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Thank you.

And now the 490 with Gretchen de Becker, Matt Killam and Kevin Mullin all.

Welcome into the 419.

I'm Kevin Mullin.

Gretchen Becker, Matt Killen we've got a jam packed show today taking a look at the top five events in the region with our friends from toledo.com.

Plus, this is going to be a record.

I think we're going to have the most guests on one show.

19.

We'll we'll find out for it.

Good.

Good job.

419.

419.

That's right.

Yeah, that's a lot.

So we've got friends from Unruly Arts.

Yep.

Are going to be joining us.

I've got a couple of friends of mine from.

I know from my Lords days, from the Sisters of Saint Francis talking about sustainability summit that they've got coming up.

And then, Kirsten Lefler, Billy Man and the trumpeter family joining us talking National Philanthropy Day, which is an incredible as a as a fundraiser myself.

It's an incredible celebration of that profession.

And and that, you know, it is a it is a profession right.

There are that do that work and are very good at it.

Billy is one of the best in our region.

Agreed.

If not the best in our region.

And I'm excited to kind of here.

He's done an incredible job giving his time, talent, treasure, influence to support and grow this event.

So I'm excited to learn a little, and we want.

To talk to him from the perspective of the requester.

Right.

The person that's raising the money.

And then also from the perspective of donors and why it's important.

So that should be a good conversation.

Let's dive into our top five events.

Gretchen, you've got the list in front of you.

What's.

Remind me who curated this list.

Toledo curates this list for us.

Our friend John Nichols provides this so you can catch it on social media as well.

But we have top five events.

The first one is the heart warming gala to benefit Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Ohio.

That's this Friday night, the sixth at Hilton Garden Inn.

It's a great event.

Obviously, people are familiar with the round McDonald House and everything.

They provide somebody that has experienced some of the space from a dear friend desperately needed it.

It is a common name, but I don't think people are reminded as what a service it provides to families that are going through some pretty tough stuff.

At.

No cost.

Yep.

So that's great.

And their their facility here in Toledo is beautiful.

Yeah.

Great.

What Chad and the team have built there, is is incredible and a fantastic service to families.

I've had the privilege of volunteering there a few different times.

I have not had a direct experience, but I. But I do know as a family member of a loved one who's in the hospital, that housing piece is such a stressor.

When my dad was at Cleveland Clinic, you know, we were trying to figure out hotels and driving back and forth.

And how do we make sure that we're there when we need to be there?

And to have a place like this for, you know, for families is incredible.

And one less thing to have to think about is a godsend.

So kudos to them.

That's me a great event I'm sure.

So that's our number one event.

Our second event is a really big event at the main branch library.

This Saturday from 9 to 430.

It's a romance con.

This is becoming extremely popular, so kudos to the staff at the library, you know, which is a sensational institution.

Every day on its own, right.

They could just sort of rest on their laurels.

But this is a really fun thing.

And people have been coming out all ages.

It is a charming way, a little bit of tongue in cheek to celebrate this medium, and I can't wait to be part of it, which I think we are.

We are going to be a part of it.

They're going to have authors, they're going to have presentations, they're going to have panels.

And the three of us are going to be facilitating a panel with one of the authors.

So our friend Nicole, sister, who we've had on the show.

Who reads more than any person alive.

She has read more books than I think the downtown library has.

Yeah.

She's out there.

Nothing left.

But but Romance Con is one of her favorite days of the year, and when she found out that we were doing something, she wasn't worried about you two.

She came specifically to me and said, do not ruin this event for me.

Yeah, and I told her that I am asking.

This to you every morning.

Yeah.

That's fair.

My family says that when I come home.

I'm just gonna.

I'm just gonna read.

I'm just going to slowly read all the books out loud.

Yeah, just.

And only only the, the high holy ones.

I'm gonna come with a slightly torn shirt.

Yes.

Right.

On horseback.

And you did request a fan be blowing wind.

On you?

Yes.

My receding hairline is really going to be captured in the main library.

So that's going to be awkward.

Really?

Because there will be gone.

Maybe instead.

Matt, you should go to the Toledo Walleye opening night in Black party.

Okay.

We just our third event of the week at Huntington Center, Hensel Park, and that's Saturday, November 7th.

Big night for the walleye.

I love that activation I do down there.

It has been a sort of a constant effort, and the holidays are coming up to do a great job of lighting and being part of it.

So cool place to stop by.

Yeah.

And then we just had Dick Karcher, who's the chair of the Live Arts Toledo board on our show yesterday.

about this concert, which is our number four show.

I mean, number four event of the week.

It's a big band trumpet with Wayne Bergeron, and that's going to be at the theater also on Saturday, November 7th.

Just make sure you don't sit underneath the balcony.

No, I think that's what we learned is.

Yeah, dicey.

Dicey.

For those who don't know, we're talking about we learned the balcony was the first of its kind in the country, and we got an education from the head of the Valentine Theater that the architect or engineer of it said, let's give it a little while.

You so certainly safe now, but kind of a fun part of our local lore.

The final event of the week is is the sixth annual Black Gala.

This is happening at the Renaissance Toledo in downtown Toledo.

