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What does it take to build something that lasts 30 years?

In this episode, I sit down with Donald Kendrick, founder and artistic force behind the Sacramento Choral Society, to reflect on three decades of music, leadership, and cultural impact in our region.

Founded in 1996, the Sacramento Choral Society has presented more than 180 performances, toured internationally, recorded professionally mastered albums, and — in a model almost unheard of nationally — built a chorus that owns and sustains its own professional symphony orchestra.

Let that sink in.

In most cities, orchestras run the chorus. In Sacramento, it’s the other way around.

This conversation is about far more than music. It’s about passion. Volunteerism. Culture. Succession. And what it means to build something that belongs to a community.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🎶 How a volunteer chorus became a nationally recognized cultural force
🎶 Why the Sacramento Choral Society owns its professional union orchestra
🎶 International tours — from Carnegie Hall to China
🎶 Raising over $3 million to sustain world-class performances
🎶 The culture of love and passion that defines the organization
🎶 What succession planning looks like after 30 years of visionary leadership
🎶 What the next conductor must bring to carry the legacy forward

A Unique Model of Excellence

Under Donald Kendrick and Executive Director James McCormick, the organization has:

• Presented 180+ classical performances
• Performed in Carnegie Hall multiple times
• Toured Germany, France, Slovenia, China, Canada, and more
• Built a $550,000 annual operating budget
• Created a growing endowment through the Sacramento Region Community Foundation
• Engaged hundreds of volunteers and nearly 900 alumni

And perhaps most importantly — they’ve created a culture.

A culture of music.
A culture of healing.
A culture driven not by obligation, but by love.

Why This Moment Matters

As the organization approaches its 30th anniversary, it is also entering a thoughtful succession planning process.

For the first time, the question is being asked:
What happens when the founders step away?

This episode is both a celebration and a call to awareness.

The Sacramento Choral Society is a cultural gem — one that deserves long-term sustainability and visionary leadership for the next generation.

Learn More

Visit: https://sacramentochoral.org

Chapter Summaries

00:00 Welcome & 30-Year Milestone
03:00 What Makes the Choral Society Unique
07:45 Owning a Professional Symphony Orchestra
13:30 International Tours & Carnegie Hall
19:00 Community Collaborations
24:00 Funding & Sustainability
29:00 Succession Planning & The Future
33:30 The Next Conductor’s Vision
39:00 Passion, Purpose & Personal Renewal
44:00 Protecting the Legacy

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

In this update episode, I welcome Debbie Gabelich back to the Nonprofit Podcast Network, the third time for the organization — and a lot has changed since our last conversation in early 2024.

Kids First has always been known as a trusted place for families in crisis, but Debbie explains how the need has deepened: cases are more complex, trauma is more severe, and stability can hinge on something as small as a dead car battery or a missed paycheck.

What makes Kids First different is simple — they don’t just hand out a list of resources. They walk with families, step by step, through housing insecurity, food insecurity, insurance enrollment, transportation barriers, parenting education, job readiness, and counseling support. We also talk about their frontline work supporting youth impacted by trafficking — and a bold vision for the future: a new crisis center model planned with a goal to open by 2028, serving youth up to age 25.

We cover:

• Why Kids First is more than a “resource center” — and what “walk with families” really looks like
• The shift from mild/moderate cases to high trauma realities
• How schools, hospitals, and community partners drive referrals (and why word-of-mouth still matters)
• Why families often stay engaged 4–7 months now (not 12 weeks)
• The “system” problem for ages 10–17 (and even up to 25): hospital or juvenile hall can become the default
• How Medi-Cal/CalAIM and enhanced case management changed sustainability
• A vision for a crisis center + transitional housing that keeps young people out of the system

To learn more about Kids First or for help:

• Website: www.kidsfirstnow.org
• Phone: (916) 774-6802
  You can also find their monthly newsletter, programs, classes, and counseling information on the website.

If you believe families shouldn’t have to face crisis alone — please share this episode, and consider supporting Kids First through donations, partnership, or volunteering. Prevention is hard to fund… and it’s exactly what changes outcomes.

