A Closer Look

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The Lehigh Valley is home to over 800 locally focused nonprofits, one of the highest concentrations in the United States. What do they do, who do they benefit, and how are they helping the Lehigh Valley community? Laurie Hackett invites area nonprofit lea

WDIY 88.1 FM


    • May 26, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 41 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from A Closer Look

    "We Are Connectors and Collaborators" with Chrissy Hixson and Ilene Wood | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2025 32:59


    Laurie Hackett sits down with Chrissy Hixson of Capital Blue Cross and Ilene Wood, a longtime volunteer, to talk about finding ways to give back that feed your soul.

    "It All Goes Back into Community" with Alison Pickel, Mark Reid, and Amy Saul | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 30:57


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Alison Pickel of the LV Chamber and Mark Reid and Amy Saul of the Easton Urban Gardening Program to talk about their work in and with the community.

    "If You Can Help, Help" with Chip Hurd and Tiffany Sondergaard | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2025 30:08


    Laurie Hackett is joined by Chip Hurd of the United Way and Tiffany Sondergaard of ts Brand Elevation to talk about their journeys, inspirations, and love for the Valley.

    "Caring Is the Greatest Gift" with Susan Drexinger and Candi Staurinos | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 31:44


    Laurie Hackett talks with Susan Drexinger of Sincere Event Co. and Candi Staurinos of Zoellner Arts Center about the value of helping to build a community around you.

    Finding the Human Thread with Teri Haddad and Jill Wheeler | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 30:06


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Teri Haddad of eMediaworks and Jill Wheeler of City Center Group to talk about their passion for giving back to the community and their 'why.'

    Sharing the Success with Chris Martin and Marci Lesko | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 28:13


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Chris Martin of Martin Guitar and Marci Lesko of the United Way about their work with this year's United Way campaign, and in the community in general.

    "Do It With a Smile" with Kimberly Hein and Jody Piagesi | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2024 32:08


    Laurie Hackett sits down with Kimberly Hein of ArtsQuest and Jody Piagesi of the Chamber Foundation to talk about their for their roles as Lehigh Valley natives.

    "You Can Do More Together" with Jared Mast and Mel Klausner | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 32:09


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Jared Mast of the Greater Easton Development Partnership and Mel Klausner, a local theatre volunteer, to talk about the joys of their roles and their motivations.

    "Show Up and Roll Up Your Sleeves" with Laura McHugh, Ryan Griffiths, and Tom Groves | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 31:37


    Laurie Hackett talks with Laura McHugh and Ryan Griffiths about a community project in the works in Macungie, and Tom Groves of the LV Chamber about the spirit of giving.

    "I'm One Small Cog in a Great Community" with Tim Burke and Lina Barbieri | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 29:31


    Laurie Hackett talks with Tim Burke of Phantoms Charities and Lina Barbieri of Miller-Keystone Blood Center, about their love for giving back and the impact they can see being made.

    "Service Doesn't Just Look One Way" with Lindsay Watson, Wenda Boyer, and David Yanoshik | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 32:00


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Lindsay Watson, small business owner and active volunteer, and Wenda Boyer and David Yanoshik of Equi-librium, to talk about their "why" for serving.

    "Positive Energy Helps Drive Things Forward" with Curt Mosel and Lauryn Graves | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2024 31:45


    Laurie Hackett talks with Curt Mosel, COO of ArtsQuest, and Lauryn Graves, a volunteer with the American Heart Association, to talk about their reasons for being involved in the community and their shared belief in the value of positivity.

    "Don't Undervalue Yourself and What You Can Bring" with Chris Bongo and Jessica Edris | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2024 30:14


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Chris Bongo of the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBTQ+ Community Center and Jessica Edris of Good Collective to talk about their inspirations for giving back.

    Bringing Unique Skills to the Table with Doug Downing and Maggie Walters | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2024 30:30


    Laurie Hackett is joined by Doug Downing of Fulton Bank and Maggie Walters of United Way to provide a closer look at someone years into volunteering and someone just emerging as a community leader.

    "Invite Yourself": Being a Person of Action with Nancy Dischinat, Diane Donaher, and Sal Verrastro | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2024 29:48


    Laurie Hackett sits down with Nancy Dischinat of Workforce Board LV and Diane Donaher and Sal Verrastro of Rotary International to talk about their dedication to improving the community and the world.