Jay Rayford and his whole team put on a great party at Saturday, November 7th this year.

They have a different beneficiary organization every year, and this one, it's neighborhood.

This year it's neighborhood property.

So I believe I'm not sure, but I believe this is close to selling out.

So kudos to them for another great event.

Six years doesn't happen by accident right.

So this is successful event and not dissimilar.

Sort of the theme of the show is the benefit the community as a whole.

And they've done a great job.

So kudos.

So many great things to do to get out to explore our region all across Northwest Ohio.

This is just five of them.

Thanks to John and the team at Toledo for helping us narrow that list.

If you're looking for something to do this weekend.

This is a great place to start.

Of course, you can find this list on social media, or you can also find it@toledo.com.

Let's take a break.

When we come back, we'll be joined by the board president and art director for Unruly Arts.

Joan Coast and Lori are going to join us here on the 419.

We'll be right back.

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Welcome back into the 419.

We're joined now by our friends from Unruly Arts, Joan Coast and Lori shown.

Welcome to the program.

Thank you.

Thanks.

What is unruly arts?

Joan.

So good start.

One of you is potentially pay day.

Answer this question.

Another one is volunteering for volunteer gets to take.

Let's go.

So Unruly Arts is an inclusive art studio.

That our main heart and focus is on people with disabilities.

Our.

We have, a lot of opportunities for the community to participate and create art.

But art.

But we, we also have studio time where our artists get instruction and help, and they put on shows.

And so we've been doing this for almost ten years, this unruly.

Yeah, ten years this month.

But how you two have been linked for much longer than that, right?

Yeah.

All kinds of things.

Yeah.

This is a this is a whodunit show.

I don't know if it's a true crime or turning into a pot.

It's going to be great.

It's the third season of serial.

The breakfast food.

So where did you meet in.

How did you identify that this was.

Well, this is a long answer.

Sure.

Well, I'm not listening anyway.

Excellent.

Well, Joan, I go back a long way, but, we kind of started working together.

Joan, 2006.

Okay.

She sort of stalked me.

Sure.

You know, as she does.

As one does.

To open an art studio.

And I kept telling her I didn't want to do that.

And what were you doing at the time?

I was running a business called Vintage Gardens at the Botanical Gardens with my husband.

That's right.

And also working at Metro parks.

I had two full time jobs.

Sure.

Yeah.

Joan.

And she kept telling me that.

And Joan said, no, but I think you are really going to want to do this.

And I kept thinking, no, I really don't think I do.

And after three months, I said, fine, fine, let's give it a shot.

And the first day I was in the studio with these artists.

I thought, yep.

This is what I'm supposed to do.

So how did you identify the.

This group of our population needed this.

Wanted to deserved it.

So in 2007, I was at Light Industries.

And if you remember 2008, everything crashed.

Yes.

And so we lost a huge portion of our business at that time because it was with Ford Stamping Plant and they had closed.

But even before that, some of the work that we did at lot was more assembly production.

And it really wasn't the right thing for everybody.

Sure.

Some people, it just wasn't their thing.

Yeah.

And so, there are some a few other programs in the country, and I just wanted Lori to, to create one, to give more options to the people that that we employed.

How do people come to you?

I mean, how are they identified as, an artist?

It's different now than it was.

They drew the turtle and then sent it into television.

Yeah, we have a little ad in the back of a magazine.

And you mail it and someone says.

Yeah.

That's it.

Yeah.

You know, they do come over our ways, and our and our artists come after after they've graduated from high school.

So they're all adults.

So it's not necessarily high school, although we are starting to work with younger.

Okay.

During the summer, we we tend to get some high school kids that come and then they end up staying in our program.

A few of our artists have kind of gone through the whole ranks.

So the Lucas County Board sometimes brings people by, other agencies bring people by.

You know, we've been doing this now for 20 years.

So the community knows who we are and what we do.

And then parents, parents tend to talk to each other.

If especially if they have a child with a disability.

Like what?

What are they doing now or what are they doing?

Having community art shows?

Sure helps because people see it and then they think, oh, well, you know, I'd love to get my child involved in that or not.

So, Did you have an moment?

You know that certainly.

You mentioned that this is not the first of its program, but there aren't very many across the country from what it sounds like.

But did you have a moment that stands out to you or an artist that that was like, you know what, this is working or, you know, I know this is where you got into it, but you're like, actually, this is given your life's purpose as well.

Right.

So talk to me about that.

I'm guessing we're going to say the same thing.

The first one.

You've had many, many.

But this was the most profound.

So the.

We did our first show at the conference center at TBG.

And this mother of an artist that we had who was really a wonderful artist, unfortunately she's passed, but her mother came up to Lori and I and started to say something and just got really upset and turned around and.

Left, burst into tears.

First you tell.

Yeah.

So have you identified this as possible?

Well, you'll find out the next day.

Found out?

So we looked.

At each other like, oh my gosh.

And she came back in the next day and said that, she, when she had her daughter, they had just moved to Pennsylvania and her husband traveled all the time, and she just wasn't, growing up the same way as, as her sisters were.

And so she went from progressive.

