Best Central Florida Foundation Podcasts (2025)

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17. Navigating Generosity: Donor-Advised Funds 34:02

7d ago34:02

34:02

Send us a text On this episode of Navigating Generosity, dive into a popular charitable giving tool: the donor-advised fund (DAF). With this broad overview, you'll learn the differences between a DAF and a private foundation, understand what a DAF can and cannot do, and why a DAF might make sense for a client. You'll walk away from this episode fee…

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Episode 186 - Joe & Kip: Trade Jobs Matter Foundation 43:26

16d ago43:26

43:26

On today's episode, we speak with Joe Garrison, Founder of Trade Jobs Matter Foundation and current board member, Kip Kirchberg. Joe and Kip tell us about the Trade Job Matters Foundation, how they plan to partner with the community to fill the gap in trade jobs and the importance of parents, teachers and local businesses getting involved.…

1
16. Conserving Wild Florida 57:57

2M ago57:57

57:57

Send us a text Conservation is a word we all grew up knowing, but what does it really mean and how does it relate to other big topics we've discussed on the podcast? Lean into a conversation that covers an array of conservation issues and projects, from Eastern Indigo snakes and land acquisition to Florida's aquifer and efforts to create a Florida …

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Episode 185 - Susan Eldridge: Meals on Wheels of Polk County 24:17

2M ago24:17

24:17

On today's episode, we speak with Susan Eldridge, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels of Polk County. Susan shares how Meals on Wheels got its start, how to get involved and more. This week's Chamber Chats includes a recap of our ribbon cuttings, the upcoming Golf Tournament, the importance of our Chamber Member Survey and more!…

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Episode 184 - Bobby Williams: The Freedom Tour 1:04:16

2M ago1:04:16

1:04:16

On today's episode, we speak to Bobby Williams, President of the Freedom Tour. Bobby shares the incredible impact The Freedom Tour is making on Polk County and beyond, the partnerships he's created and much more.

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Episode 183 - Andy Blair: Refuge on the Ridge 46:02

2M ago46:02

46:02

On today's episode, we speak to the Executive Director of Refuge on the Ridge, Andy Blair. Andy shares how Refuge on the Ridge came to be, the impact they are making on the men in their program, how the community can get involved and much more. And you can't forget about Chamber Chats! Some of the highlights include ribbon cuttings, upcoming events…

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Episode 182 - Heather Riner: The Women's Resource Center 35:33

2M ago35:33

35:33

On this week's episode, we speak to Heather Riner, Executive Director of the Women's Resource Center. Heather shares some success stories from WRC, how they support more than just women, their impactful programming and much more. And don't miss Chamber Chats! We go over Taste of Winter Haven, CommunityFest, Leadership Winter Haven's Tallahassee tri…

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Navigating Generosity: The Bread and Butter of Planned Giving 27:54

3M ago27:54

27:54

Send us a text Welcome to a new First You Talk Series: Navigating Generosity! Navigating Generosity is designed for professional advisors and anyone who wants to be better informed when discussing charitable giving with their advisors. Our hosts include Chartered Advisors in Philanthropy® and other professionals in this field, including wealth and …

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Episode 181: Chamber Chat 14:05

4M ago14:05

14:05

Check out the first Chamber Chats of 2025! We talk about all of the celebrations we've already had in 2025 and all of the events coming down the pipeline.

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The S of PSAFg and 100 Women Strong Grant Announcement 23:26

5M ago23:26

23:26

Send us a text It's the new craze: PSAFg, right?! We're (sort of) kidding on it being the hot new acronym, but there's no denying the importance of what these letters mean. Piloting, scaling, accelerating and filling gaps is a crucial part of our grantmaking strategy at Central Florida Foundation. In this episode, Sandi Vidal and Laurie Crocker dis…

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Episode 180 - Chrissy Doughlin: PACE Center for Girls 34:38

5M ago34:38

34:38

On today's episode, we speak with Chrissy Doughlin, Reach Program Manager for PACE Center for Girls. Chrissy shares about PACE Center for Girls' Reach Program and Day Program, as well as the services they provide for Polk County and beyond.

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Episode 179 - Elle & Nikki: The Junior League of Greater Winter Haven 38:05

5M ago38:05

38:05

On today's episode, we speak with Elle Carter, the 2024-2024 President of the Junior League of Winter Haven and Nikki Sterling who is oversees Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for the JLGW. Elle and Nikki share about the Junior League's purpose, current initiatives and all the events and programming that you can plug into to support thei…

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Episode 178: Chamber Chats 11:44

6M ago11:44

11:44

On today's episode, It's Happenin' In the Haven podcast host, Brianna Price, gives us the rundown on member updates, as well as reminders on #shoppingsmall for the holidays!

