White Fence Living

Lighting Up Lives With Intentional Giving

• Justin Rush • Season 2 • Episode 1

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What does real support look like when a cancer diagnosis hits the middle of ordinary life? We dive into the story behind the Karen Wellington Foundation and explore how “fun” becomes care: dinners that taste like freedom, concerts that shake off chemo fog, Disney pools where a mom laughs with her kids and forgets she’s bald for an afternoon. It’s not about escaping reality; it’s about restoring it, one intentional moment at a time.

We talk through how the foundation flips the script on traditional aid by asking a simple question—what does fun look like to you?—and letting recipients lead. That opens space for hyper-personal gifts: a steakhouse night plus Adam Sandler tickets, front-row seats at a game, or no‑travel experiences that feel easy and joyful. You’ll hear how a podcast nomination turned into a full-circle moment, how a crew of exhausted installers found new energy to put holiday lights on a widowed dad’s home, and why anticipation itself is a powerful medicine for families.

Along the way, we highlight partners and pathways that expand impact without adding friction: in‑kind hotel nights and miles, buy‑one‑give‑one music therapy, and grants that land with uncanny timing. A volleyball team reading a surprise nomination to their coach on Pink Day shows how communities can see and celebrate their own. We also share chapter stats, the renewed 2026 focus on “impact with intention,” and practical ways to nominate someone without bureaucracy or second-guessing their timeline.

If this moved you, help us spread it. Nominate a woman living with breast cancer, offer in‑kind support, or share this episode with a friend who needs hope. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what joy would you send first?

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Justin:

Yeah.

Irene:

We can't talk about them all.

Justin:

Um well Irene, man, I'm I'm really excited. So couple first for for White Fence Living Podcast. Uh well, one big thing is like our episode was no surprise, the best episode that that we had. Oh it was like the most views. It was so Spotify will do these like analytics and stuff for you. Um it was the most downloads. I wish I remembered how many was, but it was quite a few. Wow. Um and then social media wise, it did awesome. But I'm not surprised. It's great, it's it's a great cause.

Irene:

Thank you. Yeah, thank you.

Justin:

And first returning guest. I feel like I talk about it all the time because there's just not enough time, right? Like I know. You just get like I afterwards, you're always thinking about what what I could have should have brought up or talked about.

Irene:

Correct.

Justin:

Um, so thank you.

Irene:

No, thank you. I feel truly honored. And um, you know, it is, I mean, people say it, right? It's a gift when you can be in a space where you feel like you're being intentional and you don't have to be transactional.

Justin:

Yes.

Irene:

And that's interesting, right? Because some transactions are super intentional, but most transactions are not. You know, Uber Eats or my Amazon order, or you know, there's no other human connection with that.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Irene:

And so I think for what, you know, the chapters and the individuals in this space are doing, they're feeling fully aligned with the fact that every day, it's kind of like every day, every one of us has to get up and just kind of do what we're doing, right? Yeah. But we're doing what we're doing for other people to make difference in their lives, yeah. Which makes a difference in my life.

Justin:

It does. Right? I uh every time I talk to you, I can see it. Yeah, well, thank you.

Irene:

I appreciate that.

Justin:

Yeah. Um, so let's uh let's well let's recap a little bit because not everybody maybe didn't listen to it. So um you are one of the chapter leaders for Karen Wellington Foundation.

Irene:

Yes, I am.

Justin:

Um Karen Wellington was uh she was diagnosed with breast cancer from Cincinnati, right?

Irene:

Yes, she grew she was from um Kettering area originally.

Justin:

Yeah.

Irene:

Uh over by the Dayton area, and then um she went to Ohio State.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Irene:

And she belonged to sorority with Ohio State, and it was in the Columbus area that her husband Kent met her and knew immediately it was the girl that he was going to marry. And, you know, fast forward to you're living your life, you're getting up every day, you have children, you have kids, you have jobs, you're doing the things. And at 30, she gets diagnosed and lives the last quarter of her life fighting breast cancer in a way I've never experienced or seen or could have even imagined.

Justin:

Yeah. And so if I recall correctly, Karen, like, she really enjoyed those like those times away or times with the kids, or whether it be a short vacation or a short trip, like she really valued that time.

Irene:

She created a calendar in their kitchen, and all the red on the calendar were the moments where she was away from Karen with cancer. She was fun Karen. She was baking cakes for friends, she was singing in a band at night, she was throwing on a wig and being pizza mom, where there were other moms who didn't even know she had cancer. Like she just did not want that to define her, you know. She she knew what she was dealing with, but she had that kind of version of, well, I can create this world where I'm still, I'm still here.

Justin:

Yeah.