I can't think of the word I went, but she was.

So she went to doctor to doctor to doctor.

Think about this in a state.

This was back in the 50s.

Yeah.

And finally a doctor said, well, she's got downs.

And that was the first the, the mother had heard this her, her husband wasn't with her.

And he said you just need to put her in an institution.

She'll never talk, she'll never walk, she'll never account to anything.

And the woman was devastated.

And but she didn't give up.

And so she kept going to other doctors.

And when doctor said she'll be fine, have more kids, include her and everything you do, and she'll be fine.

And then she found our program, and she just blossomed, right.

And so the mother said, you know, here she thought she would never amount to anything or even be out of an institution.

And people were, you know, really wanting her artwork not because of who she was.

It was because her artwork was really good.

Yeah.

And so that was when we knew that that we were really on to something.

But since then we've had nonverbal, individuals that now.

That.

Talk talks a lot.

Yeah.

And, and, you know, some of our artists have just a great following.

People want their artwork.

You know, and just the response from parents just saying, you know, this is just so meaningful in their life and especially after high school.

And and if they're not working, just that socialization and being able to be a part of a community, a family producing work that's actually meaningful.

It's all good.

Part of art and creation has to come with some guidelines or criticism.

Seems like potentially inappropriate word.

But, you know, how is art taught or governed to this group of individuals?

I mean, is the goal for everyone to have their own plan or to achieve something, or is it just the joy of being together?

It's complete mayhem.

Sure.

Yeah.

And, So their show.

Yeah.

I like that.

Only we have no talent.

So that's not the.

The name of the studio is unruly Art.

So we really try to allow each artist's voice to come forward.

I really hate to give instructions, and this is how you have to do it.

Now, there are some.

Sure.

Like when someone wants to paint with broccoli and put lettuce into a painting.

Yeah, I. Sometimes having Gretchen over for the.

Sometimes draw the line like, you know, that lettuce is going to rot.

Yes, in the painting.

But other than that, they're just not that.

Yeah.

Other than that, really, I really hate to put restrictions on what they did.

Sure.

How is it when a new person comes into the group and there's there's the existing people are there?

Is it is it like, oh, what's this person going to do?

Or is it welcoming?

What's the vibe?

You know what?

They are an amazing group of people.

And we have a new studio now which is making a huge difference.

We're at the Toledo Zoo.

The space is so much bigger, so we're not right on top of each other, which is which is fabulous because otherwise you're kind of like in a, I don't know, it's bad, but this is really good.

But when a new person comes, it can be a little intimidating.

And especially somebody who is coming in all by themselves in a new space.

It's not like school.

It takes a little while.

Sometimes it'll take an hour, and sometimes it'll take three weeks.

It just really depends.

But if they're observing, we try to give people space.

But most of my eyes are so welcoming.

They've all been there.

They've all done that.

So they know to help somebody out.

Probably listen to us and we can do a little bit better, period.

Probably.

We could be more inclusive.

Absolutely.

And the organization is supporte the sale of the work of these artists.

Yes.

That's one Avenue one.

We have three revenue streams, basically grants, donations and then the sale of the art.

But the art the art is for original art.

They keep 50%, and the other 50% gets plowed back into the materials, the rent, you know, utilities.

And then we do have a fee, a class fee.

But that isn't a if.

Doesn't cover it, it doesn't it doesn't cover it.

Not everyone.

Can pay.

Right.

So we're talking with Joan Coast and Lori, shown from Unruly Arts.

Beyond writing a check to support your work, what are ways that folks that are watching this program can can be involved and can help out?

Well, they can they can visit our gallery, which is at the Toledo Botanical Gardens Tuesday through Saturday, 10 to 3.

Buy some great gifts.

Shop local.

It's all made here.

It's made, it's got a heart to it.

It's got a story with it, and it supports a great cause.

We do take in donations.

There's a lot of artists that try things and then realize they.

They're not going to be a potter or they're not going to be a great watercolorist.

So a lot of times people will bring us their supplies.

Great supplies.

We've had organizations that actually have done, you know, asked us for a wish list and then they've, you know, contributed to that, where, you know, we can use paper towels.

We can use any number of things daily, to keep the organization going and things that we don't have to, to purchase.

Writing a check is always great.

Super great.

I imagine it's a similar question to asking, you know, who your favorite child is, or which one of your favorite hosts of the 419 is your favorite?

And we know it's not Gretchen.

But I'm interested.

Is there a particular piece of art that has spoken to you, or kind of stands out to you as like, oh man, that was really special.

I could tell you every day, every single one, because I see the backstory, I see the whole story, the work.

I don't know if I have a favorite piece of art or a favorite artist I have.

I have a lot of favorites.

Every answer.

But it's true.

I believe I'm just teasing.

Same.

You guys have got an event coming up or a couple events coming up.

We do.

Tell me about those.

So, this Thursday, we're going to be at Taylor Hyundai, which seems like an unusual place for an art show, but this is our fifth one, I believe.

I've been to most of them.

Steve Taylor out in Perrysburg opens up the dealership.

We kind of take over and put art everywhere.

