But the needs didn’t stop when camp ended—families needed shoes, backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, and ongoing support. Then COVID changed everything. Unable to fundraise for a camp no one knew could happen, Marit pivoted to what communities asked for most: food. HCO raised $320,000 in 2020, delivered 7,000 hot meals, 20,000 pounds of fresh produce, and provided groceries to 250 families twice a month, while also supporting struggling local restaurants by purchasing meals from them. As volunteers helped distribute door-to-door, HCO uncovered another crisis hiding in plain sight: families raising children in homes with black toxic mold, broken windows, collapsing ceilings, splintered floors, and no heat. Today, HCO has grown from grassroots to high-impact—supporting hundreds of families and children, repairing dozens of homes, and building a serious pipeline of help. Marit’s current, crystal-clear goal: raise $4.5 million to help the 64 families on HCO’s home repair waiting list—including some who need an entirely new home. And if you want to show up with love in action, HCO’s annual fundraiser Love Fest is February 7th, 5–7 PM, at 230 Elm in Southampton. Learn more (and donate/volunteer) at HamptonsCommunityOutreach.org.

3. 

   9 Jan 2026

   Broadway in the Hamptons

   Tommy DiMisa is back for the first Philanthropy in Phocus episode of 2026 with his trademark “day-in-the-life” energy—ringing in the new year, celebrating his 48th birthday, and broadcasting not from the attic this time, but from the worldwide headquarters of Vanguard Benefits. Along the way, he shares highlights from a packed week: supporting a Queens Chamber of Commerce nonprofit needs assessment with local leaders, jumping on calls about mission-driven work (including efforts supporting incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people), and continuing to show up as “The Nonprofit Sector Connector” who helps organizations amplify their stories. This week’s featured guest is Tracy Mitchell, Executive Director of Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor (BayStreet.org). Tommy brings Tracy on because he’s intentionally challenging himself to learn more about the arts and culture space—especially as Bay Street Theater becomes a semi-finalist in the Long Island Imagine Awards. What follows is a lively, heartfelt conversation about the power of the arts to change moods, open minds, and build community. Tracy shares her remarkable path from being a child performer to producing work in television and film—including large-format projects like Back to the Future: The Ride, and an ABC primetime documentary special hosted by Oprah. Together, they reflect on how technology transformed storytelling, lowered the barrier to entry for creators, and expanded who gets to make and share meaningful work. Tracy then pulls back the curtain on what makes Bay Street Theater special: it’s an intimate 299-seat professional regional theater that operates year-round, bringing in Broadway-level talent while producing new work and reimagining classics. She explains the scale of their summer season—multiple mainstage productions running eight shows a week—plus comedy, concerts, and special performances that keep the venue buzzing beyond the traditional theater calendar. One of the biggest missions Bay Street embraces is developing what’s next: supporting writers and artists through opportunities like their New Works Festival, where scripts are selected, performed by professional casts, and refined through audience Q&As. Tracy makes the case plainly: you don’t find “the next Hamilton” without taking chances on original work. A centerpiece of the episode is Bay Street’s Literature Live program—created to ensure more students experience professional theater while they’re still in school. Tracy describes how the program adapts curriculum-connected books into 90-minute productions (with full sets, lighting, costumes, and professional actors), and brings middle and high school students in for free—schools just cover transportation. The real magic, she says, is what happens when students from different backgrounds watch the same story and take away different insights, sparking conversation, empathy, and connection. Tommy ties it back to the heart of the show: when art creates understanding, it strengthens community—and that’s nonprofit work in action. To close, Tracy shares how listeners can help: volunteer support (they need about 10 volunteers per night), donations, and community investment keep the theater thriving, since ticket revenue covers only part of what it takes to operate. Tommy leaves the door wide open for future collaboration—hinting at an upcoming visit, tour, and promotional content to help Bay Street reach even more people. It’s a high-energy, feel-good episode that spotlights how arts organizations don’t just entertain—they educate, inspire, and create the shared experiences that hold communities together.

Inside a recent episode

Ending Isolation Through Inclusion: Best Buddies

Published 23 Jan 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] They want to do things just like we do every day. And it's just a wonderful experience for them to also advocate for themselves and have the community learn that. I don't know if anybody saw this commercial. I think it was two years ago with the, I can't remember her name, it's Downston Drummond. It was basically just saying that she could do anything we can do. And the one line I'll always remember, she said, if I want a margarita, I can have a margarita. And it just made me laugh because they can go out and do whatever they like. It's unfortunate that some people in this world still think they can, but going into that, from there, we created the jobs program, which gets adulthood disabilities part -time and full -time jobs. […]

Who has been a guest on Philanthropy in Phocus

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Britt Carroll
• Izzy Ades-Lawlor
• Marie Davis
• Matthew Epperson
• Steve McDermott

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 64 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

80

Social presence

100

YouTube

0

Engagement

68

Contact Philanthropy in Phocus

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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