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13. End-of-Year Giving Strategies with a Professional Advisor 53:27

6M ago53:27

53:27

Send us a text Join us on this episode focusing on end-of-year giving strategies! Nicole Donelson and special guest David Torre, Director of Wealth Planning at Seacoast Wealth Management, dive into the world of end-of-year giving as David shares his extensive experience in wealth planning, estate management, and charitable giving. Discover the nuan…

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Episode 177 - David Berry: The Mission of Winter Haven 43:46

6M ago43:46

43:46

On today's episode, I speak with David Berry, the Executive Director of The Mission of Winter Haven. David shares about The Mission's expansion, future plans, how you can get more involved and more. Chamber Chats: Tiffani Gozdur Named New Trust & Wealth Advisor at Citizens Bank & Trust City of Winter Haven's New Fire Chief Polk State College - Hain…

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Episode 176 - Ann Claussen: Health Care with a Heart 28:00

6M ago28:00

28:00

On today's episode, we speak to Ann Claussen, CEO of Central Florida Health Care. Ann shares about the mission of Central Florida Health Care, their expansion and much more.

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12. Increasing your impact on Giving Tuesday 34:18

6M ago34:18

34:18

Send us a text Join Central Florida Foundation's Laurie and Sandi as they talk about a variety of ways to increase your impact of Giving Tuesday! In this episode, you'll learn about: Sandi's role with the Foundation The Thrive Framework 3 Ways to increase your impact on Giving Tuesday and get a refresher on the Giving Map. (Watch a quick video on i…

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11. After Aging Out: Ryan Hatcher 27:09

7M ago27:09

27:09

Send us a text Aligning with Episode 10. Understanding the Foster Care System, this episode explores the perspective of the child who goes through "the system." Ryan Hatcher, a graduate student at the University of Central Florida, sits down with Laurie to share his foster care story, which began as an infant and is still evolving today. We were ab…

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10. Understanding the Foster Care System: Lead Agencies, Aging Out and a History Lesson 42:38

7M ago42:38

42:38

Send us a text The Foster Care System is complex and nuanced, loaded with stories of terrible struggle and unsung heroes. This episode aims to unpack the system as a whole, starting from the national stage and slowly zooming into Central Florida. Learn about our state’s lead agency system, take a deep dive into what it means to “age out” of the sys…

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9. Bonus Episode: The New Law, Potential Consequences, and the NIMBY Mindset 9:45

7M ago9:45

9:45

Send us a text Jump into a bonus episode that aligns with Episode 7: Why is solving homelessness so hard? Part Two. Hear more from Mark and Sandi's conversation on HB 1365 and the Not in My Backyard (NIMBY) mentality, then move over to an extended version of our conversation with Martha Are, CEO of Homeless Services Network of Central Florida and t…

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8. Happy birthday, First You Talk! 28:50

8M ago28:50

28:50

Send us a text First You Talk turns one, and Laurie and Nicole from Central Florida Foundation take a walk down memory lane. How and why did the podcast come to fruition and where is it going? What were the other names and approaches considered? Sit down with Team CFF for a half hour of exploring the power of conversation - and all the laughs we ha…

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7. How is solving homelessness so hard? Part 2 49:10

8M ago49:10

49:10

Send us a text Why are we talking about homelessness again? It's simple. The conversation isn't over. With our homeless population seemingly on the rise and a new law in Florida, there's lots to unpack and untangle. If you haven't listened to Episode 1 yet (Part 1 of this conversation) we strongly recommend you do! Episode 1 provides a great overvi…

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30th Anniversary Episode: 30 Questions with our President and CEO, Mark Brewer 40:10

10M ago40:10

40:10

Send us a text Get to know Central Florida Foundation's President/CEO, Mark Brewer, better and hear him weigh in on topics such as career highs and lows, book recommendations, pop culture references (yes, we go there!), and more. Visit the First You Talk website. Visit the First You Talk Podcast on Instagram. Visit Central Florida Foundation's Inst…

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Episode 175: Big Brothers Big Sisters 25:56

10M ago25:56

25:56

On today's episode, we speak to Sarah McCarty, Polk Partnership Manager & Big Sister at Big Brothers Big Sisters Tampa Bay. Sarah shares what it takes to be a "Big," the impact that this program has on "littles," the need for "Bigs" and much more.