Most of our artists each have a table where you can see their individual art.

This is the first time we've done a holiday show.

So it's going to be a little different.

It's going to be all Christmas.

So I think it's going to be super fun.

And then our next show is heralding the holidays at the Toledo Botanical first weekend in December.

December 4th, fifth and.

Sixth time honored tradition.

I've got a question for you both, and I know you won't answer honestly.

But how do you keep the energy up for this?

Right.

You.

Joan, you have volunteered and been a part of many boards, or you worked tirelessly, and you do have an indentured servant that you live with.

So I know you get support, but but I mean, the simple sincerity, you get fueled by the mission, which is certainly an answer that I know as part of it.

But you're still knocking it out year to year, having events, coaching people who you love dearly on a daily basis.

You talk a little bit about the the unruly arts vibe, and that is there takes energy to do this.

How do you keep that up?

Diet Pepsi.

Sure of you know, I don't know, man.

That's really it's the people I, I've got.

I've got incredible people, I got families, they all they sort of they sort of count on us to do it.

There would be no unruly without Joan.

Or without Lori.

But Joan is the one that that puts all the dots together.

She connects people.

She's fine sponsors.

She.

You know this connection with Taylor?

There's just a lot of moving parts that are pushing us along.

So it's it's pretty easy because it really is.

And and now being at the zoo, having that interest with, in partnership with the zoo has really kind of, injected new life into us.

The space is so cool.

Is awesome.

Yep.

Our set here at the 419 is is literally littered with gifts from past guests and reminders of the incredible stories, incredible work happening throughout our region.

I noticed you guys have brought something for us as well.

It's just a little reminder for for all of you every day too.

Yes.

I love it.

The unruly.

So cool.

I love it.

I love it.

Awesome.

Well, thank you so much.

Thank you.

So is this something that that one of your artists.

That's a collaborative So many of our artists might have put a dot on it or thing.

And then it was a it's a print, obviously, but, we do sell those.

For our radio listeners.

It's a print that says Be unruly, global Green.

Thank you so much.

Well, thank.

You guys.

Love you.

Yeah.

Break.

When we come back we're going to talk about the Sustainability Summit with our friends from the Sisters of Saint Francis of Sylvania.

We'll be right back here on the 418.

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Welcome back into the 419.

We're joined now by Sarah Greenberg and Elizabeth Ryder from the Sisters of Saint Francis of Sylvania.

We have a sustainability summit that's coming up.

But I guess let's let's kind of back up a little bit.

Neither one of you are sisters, but you work for the sisters.

Talk to me about about this.

We are not sisters.

But the sisters began.

They used to do everything by themselves, and then they began to hire laypeople.

About 25 years ago.

And now the sisters have a lot of us around.

And we have a good time working towards the sisters mission, which they have.

I care for creation mission that they are very strong into.

And that aligns with our sustainability coordinator, Sarah.

And certainly it's been a lifelong passion of my own.

Well, I have had the privilege of of working with interacting with both of you through my time with, with Lourdes and I think get a chance to see the incredible work that the sisters do, both as individuals but also as an organization.

Sarah, your role as director of sustainability.

What all does that entail?

Oh, it's a whole list of things the sisters are very passionate about caring for creation.

Like Elizabeth said, it's been something that they've been doing since 1916, since the.

You see, 1960.

61?

Yes, a very long time.

Our founders, Mother Adelaide, she planted a thousand tree seedlings.

So it really starts from way back then, and it's just evolved ever since then.

So there's composting on campus now we have beehives.

We do recycling.

We have a couple native plantings there, and now we have solar panels, which is a really exciting project for the sisters.

You wouldn't originally or necessarily think that that a religious order would have a director of sustainability?

What is it?

Is the is your mission tied to the way the sisters live themselves, or is it a public facing mission?

I would say it's a little bit of both their followers of Saint Francis.

So he's a saint of ecology.

So it's kind of intrinsic to their following and who they want to be.

So they it's just been a natural evolution of that.

And they just care about what the Earth looks like and what that will look like for the future generations.

I love the idea that this is considered like new things to some, like composting, and the sisters have been doing it since 1916, or at least have been prescribing tree planting and things of that variety, just like curiosity.

You seem like a comparatively young person to the fossils that host this show.

So how did why does this matter to you?

Did something in your youth, or did your parents give you a broader look at what you're doing, matters, or should matter to the community?

How did you get the bug?

No pun intended.

That's a good question.

And to be honest, I started as pre-med in undergrad and I was not doing well in some of my classes.

And so I said something needs to change.

And so I switched my major to environmental biology.

Was it organic chemistry when you just said that is usually the breaking point.

Why do they even have that thing?

Yes, actually why they have it?

Yeah.

Yeah, sure.

Yep.

But it was in that moment where I was like, you know, I want something that matters as a profession when I get older and not something that is money making.

So I decided to go to environmental biology, and then I started enjoying all my classes and, you know, and going to them and really taking what I was learning and applying to it.

And then it just evolved from there.

And so I'm, I'm very honored to be working for the Sisters of Saint Francis and that this is such a prominent portion of their mission, and I get to be a part of that story.