Chapter Summary

00:00 – Welcome Back to Kids First
Kids First returns for their third appearance to share what’s changed since 2024 and why the work has become more urgent.

04:45 – Walking With Families, Not Handing Out Lists
How Kids First supports families through housing, food, insurance, transportation, and stability — step by step.

12:30 – Deeper Trauma, Youth Trafficking, and the Teen Gap
Why cases are more complex, how Kids First works with trafficked youth, and where systems fail teens.

22:10 – A Full-Circle Success Story
From Kids First client to Miss Placer County — a powerful example of long-term impact.

30:15 – Funding Shifts and Sustaining the Work
The move from contract-heavy funding to CalAIM, Medi-Cal billing, and diversified support.

40:05 –

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

Family businesses sit at the heart of our economy — and at the heart of our families. In this episode, I’m joined by Maggie Bender and Justin Horner from the Capital Region Family Business Center for a thoughtful, honest conversation about what it really takes to sustain a family enterprise across generations.

This episode is especially meaningful because it marks a leadership transition. After four years as president, Maggie Bender is stepping down, and Justin Horner is stepping into the role. Together, they share how intentional succession, transparency, and trust can strengthen not only an organization — but the families it serves.

We talk about the realities family business owners face every day: navigating family dynamics, planning for succession, managing governance, preparing for the unexpected, and balancing long-term legacy with present-day decision-making. Business doesn’t stay at the office in a family enterprise — it follows you to the dinner table, holidays, and sometimes across decades.

Maggie also shares her personal journey growing up inside a family business, the isolation many next-generation leaders feel, and how the Family Business Center became a place of connection, mentorship, and belonging. Justin offers insight into why engagement, education, and peer trust are the organization’s greatest strengths — and what’s ahead under new leadership.

We also explore the impact of the Center’s signature Generations Conference, where multiple generations of the same family come together to learn, have hard conversations, and walk away with practical tools they can apply immediately.

If you’re part of a family business, serve family-owned companies, or simply want to understand how legacy organizations endure and evolve, this conversation offers perspective, wisdom, and real-world insight.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Why family businesses face unique leadership and governance challenges
• The importance of planned, intentional leadership transitions
• How peer networks reduce isolation for family business leaders
• Succession planning beyond titles — values, trust, and communication
• What makes the Generations Conference such a powerful catalyst for change
• Why family businesses are a cornerstone of regional economic stability

To learn more about the Capital Region Family Business Center, visit:
👉 capfamilybus.org

Chapter Summaries

00:00 – Family business dynamics and why they matter
02:00 – What the Capital Region Family Business Center does
06:30 – A thoughtful leadership transition: past to present
11:30 – The real challenges of multi-generational businesses
18:30 – The Generations Conference and shared learning
39:30 – What’s next for the Family Business Center

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

✈️ How Dreams Take Flight: 2026 Private Pilot Scholarships

For many young people, the dream of flight feels just out of reach — admired from the ground, but difficult to access. In this Nonprofit Newspod, I sat down with Tom Jones, President & CEO of the Aerospace Museum of California, to share a powerful, time-sensitive opportunity that can turn that dream into reality.

The Aerospace Museum is now accepting applications for its 2026 Private Pilot License (PPL) Scholarships, awarding three $12,500 scholarships to highly motivated students ages 16–22 who are committed to pursuing a future in aviation. With the deadline just weeks away — February 14 (Valentine’s Day) — this is a moment students and families should not miss.

What makes this program truly unique is that it’s far more than a financial award. The scholarship is built as a structured pilot pipeline, supported by a hands-on committee of experienced pilots, aviation professionals, and air traffic controllers who not only select recipients — they mentor them through the process. The goal is simple and ambitious: help students complete their private pilot training within one year, with many finishing in as little as nine months.

Tom shared inspiring success stories, including a former scholarship recipient who progressed from earning her private pilot license to achieving her instrument rating and commercial pilot license — and now flies professionally. The program emphasizes motivation, discipline, and follow-through, with added consideration given to applicants already engaged in aviation through programs like Civil Air Patrol, EAA chapters, Sea Cadets, flight schools, or prior FAA testing.