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Episode 174: Chamber Chats 20:23

10M ago20:23

20:23

On today's episode, our host shares an update on all things Winter Haven Chamber! Listen in to hear all about the Chamber team, a WhistleStop recap, upcoming events and more.

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Bonus Episode: Fear of Failure and Gen Z Giving 9:24

11M ago9:24

9:24

Send us a text In this bonus episode that aligns with Episode 6: Are you a philanthropist? Nicole Donelson and Mark Brewer continue their conversation. You'll also hear from a mini community member, Laurie's son, Liam. Visit the First You Talk website. Visit the First You Talk Podcast on Instagram. Visit Central Florida Foundation's Instagram. As o…

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Episode 173: GiveWell Community Foundation 31:30

11M ago31:30

31:30

On today's episode, we speak to Callie Neslund, President & CEO of the GiveWell Community Foundation. Callie shares about the giving opportunities at GiveWell, the United Community Needs Assessment and much more.

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Episode 172: Heartland for Children 44:25

11M ago44:25

44:25

On today's episode, we speak with Kim Daugherty, Chief Executive Officer of Heartland for Children. Kim shares about the services that Heartland for Children offers, the need for foster families, Rudolph Roundup and much more.

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Episode 171: Building More than Homes 52:27

12M ago52:27

52:27

On today's episode, we speak to Mark Ferreria, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of East Polk County. Marks shares how Habitat for Humanity began, how our community can support their efforts and more.

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#6: Are you a philanthropist? 46:23

12M ago46:23

46:23

Send us a text What makes someone a philanthropist? We dive into this topic, breaking down obstacles, misconceptions, trends and more. Learn about the giving continuum, the giving circle model, and how perceptions have evolved over time. Hear from: Mark Brewer | President/CEO, Central Florida Foundation Nicole Donelson | VP of Philanthropic Strateg…

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Episode 170: Achievement Academy - Polk County's Best Kept Secret 1:05:34

12M ago1:05:34

1:05:34

On today’s episode, we speak to Kristin Aiken, President & CEO of the Achievement Academy. Kristin shares about the programming offered at the Achievement Academy, some inspiring success stories and much more.

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Episode 169 - Madalyn Vida: Keeping Young Professionals in Polk County 32:36

12M ago32:36

32:36

On today’s episode, we speak to Madalyn Vida, our Winter Haven Concierge at the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce. Madalyn shares about her time with Polk Vision working on their Youth Leadership Program, her time at Harrison School for the Arts, why she plans on staying in Polk County and more.

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Episode 168 - Brian Reeves: From the Big Apple to Small Town 35:24

1y ago35:24

35:24

On today's episode, we speak to Brian Reeves with Watson Realty Corp. and who is currently serving at our Chamber Board Chair. Brian shares how he came to Winter Haven from New York, the experience he has had with our collaborative community and more.

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Episode 167 - Sam Killebrew's Podcast Debut 1:09:10

1y ago1:09:10

1:09:10

On today's episode, we speak to Representative Sam Killebrew. Sam Killebrew shares about his time as a state representative, Mission of Mercy, his work in Tallahassee for our furry friends and much more. Chamber Chats: -City of WH team -Adlers -Golf Committee -Country Club of Winter Haven -Whitehead Construction -Pathway Counseling -Veterinary Heal…

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#5: What do we want out of our educational system? 45:16

1y ago45:16

45:16

Send us a text Troubleshooting issues within our educational system feels overwhelming. A spotlight is often on crisis points, such as kindergarten readiness, third grade reading scores, and graduation rates; but, what if we zoomed out and flew over the entire system at 30,000 feet? What if we thought about the big picture, and determined what exac…

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Episode 166 - All Things Main Street Winter Haven 52:16

1y ago52:16

52:16

On this episode, we speak with the Executive Director of Main Street Winter Haven, Anita Strang, as well as Meghan Mackie, their Membership & Marketing Director. Anita and Meghan share about new and upcoming events for the year, Monster Month kicking off in the summer, CityWorks Xpo and much more. Chamber Chats Member Highlights: Mediterranean Fres…

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Episode 165 - David Price & Erica Smith: The Whimsical Bok Tower Gardens 51:16

1y ago51:16

51:16

On this episode, David & Erica share the scoop on new events coming to the gardens, what you can expect from a visit and what makes Bok Tower Gardens a special place to make timeless memories with family.

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Episode 164 - Altoniece Reynolds - Peppa Pig Theme Park: Fun for the Entire Family 37:26

1y ago37:26

37:26

On Episode 164, we speak to the Head of Guest Experiences for LEGOLAND Florida Resort and Peppa Pig Theme Park, Altoniece Reynolds. Altoniece shares all about the Peppa Pig experience, new things coming to LEGOLAND and why it's so special to be the location of the first-ever Peppa Pig Theme Park.