Now, what role did organic chemistry play in your life?

Absolutely.

Zero.

Excellent.

Yeah, I followed journalism and they didn't.

It didn't come up.

But talk to you about the connection here for yourself and the faith and the mission and the community that you're now serving.

I am the director of communications and Connection, so I've had the pleasure of connecting all of the different aspects of the campus for the last at least five years, I think.

Okay.

And it's so much fun to see people working in the same the Franciscan spirit, where you elevate each other and you're kind to each other and you.

Another novel concept.

It is such a pleasure to work with the sisters and with everyone that they have chosen to, to be their partners in ministry.

Being on that campus is, it's very uplifting.

So when you see the sisters tackling a project like the environment, you know that they're going to go at it with good, good faith, good spirit and all of their energy.

Sure.

I know obviously, I mentioned Lourdes.

I mean, Lourdes was a significant ministry of the Sisters of Saint Francis for 68 years.

Yes.

But with that closing, the sisters are still as vibrant and active.

As and wanting to change the world as.

As they ever have been.

What are some of the other ministries that are happening and how can folks how would folks interact with the sisters?

Post.

Lourdes.

One of the ways we hope you do is this Saturday for our sustainability summit.

But the sisters have ministries.

They have Bethany House, which I think everyone's very familiar with.

Just in case our listeners or watchers or not, Bethany House as well.

It is northwest Ohio only long term shelter for victims of domestic abuse.

And they have been.

There's a whole.

Family 80s.

The whole family can go in there.

It is unique to our area.

So that's a significant thing to brag about.

Brag about is inappropriate.

But I mean, there's not very many places whole families can go.

This is the only so this is significant.

Is significant.

And the sisters are committed to not only the temporary aspect, it's long term where they provide all of the resources you need to put a life back together, which is excellent.

I do want to talk about the the summit, but there is a correlation between sustainability and what you just described at Bethany House.

Put those two dots together.

Meaning of course, planning trees.

It makes all the difference in the world, but taking care of families that need it also.

So talk about sustainability from a community standpoint.

We have a fairly famous sister on campus, Sister Jeremiah's, who would talk about in her planning of the campus and planting things.

You think of things 100 years out.

Yeah.

So you're not doing something for what looks good and feels good.

Now you are.

You can tell by appearance we've adopted that as well.

You all look lovely.

The summit does a very similar thing where we have the immediate things that you need.

You look at your garage and you.

You see, I've gathered all the styrofoam, and I haven't thrown these CDs out from a long time ago.

So at the summit, you could get immediate relief from that mess in your your, your garage by dropping that off.

But you have a longer term, a possibility of learning.

We have speakers who will tell us about Lake Erie, which we all love, and openings region are.

What a dump.

It's just.

It's remarkable to me that it was only a few years ago that I really learned that we were such a national treasure.

Look, I. Grew up with you.

I've worked for the Metroparks for a decade and was raised here, and I did not grow up knowing or appreciating the oak openings region either.

So you're certainly let alone.

I learned that through my employment.

So I am with you.

So I opening and you think that it would be maybe taught earlier or you get some exposure to it?

Lake Erie is also a wonderful thing that we may have ignored a little bit.

We have our keynote speaker, Tish O'Dell, who, if you're not familiar with it, is a proponent of the rights, the rights of nature movement, which.

Also I didn't know about.

Sarah brought it up to me.

Talk to us about that.

Rights in nature.

It's essentially giving nature a voice, and they don't have one to speak up for themselves.

So if there's pollution or anything that's causing harm to the environment, it's just allowing them to have a voice and standing up for it.

There is.

And this, this, I mean, this all stems from and this is all part of the sisters adoption of C. Yes.

Talk to us a little bit about kind of what that what that is.

Sure.

Well, I gotta see is an encyclical written by Pope Francis in 2015.

And it's really just an encouragement for individuals, churches, communities to learn Latin first and foremost.

Yeah, sure.

Very good.

Yeah, yeah.

But to really respond to the climate crisis that's happening right now and that is in any way, shape or form that is personal to that individual community or church or anybody who would be able to call to respond to that.

So there's.

The trivia, really, to find out that the climate crisis is a myth.

Just kidding.

That's not too sure.

They're facing.

Well, let's talk more about.

The.

Summit in the in the panels here.

You've assembled what I think is a really impressive somebody who has in the sustainability world, you've really assembled a unique and interesting summit.

So walk us through the day.

Thank you.

First of all.

Sure.

We appreciate that.

We're very, very excited about it.

It's on Saturday, November 7th from 10 to 4.

It is open to the public and it is a free event.

It is at the Franciscan Center.

We had a great group of team of sisters, partners in ministry and our community partners with Toledo, Lucas County, Beautiful and Toledo Lucas County Sustainability Commission to put together speakers and vendors and, workshops and panelists.

And we have a recycling drop off where you can bring hard recycle items.

We have Toledo bikes going to are going to be their fleet repair cafe.

So we really have set the table for a lot of people to come and experience sustainability in whichever way they want to interact with it, and we hope that they come curious and leaving inspired to make a change.

I see that AI is on the agenda as well.

