The Heart of Giving Podcast
The Heart of Giving Podcast is hosted by Art Taylor, President and CEO of BBB Wise Giving Alliance. The weekly podcast celebrates the transformative effects that giving and service have on the human spirit and community. As host, Art interviews a diverse range of guests including non-profit leaders, social entrepreneurs, business executives, celebrities, authors, and everyday heroes about their experiences with philanthropy and community service. The conversations spotlight inspirational stories of how giving back has impacted the lives of his guests and the people they serve. Through storytelling and thoughtful discussion, The Heart of Giving Podcast explores the meaningful reasons, profound effects, and personal fulfillment that come from supporting worthy causes and helping others in need. The podcast aims to educate and encourage listeners to embrace the spirit of generosity.
Episodes

3 days ago
3 days ago
🎙️ This Week on The Heart of Giving:Teresa Tyson shares the remarkable story of The Health Wagon, America's oldest mobile free clinic serving Central Appalachia. Three powerful moments:
"We were founded by Sister Bernie Kenny... She actually started the clinic first of all in the back of a Volkswagen Beetle, just going up and down these mountain roads. That was over 40 some years ago."
"Virginia is an incredibly wealthy state... but there's no other state in the nation that has such extremes in healthcare or disparities between the have and have nots in the state of Virginia."
"You can't do this work and really not be changed... My dad was a coal miner... I remember when I was a little girl he would tie a belt around his leg so that he did not feel that pain... I just do it from that aspect of helping another."
Last week, Rick Lofgren of COTA shared how his organization helps families manage the overwhelming costs of organ transplants - from $2 million surgeries to lifetime medication expenses. His discussion revealed how community support can make life-saving care possible for families in crisis. If you missed it, it's a must-listen conversation about making healthcare accessible to those who need it most.
New episodes every Tuesday on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms. Support the show at give.org.
#HeartOfGiving #Healthcare #RuralHealth #Nonprofits

Wednesday Jan 29, 2025
The Gift of Life: How COTA Helps Transplant Families
Wednesday Jan 29, 2025
Wednesday Jan 29, 2025
This Week on The Heart of Giving Podcast, Rick Lofgren, CEO of COTA (Children's Organ Transplant Association), reveals how his organization helps families navigate the overwhelming financial challenges of organ transplants. Three compelling moments:
"Every day in the United States, about 18 people pass away waiting for that life-saving transplant that never comes. And so our goal is to make sure that money is not the issue that keeps that from happening."
"This past year we helped 244 new families and our goal is to reach 300 new families in every year within the next five years. When I started 26 years ago, we helped 31 families that first year."
"Their daughter had a liver transplant in Pittsburgh eight years ago... that first year they had billions of over $2 million for her liver transplant." - On the staggering costs families face.
Last week's episode featured Lindsay Torrico of the American Bankers Association Foundation, who shared her vision for transforming how banks can drive community development and economic mobility. She discussed innovative approaches to housing affordability and wealth building in underserved communities. If you haven't listened yet, it's an insightful look at making finance work for everyone.
New episodes every Tuesday on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms. Support the show at give.org.
#HeartOfGiving #OrganDonation #Healthcare #Nonprofits

Tuesday Jan 21, 2025
Banking on Community: A Conversation with Lindsay Torrico
Tuesday Jan 21, 2025
Tuesday Jan 21, 2025
This Week on The Heart of Giving: Join Art Taylor in conversation with Lindsay Torrico, Senior VP of Bank Community Engagement at the American Bankers Association and Executive Director of the ABA Foundation. Lindsay shares her vision for transforming how banks engage with communities and drive economic mobility. Three standout moments:
"If you're not at the table, you're on the menu" - Lindsay on why nonprofits must engage in policy discussions to create large-scale impact.
"When our communities are strong, our banks are strong... it's reframing how we think about this work that's not just about giving to a few, but how are we investing in our communities in a way that we all can be effective businesses as well."
"We want to make sure that they're sustainable in home ownership... it's going to take a multifaceted approach" - On addressing the housing crisis through innovative solutions and partnerships.
Did you catch last week's inspiring conversation with Ana Federica Convit? She shared her remarkable journey from banking to leading cancer research initiatives in Venezuela, continuing her grandfather's century-long legacy of providing accessible healthcare to vulnerable populations. If you haven't listened yet, it's a must-hear story of purpose and impact.
New episodes every Tuesday on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms. Support the show at give.org.