Irene:

I'm still living. I'm gonna just do the best I can, right?

Justin:

Yep. And so ultimately, the cancer gets her. She, uh, her husband, Kent, starts the Karen Wellington Foundation.

Irene:

Yes. Hospice makes the call to the hospital upon her passing. You know, where can we send flowers? And Kent said, oh no, you know, we can do better than flowers. We're gonna take any funds towards flowers and send the friend in the chemo chair on vacation year one. And that's what they did.

Justin:

That's awesome. And now it has just exploded.

Irene:

Well, I'm happy to say and announce in 2026 we'll give our 5,000th gift of fund that's awesome to some family. So sure, we'll blow that up on social. Yeah. Follow us, follow us, wait for it. Yeah, okay.

Justin:

That is great. Yes. Uh and and so I I, you know, I I talk about it all the time, and it's and it's so hard to explain. It really is, because it's like, oh, okay, so these people like they, you know, it's like a GoFundMe. They need money. And it's like, well, no, not necessarily. And then it's like, well, then so they what do they get? And it's like, how do they qualify? And like, and I'm like, it doesn't work like that. Right. It's just like you always like say yes first, right? So correct. Elaborate a little bit more on that or help people like me who can't explain it well. Like, what is a gift? How do you qualify? How do you how does that work?

Irene:

So it's it's a great question because you do, I I think personally that when you hear about a friend or a neighbor or someone in your community, someone you work with, and you're like, oh, cancer, like that. That's like we're not hearing that less, unfortunately, right? Stats are showing us we're hearing that more, and we're hearing that in younger families as well. And so with that, um, you know, we have a lot of work to do, right? We feel like we want to step up to that. But what's different, right? There are a lot of great, I mean, I'm just learning about other cancer organizations out there. I'm aligning with people, I'm doing more collaboration this year. So there are two things. We have chapter leaders, and they're in each of the chapters, and they have to work within the bandwidth and the volunteer base of their community, right? And so when they hear these requests about someone that they want to nominate, because they've heard about this again, you don't really have to have a, you know, deep personal relationship. You just want to be a person who wants to have that person be seen.

Justin:

Yeah.

Irene:

Right. Yep. I think we're in a world where um you and I were just talking about being transactional, right, in so many different ways. But when you do show up, how do you show up? What does that look like?

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Irene:

And in our foundation, one of the things I absolutely love is that we show up different every single time for every single person because we ask that person, what does fun look like to you, Justin?

Speaker 1:

Yeah. Yeah.

Irene:

Like, what? What do you mean? I don't even know what I would pick. A friend of mine told me the other day. She's like, What do you, how do they decide? And I was like, Well, we literally had one woman this past year. I showed up at her home to deliver her gift in January. I'm sorry, in June. And she said, I just want to go to a really great steak dinner at Butcher and Rose. And then we bought our $500 gift card for dinner for her and her husband to get like, get everything, get what you want on the menu for the two of them. And then we sent them to the Adam Sandler comedy show. Oh, nice. That was in town. She goes, and I just want to laugh my ass.

Justin:

Yeah, well, they there's a guy that'll make you do it.

Irene:

Yeah, yeah. I just want to laugh and forget that I have cancer.

Justin:

That's awesome. Yeah, and and and I'm sure we'll talk more about how we connected through this, but it is, it's a it's a unique, it's something that I never thought about, which is like, yeah, maybe they don't, maybe they can't afford to do it or they have the ability to do it, or you know, the means to which do it, but it's like that they don't want to think about it, they don't want to plan it. How do they think like we were talking about moms, right? And and how they're just like, take care of everybody. And it's funny because in my house, my daughter's always like, why is it always dad's choice? Because mom's always like, Well, what does dad want? What does dad think? And she's like, Why does he always get to decide? So, but that's how they think, right? So, um, yeah, so it's it's you know, the this particular scenario where somebody got to go on a trip and it was like, I of course I could have done it, but then it was like, Well, what if I'm not feeling well because this person was still going through chemo? And it's like, if I'm if I'm there and I don't feel well, and we just invested all this money and time and effort. But in this scenario, it was like I was able to just kind of relax, and it was like, well, hey, if if I don't feel well, so be it, it's you know, it I'm not losing. Um, in that case, they felt great and it was awesome.