Talk to me about what what folks can expect from that portion of the program.

We have we worked with Molly Thompson.

You know.

She's a friend.

She's a friend.

Very good Tom as well.

She had helped us with our solar project.

And so she reached out to some of the people that she knows, experts in the area and has brought them together.

They're very excited about AI and as are we.

We did ask Tish O'Dell to be part of that panel, because we'd like the public to understand a couple of things.

We as well.

What the future of AI looks like, but also to separate the issues of data centers from the future, because we feel like they're not there together.

But you could do data centers better.

That is a statement that I could not possibly agree more with.

But regardless of your politics or your thinking, one of the things that I think that should not be left unmentioned is we are gathering people to talk about said issue, regardless of the subject matter, although this is one that's on the floor.

People that are hungry for that?

Yes.

And they don't know where to find information in the skeptical of each other and almost every source of information.

So I applaud you for this.

It's not just because I happen to know your panel, but there are people that are they make their money in AI, right?

But they talk about doing it responsibly.

I'm a centrist by nature.

I'm no pun intended to this, but I think that there's going to be a wonderful day of education.

But do not lie past the idea that you're going to be gathering people to talk, which is not something that we do enough.

So talk to me a little bit about your 100 years.

You might be around.

But thank you.

But but I'm just saying you'll be.

I mean, that.

Was it.

That was.

That was a choice.

Yeah.

No.

That was well wired.

And welcome to the program.

I said that I say that to say yes.

Exactly.

I see what you put up with daily.

Yeah.

It gets way worse.

It's a lot.

But if you were to look back on a career real spent, you mentioned how you want people to leave this, but how do you want to leave your legacy from this capacity?

I want people to leave.

Inspired.

Yeah.

I feel like I'm mostly proud of the everything we've gathered together.

It's a positivity.

Yes.

It's it's people in action doing things.

I want people to leave looking around saying, I really didn't know.

So many people in Northwest Ohio were already doing these things and.

Well said.

Yeah.

I just echo what said.

I need to come up with your own answer.

I am impressed that we have been able to bring this many people together who are working towards a common goal.

And I just feel so proud to live here and have all these resources at our fingertips.

That's right.

I think that we quickly talked about sustainability, about action, and sort of a technical sense and forget the fact that in order for this to be sustainable, no matter what it is, you have to have buy in.

You have to have by in community.

That's right.

Where can people find more information on this Saturday's event and all the work you guys are doing in the sustainability space with the Sisters of Saint Francis?

Our website, it's WW w sisters osf.org.

Sisters plural OS dot.

To find more information.

Elizabeth.

Sarah, thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you.

Take a break.

When we come back, we're going to talk National Philanthropy Day here on the 419.

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Welcome back to the 419.

We talk about all of the incredible events that happen throughout our region.

One of them is National Philanthropy Day, a day that celebrates the professionals and individuals that make our community better.

We've talked about the number of nonprofits in our community, and the reality is we're able to support that because of the heart of our region.

This is the day that we celebrate that.

We're joined now by Billy Mann, Kirsten Lefler and Sam Trumpeter talking National Philanthropy Day.

First of all, we said we think there might be a quota for the number of Metroparks vests that are allowed on the set at one time.

I have my own foundation.

It is giving vests to the youth that have lost their way.

So one of my best, I joined Billy Man.

And I don't, I don't mind I don't want to use the word hero.

I don't want to throw it around, but that is how I would describe myself.

Billy, you are new to the Metroparks chief philanthropy officer, but you're also the chair of National Philanthropy Day.

Yes.

Talk to me about the profession of of fundraising?

Sure.

Because I think there's folks that, sadly, still at our community don't realize that this is a profession.

And there are professionals that do incredible jobs doing it.

Well, thanks, Kevin, I, I do, and I appreciate that you use the term philanthropy because I believe it's more than just considering ourselves a sector of nonprofit work.

Certainly that that is a that is a term that folks understand.

But philanthropy is so much more.

It's a it's a broader term for how we give back.

And we interact with folks who want to do, do good things and want to make Toledo Toledo a better place.

So, our, our industry in, in this town is full of causes and ways for people to get together.

But I think one of the great things we're seeing is causes collaborating.

And that's another thing that we celebrate through National Philanthropy Days.

I think it is a rare sign of evolution that this exists, right.

As we talk about, how not evolved we are as a species, the idea that others would be giving to the greater or for other things is a sign that progress has been made.

Any idea?

And I'd want to put you on the spot here, but how I how old is the concept of philanthropy?

Goodness.

Anyway.

Question.

Matt.

Yeah, yeah.

Sorry.

Everybody's not that.

You know, you are with the center for philanthropy at the Foundation.

What I mean, in our region.

Right.

What are we seeing as kind of the growth and trajectory of that?

And are there, you know, I mean, the the Community Foundation has been around for a number of years.

Right?

So the Community Foundation has been around for 53 years.

But the region itself has given we've seen 464 million in regional generosity in the past couple of years.

And the center for philanthropy, our job is to create kind of a culture of philanthropy across our region in order to increase that, increase that number, and make sure that we're giving back to the community in a variety of ways.

