show episodes
 
Welcome to Tending the Roots: Composting Conversations, an exploratory podcast with the co-dreamers and friends of the Rooted Global Village, in conversation with change-makers, scholar-activists and teachers, dedicated to culture change work and seeding future(s). We evoke in these conversations the powerful metaphor of composting. Composting is a process of transformation, wherein organic materials, once alive, break down and decay, eventually becoming rich, nourishing soil. We seek to ide ...
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Fun In Fundraising is a podcast that gives you behind the scenes access to those behind top fundraising galas and cocktail parties. These events raise large sums of money through producing fun, memorable experiences that have guests and attendees coming back year after year. Each episode, host Rob Giardinelli talks with top gala and non-profit fundraising event chairs, honorees, producers and non-profit executives. These conversations highlight how top leaders facilitate raising large sums o ...
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show series
 
What does it take to create a successful rebrand of your organization that retains legacy donors while bringing in new donors? Today, I talk with Karen Hughes, President and CEO of Vogel, about the organization's recent rebrand and their signature fundraising event: The 32nd Annual Art Performance Event featuring a concert by Barenaked Ladies. Voge…
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What is it like to host a gala that is held in one of the world's most iconic spaces? Today, special guest co-host Lance Avery Morgan and I talk with Kristin Smith, Executive Director for The American Friends of Versailles, and Alicia Bryan, Chair of their upcoming gala Le Gala des Fleurs d'Orangerie. Le Gala des Fleurs d'Orangerie is truly a one-o…
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How does a nonprofit use galas and signature fundraising events to connect major donors with the organization's mission? Today, I talk with Murphey Sears, Chief Development Officer of Make-A-Wish North Texas to talk about their upcoming Dallas signature fundraising event Wish Night 2024. For over 40 years, Make-A-Wish has provided life-changing wis…
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How does a nonprofit bring the fun to its annual fundraising event year after year? Today, I talk with Dr. Susan Blaney, Director of Cancer and Hematology Centers at Texas Children's Hospital and Shelly Hendry, co-chair of their annual signature fundraising event An Evening With Legends featuring David Foster and Katharine McPhee. An Evening With L…
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How does a nonprofit successfully create a signature fundraising event around a major cultural event? Today, I talk with Chris Denney, Director of Advancement, and Tiffany Divis, President and CEO of the Turtle Creek Conservancy to discuss their signature fundraising event Day At The Races. Celebrating its 16th year, Day At The Races is a Kentucky …
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How does a nonprofit successfully incorporate their mission at their annual gala to help major donors connect with the organization? Today, I talk with Brandon Bell, General Manager and Suzanne Sippel, Director of Invidual Giving at DACAMERA to talk about their signature fundraising event DACAMERA Gala 2024. DACAMERA provides innovative concert exp…
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What does it take for a nonprofit to host a top live auction that raises millions for an organization? On today's special episode, I talk with Heath Hale, owner of Cowboy Auctioneer and the lead auctioneer for Texas' largest annual nonprofit signature fundraising event, Mack, Jack & McConaughey. Heath and his team of over a dozen auctioneers raised…
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How does a nonprofit raise large sums of money through a signature fundraising event that consists entirely of small, intimate events? Today, I talk with Cara Abazari, Director of Community Affairs at St. David's Foundation, and Tobie Funte, Chair of the organization's signature fundraising event, Toast of the Town. Celebrating its 40th anniversary…
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How do champions on the field fundraise for their community like champions off (and on) the field? Today, I talk with Karin Morris, Senior Vice President of Community Impact for the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation to talk about the upcoming The TEX Gala. Over the past several years, the foundation arm of the reigning World Series champions has ho…
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How does a nonprofit create an event that has its guests highly engaged long before the event begins? Today, I talk with three special guests to talk about the upcoming Mad Hatter's Luncheon benefitting the Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum: Event Chair, Allison Brodnax, Board President Karen Sargent, and Event Producer Jan Strimple. Mad Hatt…