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#4: Is innovation an ingredient we need for a better Central Florida? 30:30

1y ago30:30

30:30

Send us a text We hear this buzzword a lot: innovation. But what does it mean and is it a part of our community? Furthermore, is innovation a must-have in order to improve our region? Episode 4 digs into all of these questions with some of the best and the brightest in this space - and helps us to unpack this amorphous term and use it in a more mea…

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Episode 163 - Briann Hemp: Putting Community in Community Theatre 26:31

1y ago26:31

26:31

On today's episode, we speak to the Box Office Manager of Theatre Winter Haven, Briann Hemp. Briann shares more about upcoming shows at the theatre, how the entire family can get involved and how they put community in community theatre.

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Episode 162 - Julie Adams: Green Spaces & Playful Places 46:03

1y ago46:03

46:03

On this episode of the podcast, we speak to the Director of Parks, Recreation & Culture for the City of Winter Haven. Julie shares more about the new things coming for Parks, Recreation & Culture, the importance of our trail town designation and much more.

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Episode 161 - Michael Ducat: The Incredibowl Experience 32:06

1+ y ago32:06

32:06

On Episode 161, we speak to Michael Ducat, Owner of Incredibowl. Michael shares the story of the transition from Cypress Lanes to Incredibowl, the many offerings they have for families and much more.

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Episode 160 - Dr. Rich - From Canvas to Community: Inside the Polk Museum of Art 49:33

1+ y ago49:33

49:33

On Episode 160, we speak to Dr. Rich, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College. Dr. Rich shares about the amazing resources offered at the museum, the perks of becoming a member, and why it's a perfect destination for the entire family.

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Episode 159 - Frank Idris: What's New at LEGOLAND Florida Resort? 32:29

1+ y ago32:29

32:29

On Episode 159, we speak to the President of LEGOLAND Florida Resort, Frank Idris. Frank shares the scoop on SEA LIFE, coming to LEGOLAND, as well as Ferrari Build & Race. He also shares why LEGOLAND is the perfect destination for families.

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Episode 158: 10 Years of CommunityFest Winter Haven 19:43

1+ y ago19:43

19:43

On Episode 158, we are taking a deep dive into CommunityFest! We are thrilled to be celebrating 10 years of this FREE family festival. March 2nd will be here before we know it, so we want to make sure you have all of the information you need to sponsor, become a vendor or volunteer! We would like to thank LEGOLAND Florida Resort for being the Prese…

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Episode 157 - Gene Conrad: Polk County's Aviation Industry Takes Flight 53:14

1+ y ago53:14

53:14

On Episode 157, we speak to Gene Conrad, President & CEO of the Aerospace Center for Excellence. Gene shares about the incredible programming ACE offers, the details of the 50th fly-in at Sun 'n Fun coming this April and the economic impact of the aviation industry in Polk County.

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Episode 156 - Kerry Falwell: Fostering Fun & Family at the Florida Children's Museum 56:12

1+ y ago56:12

56:12

On Episode 156, Fostering Fun & Family at the Florida Children's Museum, we speak to Kerry Falwell, the CEO of the Florida Children's Museum. Kerry shares about the transition to Bonnet Springs Park, the importance of playful learning and why this is such an asset to the families in Polk County.

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Episode 155: Year in Review & 2024 Kick Off 40:01

1+ y ago40:01

40:01

On Episode 155, the Chamber team gets together to talk about the highlights of 2023, all of the amazing things coming in 2024 and a wink towards Season 8 of the podcast which is all about Winter Haven being a premier family destination.

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Bonus Episode: Creating a Reliable Mental Health Workforce 5:40

1+ y ago5:40

5:40

Send us a text This is a deeper-dive bonus episode that aligns with Episode 3: Why should we care about our community's mental health? Hear Mark and Sandi talk about strategies on creating a reliable and sustainable mental health workforce. Visit the First You Talk website. Visit the First You Talk Podcast on Instagram. Visit Central Florida Founda…

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#3: Why should we care about our community's mental health? 31:27

1+ y ago31:27

31:27

Send us a text In today's day and age, caring about your mental health has been woven into our daily conversations; but, what about our community's mental health? What does it mean to care about our region's mental health at large? In this episode, we dive into this topic with subject-matter experts that bring thought-provoking perspectives to the …

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Central Florida Foundation Podcasts

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