    "This Is What Makes Community" with Jason King Jones and Carol Obando-Derstine | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2024 30:30


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Jason King Jones of the PA Shakespeare Festival and Carol Obando-Derstine, active community volunteer, to discuss their involvement in the community and the true meaning of service.

    Raising Your Hand with Mike Molewski, Anthony Onorata, and Anne Baum | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2024 30:22


    Laurie Hackett talks to Mike Molewski and Anthony Onorata of the NCC 2024 Food and Wine Gala and Anne Baum of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital about the importance of saying yes to opportunities to give back.

    Giving Is a Life with Brittany Keal and John Dodds | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2023 30:25


    Laurie Hackett sits down Brittany Keal of the Great Lehigh Valley Chamber and John Dodds of WDIY and so much more to discuss getting involved early and continuing throughout your life.

    giving closer look keal wdiy john dodds
    Giving Back Is a Family Affair with Laura McHugh and Mike Butz | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2023 29:22


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Laura McHugh of the United Way and Mike Butz of Alvin H. Butz to talk about what inspires them to give back and their emphasis on being involved in the community as families.

    Giving Back Is "Like a Warm Hug" with Kurt Landes and Tanya Tyler | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 30:42


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Kurt Landes, President and GM for Lehigh Valley IronPigs Charities, and Tanya Tyler, recent ATHENA Leadership Honoree, to talk about why they give back to the community and what inspires them.

    'Setting the Stage' for Community Support with Crayola's Rich Wuerthele and VYH's Emily Conners Henry | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2023 30:38


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Rich Wuerthele from Crayola for a conversation about community engagement, collaboration, and applying professional skills, and the duo are joined by Emily Conners Henry from Valley Youth House to talk about the nonprofit's upcoming "Setting the Stage" fundraiser.

    Reaching Your Full Potential, In Business and Life: Nakia Flowers, Yusuf Dahl, and Ignacio Patricio | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2023 32:22


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Nakia Flowers, a volunteer board member with Via of the Lehigh Valley, then welcomes Yusuf Dahl and Ignacio Patricio from the Real Estate Lab.

    Caring for the Community: Third Street Alliance's Kerry Beidleman and Cay Galgon's Diane Donaher | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2023 30:45


    Laurie Hackett speaks with Kerry Beidleman from the Third Street Alliance for Women & Children about his role as a volunteer board member, then welcomes Diane Donaher from Cay Galgon Life House about her organization's residential and community programs.

    Program Driven and Personal Skills: Safe Harbor's Sarah Massaro and Penn State's Shane McGee | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2023 31:14


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Sarah Massaro from Safe Harbor Easton to talk about how how Safe Harbor helps combat homelessness, then welcomes Shane McGee from Penn State Lehigh Valley's advisory board to talk about their programs and finding the right volunteer role.

    New Beginnings, New Opportunities: Bloom for Women's Carol Andersen and Moravian's Dr. Chris Hunt | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2023 30:56


    Laurie Hackett begins by sitting down with Carol Andersen of Bloom for Women, and then speaking with Moravian University's Dr. Chris Hunt about the Black & Latino Male College Readiness Program of the Lehigh Valley at Moravian University.

    Promoting Arts and Inclusion: Saara Arts' Vindya Raghavachari and The Arc's Chris Kaklamanis | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 32:30


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Vindya Raghavachari from Saara Arts for a conversation about promoting and celebrating Indian and global art, then chats with Chris Kaklamanis from from The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties about the organization's mission to promote inclusion, opportunity and equity,

    An Artistic and Well-Educated Future: Karl Stirner's Melissa Starace and CIS's Tim Mulligan | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 30:06


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Melissa Starace from the Karl Stirner Arts Trail to talk about the trail's outdoor and artistic offerings, then chats with Tim Mulligan from Communities In Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania about his organization's mission and activities to help students build bright futures.

    ‘To Do Well, You Need to Do Good': Pinebrook's Kathy Trimble and Community Leader David Yanoshik | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 31:15


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Kathy Trimble from Pinebrook Family Answers to talk about her organization's mission of helping children and families, then speaks with longtime community leader David Yanoshik about the spirit and importance of volunteerism.