It doesn't necessarily just have to be dollars.

Dive a little deeper on the culture of philanthropy.

Tell me about what that means or means to you specifically?

Well, I think it's just a it's a it's truly just about the root of how you give back to your community.

Right.

So Sam's here going to talk a little bit about that as well.

But how do you give back.

So we're talking about youth and how they're getting ingrained in in philanthropy.

We're talking about people giving back with time, treasure, talent but also through collaboration and connections, all that you can bring to the table in terms of philanthropy itself.

So that's the culture of philanthropy.

There's there's three sides to this equation, right.

So you've got the, you know, the professional fundraiser.

You've got the organization that's the beneficiary, but you also have the donor.

That's correct.

And this is an event that celebrates all three legs of that stool.

This year's awardees, corporate philanthropist Toledo Refining Company.

There's a long history of individuals that have led that.

Olivia Summons, who serves on the board here at GTC, was the first that I had interacted with years ago leading that.

And there's been a number of they're now doing incredible work, outstanding fundraising, professional Mary Saban, outstanding philanthropist Pat Apple, and of course, the outstanding foundation, the Trumpeter Family Foundation.

Sam, congratulations.

What does this award, this honor mean to you and the family?

And why is it important to give back?

It's honestly an honor and a privilege to work with these nonprofits in Toledo and northwest Ohio.

And I've just met so many amazing people.

This award just means that, you know, we've helped these individuals and organizations make a meaningful impact and hopefully come closer to reaching their mission.

You know, there would be nothing wrong at all with keeping the money you earned, right?

Yeah, but talk to me a little bit about your family dynamic or philosophy about giving.

Why?

My parents have always been philanthropic.

Like, I remember from a young age, just even watching them give a homeless person $20 on the street.

And just like those being a part of my core memories as a child, or which I have to preface this with, my dad never did this with us in the car, but he would pick up hitchhikers and drive them to wherever they needed to go.

And there was one time he drove a gentleman all the way to Detroit airport and paid for his plane ticket.

So just even.

People were always driving me someplace else there.

I didn't realize that that was philanthropic.

There's a lot of tickets that people are.

All doing learning today.

I should have thanked them, but that does that.

You don't always make that connection as a young person.

Maybe you did, but was there sort of an moment when you're like, wait a minute.

There is something greater here?

Or is it so put into your molecules that you don't know any different?

I think a little bit of both.

When my dad first presented the foundation to us, I honestly had to go home and Google what is the family foundation.

And then it kind of all aligned and made sense of his goals and why he wanted us to be involved as well.

Yeah.

As people who excuse relatively different chairs here, the Toledo, the Greater Community Foundation is sort of the organizer of giving.

If you'll excuse that butchering of it.

And you are someone who makes purpose of people's wishes to some degree.

Right.

I guess my question to the two of you is, I guess, the challenge of said occupational path, right?

You are occasionally, you know, I'm sure feel awkward to be asking people for money, right?

But what keeps you at it?

What gives you the energy to execute this relatively uncomfortable social dynamic of asking for money?

Right.

Everyone talks about that being a nightmare or taboo.

It is uncomfortable to talk about it.

Why have the two of you been able to do it and what keeps you at it?

I honestly don't think it's that awkward to talk about money.

Sure.

And the reason being, and I know a lot of people feel that it is awkward because it's just always been a cultural kind of.

That's right.

Yeah.

Uncomfortable situation.

However, we're honestly talking.

To them about opportunities to promote and to create a better community for themselves, for their families, for the ones that they love.

That's right.

So it's not really talking about money.

It's about, okay, what are your goals?

What what do you see?

What's the vision of Toledo for you or the region for you?

Where do you want.

To help?

And then how do we get you there and how do we help support that?

So it's not really about money.

It's really more about goals.

That's well said.

Bill, you've been a part of what I believe to be two great organizations, and you have a family legacy to one.

And you were starting out your own legacy and another.

And we're lucky to have you at the risk of feeling comfortable.

Metroparks is a great institution.

You know, I both love it.

And we are thrilled to have you aboard.

But the same question sort of to you.

I think that was a beautiful answer.

Certainly.

And we are friends of a reason to pretend like we're not.

So I know that you're speaking the truth, but I do ask you the same question.

It's a relatively small town, right?

And you could comparatively say that we have less or lessening resources.

So theoretically, that would make your job more difficult.

So what keeps you at it?

Well, I think if if you're doing your job well in this profession, first and foremost you are representing your heart.

So it should feel natural.

Yeah.

If you believe in something passionately, you shouldn't have to dial in six degrees to amp yourself up to talk about it.

It should be woven into what you do every day.

Why you wake up.

And secondly, while yes, matters of coin and in discussing the actual gift at hand is important.

I think every good fundraiser needs to not be afraid to have those conversations, but 90 plus percent of what you do with a donor has nothing to do with that has everything to do with understanding their family, their their passions, getting excited with them.

And I think to your point, Matt, both of the the institutions that I've had the privilege to represent, some of the best days at work are when you can feed off of the positive energy with the donors in the room, and then also see the cause in action.

To your point.

Right.