Irene:

But so somebody that you and I connected with about last year, I still feel is one of the most impactful and kind of like moments where it all just aligns and comes together. You knew someone in your community after the podcast who you mentioned, you know, is this like what you guys do? And I was like, absolutely, like we're gonna do it. And without hesitating, we contacted the person. I'll let her remain private. And um, we'll just call her Kay.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Irene:

And so, Kay, you know, after she had gone through treatment, mastectomy, and her trip in between, she came to a breast cancer awareness discussion over at the Phil Heights Center, and she stood up. Oh, I don't want to cry again. I cried the last podcast, Justin. Why do you do this to me? We're not even that I know, we're not even that far in, dude. Like, relax. She came, though. This is where you hear the heart of what this means for an individual, right? You hear their heart when they're talking about what that gift is, right? They're gifts, and then there's like gifts that mean something more, right? You're you're at a point in your life where you're struggling, right? So she gets there and she's standing in the room, and again, she's trying to apologize for crying, which had everybody crying. And she said, There are things you can't tell me in my life that were ever gonna be true. And she said, number one, that I would be in my 30s and I would have cancer. She said, number two, that people I don't even know would show up and send that was me.

Speaker 3:

You know, I'm the stranger in the room.

Irene:

So um they would gift me a vacation while I have cancer, which you could never have told me that would have been true, and I would go. And three, I would be in Disney World and I would be bald, and I would be laughing with my kids and my husband in the pool that I forgot I had cancer.

Justin:

Yeah, yeah.

Irene:

And I thought that was just because that's what we want to do, right? Yeah, we want to create the moments where we remind women they're living, right? They're in this tough journey and they're in a fight, and some are really tough, and some get through, and unfortunately, some don't. But for those moments, your family looks at you and they're like, There's mom, you know, yeah.

Speaker 1:

It's it's good.

Justin:

Yeah, it's good. Um, I do want to tell a little bit of that story because I've I've brought it up vaguely a few times. Um, but so I don't how the pop I'll start with the podcast. So everybody's like, Why'd you start a podcast? Like, how did you start doing this? Yeah. I'm like, I it wasn't intentional. It wasn't like it was um, it was a good friend of mine was like, hey, I just listened to this podcast, and like they hyper local podcast are growing. And I think it'd be really fun to do um is to like just highlight stories in people, and I think it'd be really cool. So I was like, okay, awesome, let's find a host.

Speaker 3:

Sure.

Justin:

And that was like crickets, like trying to like no nobody wanted to do it. And yeah, so finally it was like I I was loving the idea and I was researching it, and I'm like kind of getting into it. And and so one night everybody's in bed, and like I just recorded an intro. And it's the intro that it's still plays before the episode, you know, before the show today. And so I'm like sharing that with people, and they're like, This sounds okay. And I'm like, I don't, I mean, I don't know if it sounds good or not. And like I think people are just telling me what I want to hear.

Irene:

Right. And uh people, yeah, exactly.

Justin:

Um so anyway, so then I started thinking more and more about it, and as I started asking people, initially it was hard to get guests, um, because everybody's like, What's your motive, right? And so anyway, so we I ended up like talking with the the Brick House Blue people, they had a podcast, so that you know it costs nothing to get started. I'm like, this is sounding better and better. And you know, fast forward, here we are, like I'm just having a bunch of fun with it, and it's just great sharing stories. But then you we you and I connect, and it was right around the time I had heard about this person um uh being diagnosed. And so they're our kids are friends. Um I don't want to give too much information, but uh, and then I'm like, I and I remembered what from when we met long time ago. Long time ago. Yeah. Um so I was like, I wonder if there's it like any kind of connection. I didn't really I didn't think a ton into it, but I was like, okay, and then as we're talking, man, my like I gotta go back and listen to that episode because I know my like my wheels were just spinning. Um and so we get done, and I'm like, can I can I nominate this person?

Irene:

You're like, You better, yeah, like absolutely.

Justin:

And so I remember I was like, well, don't like again, I didn't know a ton about the I'm like, don't do me any favors. Like, I'm just gonna do this anonymously. I don't want like you know, and so fast forward, I don't know, maybe a month, and I'm like checking in and I'm like, hey, how's it? You know, and they're like, Well, she hasn't she hasn't opened an email, which sounds like is fairly common, right? Because it's right, you're like, is this real? Like, what is this?

Irene:

Spam.

Justin:

Yeah, spam. Um, so again, fortunately, I just run into her husband, and I'm and I wanted to do this completely anonymously, and uh, but I also really wanted it badly to happen, and I was afraid it wasn't going to. So I just said, Hey, there's an email from this organization, just please open it, entertain it. Um, and then it wasn't a few days later that I heard back from you. Um, and then here we are.

Irene:

Right, right. It's a great full circle moment. I think what came out of that that is interesting when we make connections, right, whether we're anonymous or not, and like you and I had connected on it, but there were other people that didn't know, right, that you and I connected. The the power of then what happened, that ripple effect of throwing that out there in the world for that family was the story I just told. And then a continued story with you and I, because you call me out of the blue at the end of last year, and you're like, hey, um, you know, oh, number one, you donated, you gave right back to my organization by donating a space for us to do a luncheon, a lunch and learn event right here at Brick House Blue. And that was amazing. We had a great room. We had individuals from all different community spaces showing up and collaborating. Yeah. When um, again, that connection, right? Not transactional.