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About Heidi J Cardoza: From a young age Heidi has been empathic and expressive, with a love of nature and a desire to understand reality by honoring multiple perspectives. She studied physics, dance and performance art in college and produced several multimedia shows asking questions and inspiring integration and celebration. She joined La Caravana…
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How does a small community effectively draw donors from around the area to their gala or signature fundraising event? Today, I talk with Reenie Harwood Collins and Linda Plant, who are the co-chairs for the upcoming Round Top Festival Institute Gala. The smallest incorporated town in Texas, Round Top is a town of approximately 90 residents known pr…
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How does an organization create a signature fundraising event that is one of the hottest tickets in town year after year? Today, I talk with Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfield, who are the co-chairs for the upcoming Art Ball 2024 benefiting the Dallas Museum of Art. The Dallas Museum of Art is one of the world's premier art museums featuring works…
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How does an organization successfully host an event that provides funds to multiple nonprofits to maximizes a positive impact on their community? Today, I talk with THE BIG GOOD co-founder Kelsey Patterson about their upcoming annual flagship fundraising event THE BIG GOOD, which benefits three organizations in North Texas: The Tarrant To & Through…
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How does an organization successfully attract a wide range of people throughout the donor community to a signature fundraising event? Today, I talk with Scotty Sayers and Two-Time Masters Champion Ben Crenshaw about the upcoming Imagine Muny Gala benefitting The Muny Conservancy. The Muny Conservancy is an organization seeking to preserve Lions Mun…
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How does an organization successfully raise $10 million online in 24 hours to benefit the entire community? Today, I talk with Piper Stege Nelson, CEO of I Live Here I Give Here to talk about Amplify Austin Day. Amplify Austin is a platform of over 700 nonprofits from seven counties in Central Texas. Over 24 hours each March, tens of thousands in t…
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How does an organization create a signature fundraising gala with a very large, multi-generational following? Today, I talk with Helping Hand Home Board President Beth Plater, as well as Kerianne Oliver and Jennifer Ramberg, co-chairs of the upcoming annual signature fundraising event, Crystal Ball. Crystal Ball is the largest nonprofit gala in Aus…
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How does a nonprofit create fun, impactful, and visually appealing event that provides an unforgettable experience for donors? Today, I talk with Asia Society's Vice President of Development Saleena Jafry, and Vice President of Communications Stephanie Todd-Wong about the organization's upcoming signature fundraising event Tiger Ball 2024: Celebrat…
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How does an organization find an honorary chair who attracts top honorees and gala event chairs year after year? Today, I talk with Jan Bullock, who for 20 years has been the honorary chair of the Texas Independence Day Dinner at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, which is named in honor of her late husband, former Texas Lieutenant Governo…
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On our own, the desire born from the challenges we’ve faced can be a powerfully transformative force in our lives. Our personal embrace of the Soulful Chainbreaker becomes a cultural force when we gather together, commune, share stories, and support each other to commit to and sustain the journey. We do not disrupt and re/orient within a vacuum, ot…
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How does a nonprofit create a theme for its signature fundraising event that guarantees a one-of-a-kind experience year after year? Today, I talk with Hamilton Sneed, Founder of HAS Events. Hamilton is the event producer for the upcoming Symphony of Chefs benefitting Kidlinks. The event features top chefs from the Dallas/Fort Worth area who provide…
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Many experiences of trauma/oppression reveal where we’ve failed to belong authentically. The ways in which, as we navigate our social worlds, we come up against blocks and barriers to birthright dignity, authenticity, acceptance and belonging. That is, where we disappoint and fail to conform to the expectations of dominant cultural narratives. This…
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How does a nonprofit create a successful relationship with an event planner that results in unforgettable gala or signature fundraising events year after year? Today, I talk with Houston Ballet Senior Director of Events and Individual Giving, Alexandra Yates and legendary event producer Richard Flowers, Owner of The Events Company to talk about the…
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The Chainbreaker as archetype invites critical questioning and reclaiming. We are invited to consider disappointing our families of origin, and the cultural influences at large by rejecting narratives and dictates that reproduce harms.It’s risky, even, for those most marginalized in these narratives. Yet in this risk we open to a vital rebirth: the…