Tuesday Jan 14, 2025
Cancer Research in Venezuela: A Family's Mission
Tuesday Jan 14, 2025
Tuesday Jan 14, 2025
This Week on The Heart of Giving Podcast Ana Federica Convit shares how she left her career in banking to continue her grandfather's pioneering medical research in Venezuela. She offers candid insights about balancing motherhood with leading groundbreaking cancer research initiatives, while carrying forward her grandfather's 100-year legacy of serving those most in need. Three noteworthy moments:
"Our mission is to provide access to modern diagnostics and innovative treatments, mainly in cancer, to benefit the most vulnerable population starting in Venezuela, which is a developing, a poor developing country."
"Dr. Convict always said that collective efforts are much more important and will go further than individual efforts... We believe in collective efforts, in bringing people together, wonderful people together for a mission, for an objective."
"I had an inner voice that told me constantly and every day it was stronger and stronger... You have to go back and you have to help him and you have to give back and you have to work for the Venezuelan people." - On her decision to return to Venezuela
Have you listened to last week's conversation with Scott Santarella of the Alpha-1 Foundation? Scott shared fascinating insights about addressing rare genetic conditions and how patient-centered leadership shapes their approach to research and support services. Don't miss either of these engaging stories about organizations making real differences in healthcare.
New episodes every Tuesday on YouTube and your favorite podcast platforms. Support the show at give.org.

Tuesday Jan 07, 2025
Battling Alpha-1: A Community's Quest for Answers
Tuesday Jan 07, 2025
Tuesday Jan 07, 2025
Dear Friends of The Heart of Giving,
This week's conversation features Scott Santarella, CEO of the Alpha-1 Foundation, revealing how a rare genetic condition affecting 100,000 Americans is being addressed through innovative research, community support, and unwavering hope.
Key moments:
"If you feel like you did something good in the world or helped somebody, it makes you feel good." - Discover how 25+ years in the nonprofit sector led Scott to champion rare disease advocacy.
"We think inherently people want to help one another...Sometimes it takes charities to actually be developed to focus on particular areas." - Learn how nonprofits fill crucial gaps in healthcare that the marketplace hasn't addressed.
"75% of our board has to be patients or patient family members...If it's good for patients, we're going to figure out how to do it. If it's not good for patients, we don't do it." - Explore how patient-centered leadership drives meaningful impact.
In Case You Missed It: From Wall Street to Global Impact with Ozzy Samad
Last week's conversation featured Brothers Brother Foundation President Ozzy Samad sharing:
- How they distribute 200 million doses of medicine annually
- Their expansion from international aid to domestic mobile health clinics
- The importance of transparent valuations in building donor trust
- Why meaningful change often starts in our own backyard
Support These Important Conversations
The Heart of Giving brings you stories of organizations addressing critical needs in innovative ways. Your support helps us:
- Share more stories of impact
- Maintain quality production
- Create resources for nonprofits
- Build a stronger giving community
Have a Great Week!

Tuesday Dec 31, 2024
Tuesday Dec 31, 2024
Dear Friends of The Heart of Giving,
This week's conversation features Ozzy Samad, President of Brothers Brother Foundation, sharing how a chance meeting at a World Affairs Council event led him from investment banking to leading an organization that distributes 200 million doses of medicine annually to those in need.
Key moments:
"Having the opportunity to give back in this kind of way was just absolutely unbelievable." - Hear how personal experience growing up in Pakistan shaped Ozzy's transition to humanitarian work.
"We see so much need in our own backyard" - Learn how Brothers Brother expanded from international aid to launching mobile health clinics across America, proving that meaningful change often starts at home.
"We will make sure that whatever you donate really is impactful. Not superficially, but for real." - Discover how transparent valuations and ethical practices build lasting trust.
In Case You Missed It: Arts as a Lifeline with Aidan Davis
Last week's episode featured Statement Arts co-director Aidan Davis revealing how their small NYC nonprofit is creating big impact:
- Providing arts education where 300+ schools lack any programs
- Achieving 100% college acceptance rates for participants
- Using the arts to build confidence, community and future opportunities
- Creating pathways from elementary school through career development
Support These Important Conversations
The Heart of Giving brings you stories of innovative solutions to society's pressing challenges. Your support helps us:
- Share more stories of impact
- Maintain quality production
- Create resources for nonprofits
- Build a stronger giving community
Make your tax-deductible donation today at Give.org.
Listen now on BBBGive.org or your favorite podcast platform.
#HeartOfGiving #Philanthropy #GlobalImpact #NonprofitLeadership

Tuesday Dec 24, 2024
Tuesday Dec 24, 2024
Discover how a small NYC nonprofit is creating big impact through the arts! Join us as Aidan Davis, co-director of Statement Arts, reveals how their innovative programs are providing crucial arts education in a city where over 300 schools lack any arts programming.
Key moments:
"Community is a tremendous portion of what I was able to gain through the performing arts... celebrating the individual exactly as they are." Experience how Statement Arts creates safe spaces for young people to discover themselves and their talents.
"We're really proud to boast about a 100% acceptance rate of our students into their colleges of choice." Learn how this small but mighty organization transforms lives through their continuum of services - from elementary school through college and beyond.
Through partnerships with Broadway professionals, Morgan Stanley executives, and dedicated volunteers, Statement Arts proves that size doesn't limit impact when passion meets purpose.
In Case You Missed It: Healthcare Heroes with Amanda Missey
Don't miss our uplifting conversation with Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative CEO Amanda Missey, exploring:
- How 160+ volunteers provide comprehensive healthcare to the uninsured
- The inspiring story of a 95-year-old diabetes specialist still serving patients
- Delivering $2,600 worth of care per patient annually
- Creating a medical environment where doctors can practice medicine without insurance constraints