Justin:

But what was the product? La Roche Pose. Yeah. Yes.

Irene:

You still, your skin looks great.

Justin:

I did. I use it every day.

Irene:

And so then that happens. And then after that, we we started talking about other things that you were involved in, and you called me right before the holidays, and you said, Hey, you know, I was thinking maybe there's a family out there. This is you giving, because you got the give first mentality after we had that conversation. You literally called to offer me what family do you know that might need a little extra cheer?

Justin:

I'm just I'm I'm headed up on three, I'm going north on 315, and I love that drive because I'm just looking at the river. There's snow and ice, and I'm just, you know, just and I and for some reason I was headed to an install or um, so my real job is soap and water, and a big part of what we do in the winter is Christmas lights. And uh like I love the opportunity to to to do that for anybody. We've ever since year one, we've always either donated or in some capacity, um, whether through auctions or just we we've given that away because it's just so impactful. And yeah, and I'm thinking, man, like if we're gonna because we auction some for nonprofits. I feel like we've done like for baseball and stuff like that. And I'm like, this would be way more impactful. And uh so I call you and it happened to be the anniversary. There was all kinds of crazy so it was Karen's anniversary, right?

Irene:

Um, it was it was a time when the first thing, the first time that this has ever happened to me, because talk about firsts, yeah. Um the first time that we had been trying to reach a recipient and we got a response back from the husband that this person had passed. And so we kind of sat back at the foundation and thought, well, how do we still show up? Yeah. Like what do you I you know, without being intrusive, obviously very difficult, sensitive time in life. How do you show up? Yeah, and you're calling me while I'm thinking about that, and you say, Do you know anyone? And like just the symbolism of bringing light to someone's life, Justin, is exactly what you did on a very deep level. Because here we have this uh person remaining, you know, anonymous again, who's lost his wife, has a 17-month-old boy, has a whole new world, and right the the divide between before cancer, after cancer, and this is what his life is looking like. And of course, was caregiving. His wife didn't have time to put up a holiday life, probably let alone buy a gift, right? Yeah, and working full-time, taking care of his son, has parents, has in-laws around, but still feels very much alone in the world. And you guys show up. You showed up. So you got to know what I feel like when I show up, right? Complete stranger, didn't know this guy, you've never met him, you never probably will meet him. But what a difference you made in his life.

Justin:

Yeah.

Irene:

That's not transactional, friend.

Justin:

No, no, and it was it was so fun because like our guys are at this time, it's before we've been installing since September, and it is a it's a long grind. Sure. And uh, and it's getting colder out, and the guys are beat up and they're working tons of hours. Uh and I'm like, we got one more. We got one more.

Irene:

And it was literally like days before. I mean, it was like days before the holiday. I was we were coming in hot. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Justin:

They thought they were done. I was like, nope, one more.

Irene:

Nope, get back in the truck.

Justin:

And uh it and I explained it to them, and they were just like fighting to get in the truck. And then we get there, and the plan was like, okay, let's just let's let's use what we have left on the season. We try and deplete our inventory as much as we can, but we always have carryover, so it's like, let's let's do this, let's do color, multicolor, like traditional. We know the kids will love it. Like, let's do that, let's do the roof line. And we're literally on the roof and freezing, and and the guys are like, no, let's do that peak too. And it's like, okay, all right. And then it's like, all right, let's add this over here. And then we're we're doing a tree in the front yard, and they're like, Nope, I'm going higher. Like, I'm doing more. I'm doing more. It was awesome. Because normally it's like, you know, do we really like, do they need that done? You know?

Irene:

I wish I had brought a picture. I wish I had had like a picture. I should get that picture printed. I'm gonna get a visual of that. Yeah, it's really great because um the feedback from the dad was just, you know, he and I met, and uh his wife would had to ask for again because she's the mom orchestrating the life, right? She was, and she said, We'd love zoo passes. My son loves the zoo lights.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Irene:

You didn't know that, right? It was all about the lights, Justin.

Justin:

That's awesome.

Irene:

And that's what you delivered. That's a great the timing. Couldn't have we couldn't have created it any better. No, that's where we didn't even know what we were creating.

Justin:

So I don't know what I'm doing.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, yeah, but it all works out.

Irene:

Yeah, no, I think. I think it's just that um, you know, when he's in space, I met somebody this past year. Um, shout out to Jazzy Music J A Z Y. Um, this is a young mom, also, who is a music therapist.