Scholarship recipients also commit to volunteering at the Aerospace Museum, often in the Flight Zone, where advanced simulators provide hands-on experience — including the ability to log flight time toward future certifications.

One important takeaway: persistence matters. Students who apply multiple times and continue building their aviation experience are viewed favorably by the scholarship committee. Dedication, growth, and resilience count.

Applications close February 14, and full details — including eligibility requirements and the application portal — can be found at
aerospaceca.org/ppl-scholarship

This is how dreams take flight — literally.

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

In this episode, I meet with Jessica Alonso, Executive Director of Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance, to share the full story behind an organization committed to one promise: no family should face childhood cancer alone.

Jessica’s journey began more than a decade ago as a bilingual family navigator and has grown into a deeply personal mission shaped by faith, service, and lived experience. Together, we talk about how Keaton’s supports children and families from diagnosis through treatment, survivorship, and beyond — and why the demand for these services continues to grow.

We'll cover:

• How Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance was founded in the wake of loss and love
• The Family Navigator program and why it’s the heart of the organization
• Supporting more than 450 families a year across Northern California
• The growing capacity challenge as one child a day is diagnosed
• Community partnerships that help families emotionally, financially, and medically
• Jessica’s own cancer journey and how it deepened her leadership and purpose
• What it would take to expand services so no family is ever turned away

Learn more or get involved:

🌐 https://childcancer.org/
📧 info@childcancer.org

Chapter Summaries

00:00 – Welcome & Episode Focus
I welcome Jessica Alonso, Executive Director of Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance, and introduce a conversation about supporting families through childhood cancer.

02:00 – How Keaton’s Began
Jessica shares the origin of Keaton’s, founded after the loss of four-year-old Keaton Raphael and a promise to help families navigate pediatric cancer.

05:30 – Jessica’s Journey
From bilingual family navigator to executive director, Jessica reflects on 12 years shaped by service, faith, and advocacy.

08:45 – The Family Navigator Program
We explain how trained navigators support families from diagnosis through treatment, survivorship, and loss.

13:30 – Demand & Capacity
One child a day is diagnosed. Jessica discusses rising referrals and the urgent need to grow the navigator team.

17:30 – Partnerships That Matter
We highlight hospital, nonprofit, and community partners that help meet families’ emotional and financial needs.

21:30 – Funding the Work
Jessica outlines Keaton’s primary fundraisers, including the gala, golf tournament, and Gold Hope Walk.

25:45 – Research Support
We discuss how Keaton’s contributes to pediatric cancer research through community-driven fundraising.

29:00 – When the Leader Becomes the Patient
Jessica shares her own cancer journey and how it deepened her empathy and leadership.

33:30 – Vision & How to Help
We close with what growth could look like for Keaton’s and ways to get involved.

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Dawnté Early, CEO of United Way California Capital Region. United Way is one of our region’s longest-serving nonprofits, with more than a century of impact — but what struck me most in this conversation is how intentionally the organization has evolved to meet today’s realities.

We talk about what it really takes to “end poverty,” why education remains the strongest ladder out, and how United Way is stepping beyond traditional grantmaking to provide direct services that stabilize families, support children, and strengthen entire communities.

This conversation spans early childhood literacy, housing stability, guaranteed income for former foster youth, free tax preparation, collaboration, policy change, and the growing pressure facing nonprofits as safety-net funding tightens. It’s thoughtful, data-driven, and deeply human.

What We Cover in This Conversation

• How United Way has evolved from a trusted community funder into a hands-on, direct-service organization
• Why education is central to breaking generational cycles of poverty — starting at birth
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and how monthly books are changing outcomes for families
• Kindergarten readiness, literacy tutoring, and closing opportunity gaps after COVID
• Guaranteed income for former foster youth — and why $500 a month can mean the difference between dropping out and graduating
• Free tax preparation and how tens of millions of dollars are being returned to local families that might have otherwise gone unnoticed
• The role of collaboration, collective impact, and shared infrastructure across nonprofits
• Why poverty is also a policy issue — and how United Way is working upstream
• The financial realities nonprofits face as government support pulls back
• Leadership, sustainability, and what it takes to grow impact without losing mission

Why This Matters

United Way’s work touches every stage of life — from early literacy to college completion to financial stability for working families. This episode offers a clear look at how layered, connected solutions can create real, measurable outcomes, and why collaboration is no longer optional in today’s nonprofit landscape.