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How does a nonprofit successfully create a different and fun theme for a signature fundraising event every year? Today, I talk with Junior League of Houston President, Amanda Hanks Bayles about their upcoming 76th Annual Charity Ball. Long one of Houston's most popular signature fundraising galas, the organization has done a different theme for eve…
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Transmuting Intergenerational Trauma Through The Creative Principles of Fire This is a story about what it means to be the one who steps out of line. The one willing to be the weak link in the chain. The one willing to disrupt and disobey; to embrace disruption as a portal and disappoint some of the expectations held for us (and the people associat…
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How does a nonprofit - and its signature fundraiser successfully evolve with a rapidly growing city? Today, I talk with Angela Glode, Chief Development Officer for The SAFE Alliance, as well as Yvette Flores and Tiffany Stillwell, the co-chairs for the upcoming SAFE Gala: Celebrating 50 Years. The mission of SAFE is to stop abuse for everyone and p…
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How do you successfully build an all-volunteer organization? Today, Rob talks with Jan Mitchell, Executive Director for Miss Texas, the official preliminary competition to the Miss America Competition and the largest provider of scholarships for young women in the United States. In this episode, Jan provides great insights on a range of topics incl…
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How do you create a highly successful signature fundraising event during the holiday season? Today, Rob talks with Bella Villarreal, Development Manager of Legacy Community Health to talk about their upcoming signature fundraising event Holiday Schmooze, which is one of the most fun and anticipated events in Houston during the holiday season. In th…
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Cliff Berrien has 40-years of experience as a student and teacher of Afro-Diasporic drumming and music traditions. He has combined his music studies, degree in psychology and years of experience as a professional DJ to develop practices that promote collective joy, cultural dexterity and global healing. Cliff has had the honor of using these practi…
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How do you keep corporate sponsors from your gala or signature fundraising event engaged with your organization year-round? Today, I talk with Angie Kadesky Chair of The Crystal Charity Ball. One of the top fundraising galas in Texas each year, this organization has raised over $181 million dollars over the past 71 years for various projects benefi…
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How do you get a large number of community leaders to say "yes" to your nonprofit gala or signature fundraising event? Today, I talk with Betsy Hudson and Stephanie O'Neill, co-chairs of the Center for Child Protection's Dancing with the Stars Austin presented by Mercedes Benz of Austin. In this episode, Betsy and Stephanie provide great insights o…
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How do you create a highly successful nonprofit gala or signature fundraiser right out of the gate? Today, Rob talks with Angela Garcia, Co-Founder of the Sergio and Angela Garcia Foundation who is hosting its 2nd annual FOREKids ATX. In its first year, FOREKids ATX raised over $2 million dollars with the proceeds benefitting several children's non…
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I've learned over a lifetime of experience with people who either steered me away from, or closer to, the intelligence and wisdom my body held, that the teachers I trusted most were those that taught me to trust myself. There is a profound relationship between trust, bodily intelligence, and building authentic connection. From the vast complexity o…
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How does a nonprofit gala integrate its services into the event program in a fun way? Today, Rob talks with AT&T Performing Arts Center, President and CEO Warren Tranquada and VP of External Affairs Chris Heinbaugh to discuss the Bravo! Gala - the organization's upcoming signature fundraising event. In this episode, Warren and Chris provide great i…
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How does a nonprofit gala or signature fundraising event help create strong relationships with your key donors? Today, Rob talks with Jaime Garcia, President and CEO of the Andy Roddick Foundation, who is hosting its upcoming 15th annual gala which will be emceed by comedian Bobby Bones and feature a concert by country music star Jordan Davis. In t…
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In this episode we discuss grief as a metabolizer of experience and its role in our lives and the world to come. An End of Life (EOL) Doula, Oceana specializes in the liminal spaces of active dying and grief. She is currently researching the intersection of embodied grief and somatic abolitionism as well as developing and holding space for healing …