Justin:

And um Yeah, you were telling me a little bit about this.

Irene:

Yeah, so she's a licensed therapist, and um, she was um her grandmother was in a nursing home, and while her grandmother she visited a nursing home, she said she would see her grandmother light up when it was music day. Like the week that it was music day was just a whole different day in the nursing home. The vibe went up, right? And so she was really fascinated with the effects of music, not only on people um who mostly feel alone, but people who have experienced loss. So part of her um new business that she's um building here in the Upper Arlington area is about there's a song for every loss. And so she can work with recipients, you know. You know, you can you can actually write a song about that, you know, or you can just write a song about how you feel sad or how you feel cheated or why me or anything. Like processing those emotions out loud is just the power of the therapy, along with music. I think it's super impactful. Like, I just I don't know anything, I'm not gonna speak about the process, but yeah, um, she offers this six months month uh six uh session class. And when I spoke to her and said I think it would be really healing because we do have a lot of moms who are affected and they're always worried about the children, and the children could go to the sessions as well. She was like, Great, you buy a session, I'll give a session.

Justin:

That's awesome.

Irene:

Yes. So, like you showing up, getting that gift first, and you know, making it happen. So this person who we the that you lined up with, he received this gift. He's yes, so he's he has that available to him at his yes. So I'm hoping that he and his son can find a time this year to to make that happen. I'd love to put a put a bow on that too.

Justin:

So yeah. Yeah, it it's uh I I got to see a little bit of the maybe the challenges like so this I didn't know that was a first for the foundation where somebody before receiving the gift had passed. Um but I got to see the intricacies of like you don't you have no clue how they're feeling or what they're doing. You're trying to do something for them, you don't know if they want it or not. So it's this like you're great at it. It's just like balancing act of you need this. Right, right. You don't know you do, but you do. Just let me do it. Just let me do it. Um because there was it was like some waiting time of like responding, and how do they, you know, all of that, like that's right. It's that's gotta be super challenging.

Irene:

So your point about the email, I I appreciate you saying that and just touching on the process. So again, we go back to you're in a community, you see someone, there's a need, you want to nominate them, you can go online, you nominate them, they receive the email, you've received received a gift from Karen Wellington Foundation. Now remember, we know like what that looks like, right? In all different ways, shapes, and forms about the timing, about the are you currently going? Do you feel up to like to your point going right now? Or you just you're just kind of taking time for yourself and you know, waiting until you finish there are milestones, right, during these journeys. What does that look like? So we allow the recipient who's been nominated to dictate that and then also dictate what that fun will look like. Like it's just putting that moment out there. Just think about how you feel when you're planning your family vacation with your wife and your kids, right? Yeah. And it's out there, and you're like, you're you're you're not your cat in the days, like you're getting excited because that's the look forward moment. And they think what cancer wants to do. It wants to stop people in their tracks, wants them to not look forward, it wants them not to feel hopeful, and doesn't want them to be energized towards next. Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Irene:

And, you know, as a survivor myself, I can sit here and say, sure, I remember a day where I wasn't thinking about that. I was too, you know, I don't know, drenched in what was happening now. Yeah. But that kind of mindset that others can bring um is is what's right. And what you've done, and what you've done with soap and water in that gift was impactful in that way.

Justin:

Oh. Well, I enjoyed it.

Irene:

So I brought a gift for you to think about it. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Justin:

I gotta open this up.

Irene:

I get to thank you. Yay.

Justin:

Uh small acts of love.

Irene:

Mm-hmm.

Justin:

I can open the big one first.

Irene:

I love bubble wrap.

Justin:

This is a first too.

Irene:

Yeah, it is.

Justin:

Lots of extra noise.

Irene:

Yeah.

Justin:

Certificate of giving. Awesome. Awesome, awesome. I'm sure Brickhouse would love to hang this up here.

Irene:

Okay, that's great. And on the back, I wrote your personal little uh inscription there. What does it say?

Justin:

Soap and water for all you do to make this world a better place. Awesome. Thank you very much.

Irene:

You're so well. Thank you.

Justin:

What else do we have in here? I was hoping it was some makeup. Some LaRoche.

Irene:

La Rogue Fais. So fancy. That just talks about foundation. Now that's fun, right? Because I told you we have these lemon to lemonade boxes, which are like these starting. This is, of course, for your sparkling water. You put that on your sparkling water. But that's the version of when life gives you lemonade.

Justin:

That's awesome.

Irene:

Make lemonade.

Justin:

That's fantastic.

Irene:

You could add other things to it. It's up to you, Justin. It's your world, dude. Oh, and lemon heads.