If you care about education, housing, economic mobility, or the future of our nonprofit safety net, this is an important conversation.

Learn More

Find programs, volunteer opportunities, free tax prep locations, and upcoming events by visiting your local United Way website. Information on United Way Capital Region and their annual gala can be found in the links below.

Website link: https://www.yourlocalunitedway.org/

Tax preparation link: https://www.yourlocalunitedway.org/our-work/financial-security/free-tax-preparation/

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

Big Day of Giving returns on May 7, 2026, and once again the Sacramento region will come together around generosity, philanthropy, purpose, and community impact.

In this NewsPod, I’m joined by Vasey Coman, Senior Director of Communications at the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, to talk about what’s new for 2026 and why this day matters so deeply to our local nonprofit ecosystem.

We discuss how Big Day of Giving has evolved far beyond a single day of fundraising into a year-round opportunity for nonprofits to build capacity, strengthen relationships, and collaborate across the region. We also explore the lowered minimum donation, how families and young people are being introduced to philanthropy, and why unrestricted dollars remain so critical for nonprofit sustainability.

Whether you’re a nonprofit considering participation or a donor looking to make a meaningful impact, this conversation highlights how one day of collective generosity can fuel year-long change.

To learn more or to register, visit bigdayofgiving.org.

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...

Imagine a 13-year-old student—overweight for her age, already pre-diabetic—who has grown up surrounded by food but never truly learned how to use it. Vegetables feel unfamiliar. Cooking feels out of reach. Then she joins a food literacy program at school. She discovers there are fruits and vegetables she actually enjoys. She learns how to prepare them. Over time, her eating habits change, her health improves, and eventually, medication is no longer part of her daily life. Her family follows her lead—because food literacy doesn’t stop in the classroom.

With food literacy, stories like this aren’t hypothetical. They’re happening.

In this episode, I speak with Amber Stott, Founder and CEO—and proudly titled Chief Food Genius—of the Food Literacy Center. We talk about childhood obesity, food insecurity, and why teaching kids how to cook may be one of the most effective long-term health interventions we have.

Why This Matters

• Nearly 40% of children in the Sacramento region are considered obese, many while also experiencing food insecurity
• Cheap, calorie-dense food and a lack of basic food education are driving diet-related diseases at younger and younger ages
• Once unhealthy habits are formed, they’re hard to undo—but kids don’t have habits yet, we can make a difference with the right programs

Food Literacy Center focuses on prevention, not correction—building healthy behaviors early, when they’re most likely to stick.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Why hunger and obesity often exist side by side
• How hands-on cooking changes kids’ attitudes toward food
• Why 94% of students in the program try new fruits and vegetables
• How behavior change happens at school—and carries home
• What it takes to scale impact without losing quality
• Why adults consistently underestimate what kids are willing to try

By the Numbers

• 40% – Childhood obesity rate in the Sacramento region
• 94% – Students who try new fruits or vegetables in the program
• 75% – Students who ask for those foods at home
• 23 schools – Current reach, with plans to double by 2027
• $160 per child – Cost of prevention versus far higher long-term health costs

Who This Episode Is For

• Nonprofit leaders focused on prevention and early intervention
• Educators and school administrators
• Funders interested in scalable, evidence-based programs
• Anyone concerned about childhood health, food access, and equity

Find out more about the Food Literacy Center by visiting their website: FoodLiteracyCenter.org

Episode Chapters

00:00 Why Food Literacy Started
05:20 Childhood Obesity & Food Insecurity
10:45 Why Schools Change Habits
17:30 Kids Try New Foods (94%)
25:15 Getting Food Home t

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.