Volunteering is Phenomenal

In 2009, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale ranked dead last in the nation in percentage of volunteers and volunteer hours. The organization addressed it head on with the creation of the Special Teams Program, a unique volunteer organization that enlists and mobilizes the services of the community with the Miami players, staff, and alumni.   The program offer hands-on services to communities and families in partnership with social, civic, and charitable organizations, particularly in times of emergency.   To date, the program has 3,204 volunteers that have logged 43,835 of community service, making them the most impactful group of its kind.   Members of the awesome leadership team behind this one-of-a kind program, join us to shed light on how organizations can leverage the team's expertise and resources for their special events.   Featured Guests:   Leslie Nixon, Manager, Volunteer Programs | Twan Russell, Director of Youth Programs | Jason Jenkins, Director of Media Relations   May is National Foster Care Month so we'll wind down the show with a spotlight on how the Special Teams Program has connected with The Heart Gallery of Broward County to help promote the adoption and enrichment of children in care.

Darryl "DMC" McDaniels (Run DMC and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer) and Sheila Jaffe, (Emmy Award winning Casting Director of The Fighter, The Sopranos, Entourage) are both adoptees who have searched for their birth families. As they pursued their journey of discovery, they realized how fortunate they were, having been raised by loving families. Things could have gone very differently had they not been adopted. They decided to start THE FELIX ORGANIZATION / Adoptees For Children in February 2006 for children who didn't get taken home or who are growing up in foster care. Since its inception, the organization has sent over 500 children to CAMP FELIX located in Putnam Valley, New York, for an exciting experience of sports, arts, and more. We'll talk about their respective journeys, the process of getting the organization off the ground, and how more young people in care can experience the exciting camp for themselves. www.adopteesforchildren.org

The LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation was founded in 2002, in memory of LeRoy Homer, First Officer of United Airlines #93 when it crashed in Shanksville, PA on September 11th, 2001. Tune in for an exclusive interview with Jane Oswari who currently serves as Vice President and has been with the Foundation since its inception. We'll discuss the life of Major LeRoy Homer in honor of his tremendous service to our country. The mission of The LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation is to encourage and support young adults who wish to pursue careers as professional pilots. In addition, the Foundation promotes awareness about aviation careers to disadvantaged youth. Learn more: www.leroywhomerjr.org

The National Liberty Museum located in the heart of historic Philadelphia focuses on good character, civic responsibility and respect for all people. Featured guest Kevin Orangers, Vice President of Programs, will share information about the wide array of programs available to youth and families, as well as the Museum's exciting new Heroes of Character exhibit. The National Liberty Museum's dedication to educators really does set them apart. In addition to professional development training, special recognition is provided through their "Teachers as Hero" awards. We couldn't end the show without mention of the Museum's beautiful galleries available for hosting memorable events.

MindSet of Wealth® is an innovative financial literacy and wealth building program designed to equip youth with critical-wealth thinking to build true wealth and start legacies.Tune in for this exclusive interview with Ms. Lattice Hardwick and Mr. Garry Lawrence, founders of Kidz4Money, a Metro Atlanta based nonprofit organization that is providing financial literacy for a new generation. We'll talk about their journey getting the organization off the ground and how the MindSet of Wealth curriculum and Financial Teen Summit is 'building wealth by building character'.

Montana social worker Matt Anderson is on a mission to educate the public about the pitfalls of American foster care, especially older children about to age out of the system. 17 placements in 7 years. The real life experience of Codie, a young man in Montana's foster care system, who is the subject of the compelling documentary, "From Place to Place. When a Temporary System Becomes Permanent." Matt was moved when he met Codie who shared his story and thought people should know about his life. He became motivated to pursue when other foster care youth expressed a similar feeling of being unheard and desire to broadcast their stories to a wide audience. We'll talk about the journey of bringing the documentary to life (which is still in progress). We'll also talk how Matt took things a step further by packing up and heading to Washington DC to discuss the real plight of youth in care to an influential panel of legislators. Short version of film is available for purchase to help complete production - http://fromplacetoplacemovie.com/ Show your support and follow their progress on facebook!

T.I.L.T. (Teen Independent Living Training) is a program that serves adolescents, ages 15-21 in Mercer County, New Jersey. They have experienced family trauma, been placed in foster care, boarding homes, or are recently out of residential placements. A group of phenomenal young men from TILT recently completed a video project through the Beyond Expectations Teen Filmmaking Program. The piece has already been showcased at Philadelphia area film screenings and is now airing on Media Independence television. We'll talk with the students, their dedicated life coaches, and other members of the TILT leadership team. The teens will share their firsthand experiences of learning basics of the film making, creating and co-producing the video. More important than the finished project is an illustration of what's possible when organizations collaborate and caring adults take a REAL interest in young lives. >> About TILT -- http://www.lifetiesinc.org/tilt.html  

One-on-one with Derrell Lawrence, award-winning actor, producer, director, and president & CEO of Headliner Entertainment. We'll talk about Derrell's unique and inspiring journey into the movie industry, his first film "Life Isn't Fair" and recently completed "Happy Holidaze" which was has just been picked up by a number of film festivals.

Mr. Barrow joins us for an exclusive one-on-one discussion about his successful business career, and prominent rise to Chief Executive Officer, The First Tee / Executive Vice President of the World Golf Foundation. The son of legendary boxing champion Joe Louis, we'll learn more about Mr. Barrow's personal journey and gain his insight on the positive role golf can play on the lives of young people ... including those in foster care.  

Award Winning Author J.R. Fenwick gives "The Queens Legacy" 5 Stars. South Jersey's own contributing author, Tanya Norwood, joins us for a one-on-one conversation about her own personal journey. The Queen's Legacy is a collection of 48 stories by women and men celebrating the lives and legacies of the queens in their lives.   It's a wonderful compilation designed to inspire readers to grow through what they go through so their greatness can show through.