Justin:

My so my wife, who claims to not like lemons, I don't know why she says she doesn't like lemons, but she likes everything lemons. It's weird. I think she just doesn't like the cheap, like lemonade. Oh, but uh, she makes lemon cello.

Irene:

That would be perfect topic. Wow.

unknown:

Yeah.

Irene:

That's fantastic, yes.

Justin:

So lemon heads, awesome.

Irene:

Yes, and more cards to share, like if you need to give those out or put them out here. So as people walk by and go, what is that foundation? What do they do? How do we get involved in that? Well, thank you. No, thank you. I mean, our we're not stopping here, Justin. Oh, here we go. You're stuck with me now, right? That's great. I love it. Well, I did bring just a few small things to share um for updates. Um, I I have a happy hour coming up, uh, February 19th. Yeah. So we can just go and be happy. There are other people in our community who, you know, want to talk about their community and what they bring. I mean, the beautiful thing is I think what I've learned through the over 10 years that I've been involved with the foundation is that when you start living your life authentically and it aligns with the work that you do, um people lean in differently, right? Because they know how you show up. And then that inspires them to show up or to share what they care about. Yeah. You know, how they can add value. And that really is the true sense of community. And I I was talking to someone um last night. We went out to talk about a connection related to hotels, like in-kind gifts for hotels and maybe restaurants. Because again, the more dollars I can save to buy airline tickets, or unless somebody wants to gift miles or a vacation home. So I don't have to buy a hotel at the location they're going to. Um, those are the kinds of things that if that's a company who has like a you know philanthropy interest, yeah, like yourself, um, those in-kind gifts are very impactful. Absolutely. As you know, can save quite a bit of money.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Irene:

And by the way, your gift just keeps giving. I just want to mention to the fact that when I received your text, um, I was blown away with the amount of care and thought you put into not only setting up that gift, but then the after part. Like we can come take the lights down, we can professionally pack them. And by the way, he can keep them. And I thought, wait, he just wait, wait, what? Like, wow, talk about concierge Christmas lighting service, dude. That's amazing.

Justin:

Well, I just knew, like, I knew that he didn't hire us to do it, and um not everybody can can afford that because it is it it, you know, we do. We install them, we pack them, we store them, we bring them out, we replace them, we maintain them, and that's what a lot of our clients want. He's, you know, wasn't necessarily like didn't want that bur I didn't want to like, all right, you we're gonna take them back now. See now, all right, right. Yeah, so I just thought, you know, maybe he can use them again next year himself. He doesn't have to feel an obligation to ask us and you know, all that good stuff. So yeah.

Irene:

No, that was like a good a gift, a gift that was very high level gifts. So thank you. Yes. Um but what I think um what I think this young man and I were talking about last night when it related to people and again, we're not gonna go down the rabbit hole of like we we don't operate, you know, in a vacuum, right?

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah.

Irene:

And what's happening in the world, right? And so people are looking for good news. Yes, people need to hear these stories.

Justin:

Yep.

Irene:

Yeah. Not because it's about me or about you, yeah, but it's because how these intentional connections, not transactional connections, have taken people's lives and made them feel good and better and or give. So it's like, what's that power and why are we missing that power in the world? Like, when did we stop doing that for a while?

Justin:

Because it feels the opposite right now. Yeah, it does.

Irene:

Super hard, right?

Justin:

Yeah, absolutely.

Irene:

And everyone I talk to, like all different ages, stages, right? I've got kids that span the ages like you do. And you know, it's just interesting to hear and see how people are processing and thinking about that. And then this is what this is foundation's been doing for 19 years. Yeah, they've been showing up and saying, you can switch what that what that feels like, what that sounds like, because you can put your own good out there in the world. Yep. No one is stopping you from doing that, no one's gonna stop us from doing that. And so I think for these recipients, when they feel that, they feel again, you and I talked about this. There's the people you think that are gonna show up in your life, and then there's me. Yeah, and then there's you, right?

Speaker 3:

And they're like, wow. Well, if I expected that.

Justin:

Well, nobody prepared me for this. Here we are.

Irene:

No, they did not. But what is that, right? Because when we do get to the end, who gets to say, I feel good about the these things, not so great about those things, and hey, I've been human and made these mistakes. But I think for the most part, I wanted to lean into these things. Like that's what I want to be about.

Justin:

Absolutely.

Irene:

I can say that out, I can say it loud for the people in the back. Like, let's all be about it, right? Because we don't realize sometimes when we show up what kind of an impact and a difference it makes, or kind of lasting impact, or just like you, you're driving along, and it why does that go back into your memory, that happy memory, right? It's like I did this and I give, and I want to continue to give, and I'm that guy, right? Yeah, yeah. And I I I love I love the power of that. We don't always talk about the power of that, but I'm I'm saying it because I've seen it like this past year in so many incredible ways.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah.