    Valley Youth House's Tom Harrington and GSEP's Marlene Beers | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 28:52


    Laurie Hackett sits down with Tom Harrington from Valley Youth House to talk about the nonprofit's role in supporting youth, then welcomes Marlene Beers from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania about their Take the Lead Event, cookie sales and more.

    A Quarter Century with the Chamber: The Journey of Tony Iannelli | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2022 30:34


    On the final episode of A Closer Look for the year, Laurie Hackett welcomes Tony Iannelli, President and CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

    ArtsQuest's Vicki Doule and New Bethany Ministries' Marc Rittle | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 29:19


    Laurie Hackett welcomes ArtsQuest's Vicki Doule to talk about their holiday events and volunteerism, then speaks with Marc Rittle from New Bethany Ministries about the organization's history and serving the community.

    GEDP's Jared Mast and HCLV's Dr. Rajika Reed | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2022 27:59


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Jared Mast from the Greater Easton Development Partnership about GEDP's initiatives and role in developing Easton's hospitality sector, then speaks with Dr. Rajika Reed, a volunteer at the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley, about social services, their food pantry and more.

    United Way GLV's David Lewis and Volunteer Center LV's Karen Smith | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2022 30:49


    Laurie Hackett welcomes David Lewis from United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, and Karen Smith from Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley for a discussion about community involvement, fundraising, and the regional spirit of volunteerism.

    Phantoms Charities' Rob Brooks, and the Community School's Rebecca Bodnar and Jill Wheeler | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2022 29:40


    Laurie Hackett talks with Rob Brooks of Phantoms Charities about the organization's health and fitness programs, then chats with Rebecca Bodnar and Jill Wheeler, who partner on the Community School at Central Elementary.

    The Literacy Center's Margaret McConnell and The Children's Home's Anita Paukovits | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2022 34:40


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Margaret McConnell from The Literacy Center to take a closer look at the organization and its literacy programs, then chats with Anita Paukovits of The Children's Home of Easton about their goals for guiding, supporting, and encouraging children to believe in themselves.

    Miller-Keystone's Peter Castagna and the James Lawson Freedom School's Katarah Jordan | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2022 29:15


    Laurie Hackett welcomes Peter Castagna from the Miller-Keystone Blood Center to talk about the importance of donating blood for those in need, then chats with Katarah Jordan from the James Lawson Freedom School about charter school education benefits and preventing summer learning loss.

    St. Luke's Sacred Heart's Frank Ford and Women's 5K Classic's Wendy Body | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2022 29:34


    Laurie Hackett is back to take a closer look at area nonprofits, welcoming St. Luke's Sacred Heart Hospital's Frank Ford and Women's 5K Classic founder Wendy Body to share their stories.

    ArtsQuest's Kassie Hilgert and Wildlands Conservancy's Chris Kocher | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2022 32:26


    Laurie Hackett is back to take a closer look at Lehigh Valley-area nonprofits, and the subjects of the arts and the outdoors, with ArtsQuest CEO Kassie Hilgert and Chris Kocher, President of the Wildlands Conservancy.

    A Channel of Peace's Dan Roebuck and The Bach Choir's Leela Breithaupt | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2022 32:07


    Laurie Hackett welcomes two great nonprofit leaders to share their organizations' stories: Bethlehem's own Dan Roebuck from A Channel of Peace and Executive Director Leela Breithaupt from the historic Bach Choir of Bethlehem.

    The Century Promise's Yusuf Dahl and BASD's Dr. Joseph Roy | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 32:59


    On this episode of A Closer Look, Laurie Hackett takes another dive into area nonprofits with Yusuf Dahl from The Century Promise and Dr. Joseph Roy from the Bethlehem Area School District.

    Community Services for Children's Dr. Teri Haddad and Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital's Anne Baum | A Closer Look

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2022 29:21


    For the first episode of A Closer Look, Laurie welcomes Dr. Teri Haddad, Vice President of Community Initiatives and Advancement at Community Services for Children and Anne Baum, recently-named President of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital to talk about their great nonprofits, and dive into who, and how, each organization helps the Lehigh Valley.

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