Beyond The Blog
The Patterson Foundation drives meaningful change through strategic philanthropy by building relationships, fostering collaboration, and sharing knowledge. Moving beyond its weekly blog posts, the Foundation offers Beyond The Blog podcasts to inform and engage listeners while sharing compelling stories of people, organizations, and communities strengthened by its initiatives. Listen to Beyond The Blog podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and iHeartRadio.
Episodes
121 episodes
Young Voices and Elections: Kennedy and Avery Cole Share Why We Need to Listen
Kennedy and Avery Cole, two young Sarasota County (almost) voters, joined host Leah Verier-Dunn on the Civic Sparks podcast to talk about the efforts of future voters in our region and why we should listen to them. Hear about the civic...
Beyond the Spectrum: Building Sustainable Revenue Through Margin & Mission Ignition With Lora and Loryn Carpenter
Beyond the Spectrum knew that expanding its mission would require more than grants and charitable giving. Through The Patterson Foundation’s Margin & Mission Ignition initiative, the organization launched two earned-income ventures, an ABA ...
Trust and Accessibility: Supervisor of Elections, Ron Turner, on the Elections Process in Sarasota County
What really goes into running an election? Leah Verier-Dunn sits down with Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner for a behind-the-scenes look at the people, processes, and planning involved in helping voters confidently participate...
Suncoast Remake Learning Days: The Inside Scoop with Neirda, Becky-Sue, Justin & Amanda
In this episode of Connecting Communities, Leah Verier-Dunn is talking about Suncoast Remake Learning Days with four fabulous, long-time hosts, one f...
Finding Purpose at Any Age: A Conversation with Mrs. Norma Kennedy on Community and Service
Growing Together: North River highlights the people, partnerships, and possibilities shaping the future of North River Manatee County. Each episode shares real stories and local insights that reveal what matters most to residents and how commun...
School Attendance Matters: Susan Flores and Donna Puhalovich Share How Engaging Families and Communities Helps Children Reach Success
In this episode of Connecting Communities, host Leah Verier-Dunn is joined by Donna Puhalovich from the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (SCGL...
Taking Fundraising to the Next Level with Fueling Dynamic Fundraising and Rebekah Prieto
What happens after you complete Fueling Dynamic Fundraising?Rebekah Prieto, Director of Development and Marketing at Parenting Matters, joins the Nonprofit Thrivability Podcast to share how the program helped her organization strengthen ...
Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass: Beth Duda on A Walk to Respect
On this episode of Civic Sparks, Leah Verier-Dunn and Beth Duda, Director of the Suncoast Campaign for Grade Level Reading and playwright, talked about the acclaimed one-act play,
Shaping A Shared Future: Cheri Coryea on Growing Together in North River Manatee County
Growing Together: North River Manatee County highlights the people, partnerships, and possibilities shaping the future of North River. Each episode shares real stories and local insights that reveal what matters most to residents and h...
Partnerships Rooted in People, Purpose, and Possibility with Rich Harwood
In a recent Beyond The Blog podcast, Debra Jacobs, President and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, speaks with Rich Harwood, President and Founder of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, a nonprofit advancing positive community action by...
Engaging Young Readers: From Summer Slide to Summer Success with Ben Tollefson
On this episode of Connecting Communities, host Leah Verier-Dunn sat with Ben Tollefson, consultant with The Patterson Foundation, to discuss the Suncoast Campaign for Grade Level Reading’s
Voter Education and Civic Responsibility: Why The Patterson Foundation Cares
In this episode of Civic Sparks, host Leah Verier-Dunn talks with Debra Jacobs, President and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, about why TPF cares about investing in civic responsibility.Together, they discuss the history of The Patterso...
Nonprofit Is a Tax Status, Not a Business Plan: Rick Yocum on Margin & Mission Ignition
In this episode of the Nonprofit Thrivability Series of Beyond The Blog, a Podcast by The Patterson Foundation, host Read Corley talks with Rick Yocum, executive director of the Humane Society of Manatee County, about his experience with Margin...
Ericia Henry Reflects on Gaining Confidence, Courage, and Connections During Her TPF Fellowship
In a recent Beyond The Blog podcast, Debra Jacobs, President and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, speaks with Ericia Henry, TPF Fellow 2024/26, right before she launches ...
The New Civic Path: Turning Hope Into Community Action
In this episode of Aspirations to Actions, a Beyond The Blog podcast, host Alicia Chalmers talks with Michael Prihoda, Director of Media and Creative Content, and Menal Khanna, National Campaign Manager at The Harwood Institute for Public Innov...
Everything You Need to Join the Fun at Suncoast Remake Learning Days 2026
In this episode of Connecting Communities, a Beyond The Blog podcast by The Patterson Foundation, host and consultant Leah Verier-Dunn sits down with Beth Duda, Director of the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, to talk about all things...
How Jesse Coleman Became a Confident Fundraiser With Fueling Dynamic Fundraising
In this episode of the Nonprofit Thrivability Series, a Beyond the Blog Podcast, Read Corley sits down with Jesse Coleman, General Manager of WSLR + Fogartyville, to talk about what it really looks like to step into nonprofit leadership and fig...
Discover DeSoto: Traci Willingham Shares How DeSoto County Ahead Is Fostering Meaningful Connections
In this episode of Discover DeSoto, host Alicia Exantus sits down with Traci Willingham, Community Relations and Engagement Director for the Neuro Challenge Foundation, about her experience as an exhibitor at the DeSoto County Ahead community e...
Inside the Disaster Response Ecosystem: Former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate Explains How It Really Works
In this episode of Rising Resilience, Leah Verier-Dunn speaks with former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate about the ins and outs of the disaster ecosystem. Who are the key players and what are their roles? ...
What Does Kindergarten Readiness Really Mean? Dr. Patti Folino Breaks It Down
In this episode of Beyond the Blog, host Leah Verier-Dunn talks with Dr. Patti Folino, Principal of Tuttle Elementary School in Sarasota County, to explore what kindergarten readiness really means. With 38 years in education, Dr. Folino brings ...
From Possibility to Practice: How John Ferguson is Carrying Catalytic Philanthropy Beyond the TPF Fellowship
In this Beyond The Blog episode, focused on the Advancing Philanthropic Leadership initiative, Debra Jacobs, President and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, sits down with John Ferguson, TPF Fellow 2020/21, to reflect on his winding path to The ...
Why The Greater Hartford Gives Foundation & The Patterson Foundation Are Investing in Social Enterprise for Nonprofit Impact
In this episode of the Nonprofit Thrivability Podcast, host Read Corley speaks with Michael Corley, Consultant with The Patterson Foundation, and Meher Shulman, Associate Director of the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, to explore how both fo...
The Magic of Building Relationships Featuring Laurin Kelly
This podcast explores how a seemingly simple connection can turn into something that can change the trajectory of your life. Timestamps 00:14 – Welcome & Introduction00:37 – Ericia highlights the...
Andrew Spector, TPF Fellow 2023/2026 - Learning and Applying a Multifaceted Approach to Philanthropic Impact
In this Beyond The Blog episode, focused on the Advancing Philanthropic Leadership initiative, Debra Jacobs, President and CEO of The Patterson Foundation, sits down with Andrew Spector, Senior Fellow 2023/25, to reflect on his winding path to ...