Irene:

So this woman who went to this dinner, right, and went to the comedy show. Um, she unfortunately um is diagnosed with a stage four metastatic. So she's not gonna, you know, exit out of this in the in the in the way that we all would hope. Um, and with that being said, she continues to spread joy with her friends. She decided that she wanted to create, we have these funds, like F U, capital F-U-N postrophe D, right? And she wanted to do a living fund for herself while she was living and wanted to see the impact of that giving because she knows what the giving felt like to her.

Justin:

Oh my goodness.

Irene:

So she creates this fund, and all her friends are like, well, maybe we'll give to it. And she's like, Well, what do you mean? Like, why wouldn't you want to like join me on this giving? It feels so good, right? She just wants to immediately give back. She receives a gift, she's already in give mode. And her friends decide to surprise her with a pie in the face fundraiser. So they line up paper plates and they whipped cream up the plates, and she gets to smash it in their face, and then they get to donate to her father. That is awesome. Like, what? Like who, right? So that's that's in my newsletter that's coming up, my first quarter newsletter, to talk about the happy hour and why we gather as community is for stories like that.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Irene:

Because that kind of impact, that kind of putting that out there in the world, like what who are the people who are the people in your life that do that, would throw a pie in your face, would do those things.

Justin:

I think you need to have some pies at the happy hour. That's such a good idea.

Speaker 3:

What's gonna get super messy? I'm gonna have to, I'm gonna have to sign a waiver and a disclaimer.

Irene:

Oh my gosh. But that kind of like impact of like, here's a woman who's gonna leave the world this year. Yeah. And she knows that, but this is what she's doing in the meantime. This is how she's spending her time while she can.

Justin:

It's amazing.

Irene:

So, and her friends are all rallying, and you know, they're actually there's gonna be another event in March called Um Celebrate Her, Capital H-E-R.

Speaker 3:

Okay.

Irene:

It's at some venue in Gehana. I'm just learning about it. But myself and other um kind of vendors will be there to talk about the breast cancer community and the things that happen along the way and what the stories sound like. And there are people that show up and wash wigs, and there are people that show up and bring donate new bras because um the woman is now a different size post-surgery and needs a starter kit. I mean, there are just so many things that people are thinking about that are intentional, not transactional, that are intentional and that say, hey, I care, and just even this little thing that I'm doing can make that person go home that day and feel so much more comfortable and better in their own skin. So it's that kind of impact, right?

Justin:

That's awesome. Um before you uh so I was just thinking about you, newsletter, your role.

Speaker 3:

Yes.

Justin:

They finally said uh we have to put you on payroll because otherwise you're a liability. So they're saving themselves money.

Speaker 3:

We don't have to create a lawsuit, Justice.

Justin:

Uh but you so officially uh a staff member of the organization, right?

Irene:

Correct. Yes. This is new. This is another new for us. So um thank you. I appreciate that. Um, it actually was um somebody who is a dear friend in the Cleveland area, and her family is um very, very generous and very private. And um she kept calling me to want to create or do things together, and I was like, Oh, I'm doing this event and I'm going to this and then I'm doing that, and then I'm doing the show for the and she's like, How much he, how much time are you? Like, this sounds like a lot, like every day. And I'm like, well, that's okay. Like, you know, like I have the numbers. I want to like recap from last year, like the numbers of the impact, right? And so I'm like, no, sometimes it doesn't really feel like I've done anything today, but then there's some days where I'm really busy, like it's fine, it ebbs and flows, but I'm here for it. I've always been here for it, right? Yeah, this is me with a friend's legacy and me with my own cancer journeys, and it's very healing in that respect, right?

Justin:

That feels a little selfish to be saying you're you're being compensated, but yes, thank you.

Irene:

Thank you. Thank you in my soul, yes. So she said, Hey, you know, I really wanna um, I think your role's expanded. I think it's obvious that yes, you want to show up and give the gift after the center that is the one center paid in Cincinnati curates that gift personally. You do want to be that person, and you want to be a community giver. Yeah, you want to be a community advocate. You want to be out there meeting with people like Justin who give and want to be in spaces to create a better community and a better world. And I said, Yes, I do. You are right. You are correct. So she talked to her dad, and we agreed on uh, you know, something that was like no kind and and and I'm just so appreciative. Yeah, that's great. Yeah, I feel super grateful. So I mean, who knew, right?

Justin:

You I mean, it was only took 10, how many years?

Irene:

Yeah, just a few. About 10.

unknown:

Yeah.