My first day with Metroparks, I got to see everything.

A park should be.

Every walk of life walking in that park, getting to experience it.

And it was that fuel that that I think every fundraiser hopes to have in their line of work.

Same.

I'm interested.

They talk about, you know, legacy about, you know, goals for the community as it relates to the family foundation.

What is that?

What is that vision of the future?

What do you hope the legacy of this organization and your family is in this region?

We've always had a big focus on youth and education and obviously, you know, not to be cheesy, but the children are our future.

So I think setting up a world that we want our kids to thrive in and knowing that we've made, we've left behind better than when we started.

And you have daughter.

I have a stepdaughter.

Yeah.

What would you like in a dream scenario?

What would you like to leave behind for her community?

A solid community where she feels like she belongs and has resources.

Yeah, absolutely.

Billy, talk to me about, And Kirsten.

Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Community Foundation, the partnership to bring this event together.

Why?

Why does that.

Why does that marriage work?

So Billy has a great joke, Billy.

You know.

The jokes.

Well, I know.

Not upstaging that, but, you know, you have a really great party, a really great event, and one of your attendees goes home and they say, I'm going to do it better.

A month later, I'm going to do it bigger, better, and, you know, invite more people.

And without that spirit, we found that that was happening here in Toledo.

The Community Foundation had a staple event in October at breakfast to recognize some of their key foundations and some great work being done in town.

And as as those of us in the, in the industry, we found we were sending invitations to that.

And then a month later, the Association of Fundraising Professionals had their event.

So we sat down as a team and said, how can this be one big event?

How does that look?

Can it deepen the audience for us?

So, it's just been our third year in partnership with the Foundation.

That's a good tip for, I think, my next question.

Everyone uses the word strategy, right?

Even when it's apparent that there is a vacuum or delta of strategy.

But I think the two of you in your institutions or way of thinking absolutely embody working together in collaboration and strategy.

Right?

We built the city once, and these are my words, not yours.

But I do feel like we're trying to rebuild it again and wait for it is from the river back out again.

So talk to me about the strength of collaboration.

And I don't care how you think it sounds, I wanted to hear it from your mouths.

Why is it made better?

Because no one is coming to save us, right?

It is our turn to save ourselves and think to Sam and or family's leadership.

They want to stand shoulder to shoulder with us.

So talk to me a little bit about that thinking.

So we talk a lot.

About collaboration and we preach collaboration.

We need collaboration in the community.

And what better way to do that than by leading by example and showing it through collaboration.

And this event is one of those examples.

And some of the awards that were recognizing some of the organizations are collaborative efforts to and the collaboration are.

The issues that were tackling in Toledo are large and, you know, they need a variety of folks on there, a variety of organizations coming at it from from different directions.

We need different thinking involved.

One organization isn't going to solve that.

So that's why collaboration is so very important.

I agree, I think something Toledo, to your point, Matt, as we re-envision this city and rebuild this city in a different way.

Something we're doing better at is there's so many great organizations doing great work.

And we're on the same team.

Doesn't matter who scores that goal.

We are all on the same team.

We should all be cheering evenly for the person scoring the goal when it's their turn.

Awesome.

It'll be your turn next time.

We'll all work together to get that to happen.

And I think seeing that change occur in people's mindsets, we're not competing against each other to make this region better.

And you see that come alive in all of these award winners this year.

They're all collaborative.

When is National Philanthropy Day and where can people find more information?

It is in early November.

It's actually this Friday, November 6th.

Right.

And you can find that at a global.org.

Awesome.

Billy.

Kirsten, Sam, thank you so much for joining us.

Congratulations.

A well-deserved honor had the privilege of working with the Family Foundation, supporting a number of events here in the region, and you're absolutely making a difference.

So thank you.

We'll take a break when we come back.

We'll wrap up this Thursday edition of the 419.

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Welcome back into the 419.

We brought Gretchen back and kicked Matt off the set.

It was just too many Metroparks vets.

Many.

It was too many.

We'll see.

We'll see if it comes back tomorrow.

Incredible things happening this weekend.

Of course.

Tomorrow, National Philanthropy Day.

This weekend is also the Sustainability summit at the Sisters of Saint Francis of Slovenia.

But we've got five big events as well from our friends@silver.

We also have the Unruly Events event on November 5th.

We just talked to Joan and Lori about that, but, fast paced.

The heartwarming gala to benefit Ronald McDonald House is Friday Night Romance Con at the main library, where we will be 9 to 4 Saturday, November 7th.

The Toledo Walleye opening night block parties should be a very fun.

It's going to be a good weather weekend.

Saturday, November 7th and the Toledo Jazz Orchestra at the Valentine Theater, a big band, trumpet performance.

And then finally the sixth annual Black Gala is going to happen at the Renaissance Toledo, also on Saturday night.

So lots going on in downtown Toledo.

You can find all five of those on social media.

Follow the 419.

Thanks to our incredible guests for being on the program, on the Sisters of Saint Francis of Slovenia and the folks from National Philanthropy Day, Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the Greater Community Foundation.

So many things.

And thanks to you for joining us as well.

If you missed any part of the show.

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