Tuesday Dec 17, 2024
Healthcare Without Barriers: Amanda Missey & BVMI's Life-Changing Mission
Tuesday Dec 17, 2024
Tuesday Dec 17, 2024
Step into the remarkable world of volunteer-powered healthcare with Amanda Missey, CEO of Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative (BVMI). Discover how this innovative organization provides comprehensive medical care to the uninsured through an extraordinary network of 160+ volunteers, including a 95-year-old diabetes specialist who still serves patients via telehealth!
Key highlights:
"Powered by volunteers - that's how we're able to achieve what we achieve on a relatively modest budget. We're saving the system thousands, maybe millions of dollars." Learn how BVMI delivers $2,600 worth of comprehensive healthcare per patient annually.
"They can be the kind of doctor they imagined they would be when they went to medical school." Hear how BVMI creates a unique environment where medical professionals can practice medicine without insurance constraints while making a profound impact on their community.
"Bergen County is a really expensive place to live. If they have to make the choice between putting food on their table, paying rent, buying school supplies for their children, and going to the doctor, they very often put their healthcare at the very bottom of the list." Understand the critical gaps BVMI fills in our healthcare system.
Don't Miss: Building Hope in Mississippi with John Damon
Our previous episode features Canopy Children's Solutions CEO John Damon sharing:
- How personal tragedy shaped his mission to help 8,000 children annually
- The innovative approaches to delivering mental health care across 82 Mississippi counties
- Why trust and vulnerability are essential to creating lasting impact
- The power of combining high-tech solutions with high-touch care
Listen now on Give.org or your favorite podcast platform.
#HeartOfGiving #HealthcareAccess #CommunityImpact #MentalHealth

Tuesday Dec 10, 2024
Tuesday Dec 10, 2024
Step into the world of transformative mental health care with John Damon, CEO of Canopy Children's Solutions, Mississippi's largest nonprofit provider of children's behavioral health services. From personal tragedy to purpose, Damon shares how one meaningful relationship changed his life's trajectory and now drives his mission to help over 8,000 children annually across Mississippi.
Key moments:
"Hope is not a wish that the future can be brighter than your past – you have the power to make it so." Damon reveals how his organization uses hope as a science to transform lives.
"We're not just running programs – people don't come to us for a program, they come to us for a solution." Learn how Canopy's innovative approach spans behavioral health, education, and family support across all 82 Mississippi counties.
"Leaders have to go first and be vulnerable." Discover how Damon builds trust from the inside out to create lasting impact in communities.
🎧 **Also Available: A Giving Tuesday Special with Asha Curran**
Don't miss our conversation with Giving Tuesday CEO Asha Curran, exploring:
- How $3.1B in global donations are tracked and measured
- Why declining charitable participation doesn't mean declining generosity
- The power of connecting giving to civic engagement
- Building year-round community impact across 105 countries
Listen now on BBBGive.org or your favorite podcast platform.
#HeartOfGiving #MentalHealth #ChildrensMentalHealth

Tuesday Dec 03, 2024
Our Annual Giving Tuesday Episode with its CEO, Asha Curran
Tuesday Dec 03, 2024
Tuesday Dec 03, 2024
It's #GivingTuesday so naturally, our latest episode is with Giving Tuesday CEO Asha Curran, who takes us behind the scenes of a movement that's revolutionizing global generosity. With real-time tracking of $3.1B in donations across 105 countries, Asha reveals how data is reshaping philanthropy's future. She challenges traditional giving narratives, showing how everyday acts of generosity create lasting community transformation. Through rich storytelling and compelling insights, she illustrates how Giving Tuesday has evolved from a single day of giving into a year-round force for positive change.
In our previous conversation, Sean Carroll shares his remarkable journey leading Anera's $100M humanitarian mission across the Middle East. Drawing from 25 years of experience and personal insights from living in East Jerusalem, Carroll offers a powerful perspective on transforming communities through innovative aid. His leadership spans from delivering critical medical relief to pioneering tech training programs that create sustainable economic opportunities. Carroll's intimate knowledge of the region and dedication to building lasting change shines through in this compelling discussion.
These conversations will transform how you think about global impact and the power of giving. Listen now on BBBGive.org or your favorite podcast platform.
#HeartOfGiving #GivingTuesday #GlobalImpact #Philanthropy