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How does a nonprofit organization create a successful signature fundraising event focused on young professionals? Today, Rob talks with Grace Gosnell and Victoria Villarreal, co-chairs of the upcoming Storybook Gala for the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation hosted by the organization's Young Professionals Group. In this episode, Grace and Vi…
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How do you successfully plan a signature fundraising weekend around a festive holiday? Today, Rob talks with Julie Kuenstle, VP of Marketing for Houston SPCA, and Cheryl Byington, co-chair of their signature fundraising event: Howl-O-Ween Ball, which effectively ties the organizations mission to a holiday that is all about fun - Halloween. In this …
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This podcast was recorded in early September, 2023, in the midst of a wave of grief that felt too big for my body; too big to hold alone. In Rooted, we are dedicated to shifting away from cultural forms that perpetuate separation and isolation. Sometimes my heart breaks so deeply at the news of the world that I can hardly keep my head up. At times …
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How do you successfully plan a signature fundraising weekend that attracts diverse aspects of your community? Today, Rob talks with The Contemporary Austin Executive Director & CEO sharon maidenberg. Over back-to-back days, the organization hosts two distinct, yet popular events, Art Dinner 2023 and Very 'Rary on their beautiful grounds, Laguna Glo…
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What does it take to plan a signature fundraising event that has raised 9 figures over the past two decades? Today, Rob talks with celebrity event planner Todd Fiscus of Todd Events. Todd is the long-time event producer for one of Texas top fundraising events, Two X Two for AIDS And Art, which raises funds for two of the United States most notable …
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I’m excited to have Weena on the podcast today. She happens to be a dear friend of mine and also one of our rooted team members. In rooted, Weena is probably the person who more than anyone else, brings us back to the body, to the impulse of bodily knowing, and how we can engage with the themes we’re working with in a space like rooted. Her work is…
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How does an organization successfully create a luncheon that draws hundreds during the daytime to suport your cause year after year? Today, Rob talks with Lindsay Jacaman, co-chair of the upcoming Texas Trailblazer's Luncheon for The Family Place featuring Brooke Shields. In this episode, Lindsay shares her insights on the differences between dayti…
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How does an organization successfully create unique themes that give your event space - and your gala/signature fundraising event new life each year? Today, Rob talks with Katie Arnoldy and Holly Radom, co-chairs of the upcoming Children's Museum Houston Studio 54 Gala. Held every Fall at one of Texas' top event spaces, The Corinthian, this top Hou…
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How does an organization celebrate a landmark anniversary of their signature fundraising event with maximum impact? Today, Rob talks with Andrea Cheek and Isabell Novakov, co-chairs of the Cattle Baron's Ball in Dallas, which is the single biggest one-night fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. This year, the event turns 50 with a nigh…
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Welcome to the Rooted global village. This podcast episode is an introduction of sorts, to what The Rooted Global Village exists because of, and for. Rooted is an organism made up of the many souls who are a part of it. And like any organism, it has a birth story. And like other birth stories, the birth is not the beginning… As you listen, we invit…
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How does an organization successfully host an event that brings together the entire community not just year after year but decade after decade? Today, Rob talks with Liz Ballard Executive Director of the Texas Rose Festival, and Texas Rose Festival Board Member Bill Evans to discuss the 90th annual Texas Rose Festival in Tyler, Texas. The event hig…
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How does an organization successfully go about launching a new and successful signature fundraising event after multi-year pause? Today, Rob talks with Texas Heart Institute's Vice President of Development Julie Voss as well as Kelli Kickerillo, who is a co-chair for The Supper Club, the organization's first signature fundraising event in 7 years. …
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How do you create maximum impact at your event when it features celebrities and high-profile individuals? Today, we talk with Cathy James, President of The James Group, who is planning the upcoming Tex Mex Fiesta benefitting the Farrah Fawcett Foundation. This powerhouse event planner has helmed fundraising events all around the country that have c…
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