Irene:

And and again, what's what happens there, right? When that happens, you just kind of I mean they would have gone on doing it, right? Without pay, it just felt so validating to feel recognized.

Justin:

Absolutely.

Irene:

And then another person who felt like, hey, I'm gonna make a difference for her because if she goes to buy something extra for the gift or something like she now has her funds to do that with like she should have that.

Justin:

That person knew it was gonna benefit the organization for sure. Correct, correct. And ultimately the gift receivers. Yeah.

Irene:

And I think that's um, you know, we're all kind of, I think we all have we try to find ways, right, to um in things that we care about and how we support it. I mean, really a lot of great organizations here in New Albany that support women and support families and even men. I'm trying to remember um the same gentleman after I had told um we have a gal now who's gonna kind of work on curating more kind of connection in in each of the chapter cities. And she told me about an organization Jack's Helpers, I think it is. I'll get that name to you. Um it's a group for men who are have lost wives or some situation, they're alone raising a child, and their resources can then include transportation, meals, like the things that the traditional model of the woman doing that in the life, you know, what happens when all that just stops.

Justin:

So it's like uh like full house. My kids love that show.

unknown:

Do they really?

Justin:

They're just watching it the other day. So as you're saying that, they wanted to watch the very first ever episode.

Irene:

Oh, they're going back to the OG.

Justin:

So he's like, he's newly widowed, and like everybody moves in. Right, right.

Speaker 3:

They're like, wow, this is untraditional.

Justin:

That's my wife's like, you're gonna watch something educational like I did, and then then she puts on full house. So and then they watch it.

Irene:

That is so funny. What's the span of the ages again? Remind me.

Justin:

Uh 13, newly 13, so I got a teenager, I guess. Wow and then seven.

Irene:

Wow.

Justin:

I think. Yeah.

unknown:

Yeah.

Irene:

That's amazing.

Justin:

It's craziness.

Irene:

How much fun.

Justin:

Something.

Irene:

But you know what? That's like that's like that version of like, you know, is it it's it's something and it's also full and good, right?

Justin:

Like it's yeah, it it is it is. It's it's great. It is crazy and stressful and yeah uh yeah, you you contemplate life's decisions. Uh um but yeah, it's awesome. Like yeah, we just we we were talking before, we just took them skiing for the first time. Yeah and it was great. Um we made it back before the big snowstorm, which was we were lucky. Um but uh yeah, that kind of stuff's just awesome. Yeah.

Irene:

Um which of the kids do you see like most like you? And like what do they think of dad's podcast?

Justin:

Yeah. At first, of course, the older ones are like, you're not doing that. No. Uh so embarrassing. Yeah. And then I brought them in here and they got to push buttons, and they're like, This is awesome. I'm like, see? That's why I do it. I told you. I still don't know how to work the buttons, but look at all the lights.

Speaker 3:

Wow.

Justin:

Uh yeah, they like it. Um, they think it's neat, and I talk about guests that I've had on and stuff, but they're in their own world. So uh yeah, it's fun. I they could I they need to go back to school. Yeah. I heard Olin Tanji canceled again tomorrow. Um at least New Albany, as of today, is Wednesday, right?

Speaker 3:

Yes.

Justin:

Um we got sports. I think Vinny is at wrestling right now. Okay. So they did they opened it up for sports, which I would assume hopefully, I don't know if temperature-wise, they're not gonna have school, but right. Yeah, that's where man, th those days at home. Yeah, you like super school.

Irene:

I'm going to work. Yeah. Yes. I don't need to talk to you at least. Sorry, guys.

Speaker 3:

I gotta go. I gotta go.

Irene:

Yeah, it's just um it's it's a good time for you. I appreciate that. You light up every time you talk about your kids. And I'm really happy to hear about you leaning into the podcast because I think that there are a lot of organizations out there, and I've even sent some people your way saying, like, I think you might want to just talk to them about the story, right? Because we all have stories, right? Of course. And then it had to, how does that land with people? And what do people think about, right? And like if I know if I have a choice to support a local, you know, small business owner, I'm gonna go with them versus something online, which is transactional, right? For sure. Go meet that person and be like, hey, Justin told me you can open up this shop, like, let's go.

Justin:

Yeah, that was kind of this part of the the discussion too, like when deciding to do this was you know, I love Facebook, I love Google. They're in town, love them. Right. Um, but it's like a lot of small businesses will spend a lot of money to these like conglomerates to try and like get local customers, and it just seems like there's got to be a better way to get to know people in the community, to get to know their businesses and what they do, whether it be profit or nonprofit. Um and it just seems like this is a good way to do it. It's free. I just I like talking to people, so come on. And um, so yeah, we've got some uh so I've I've kind of I've kind of like sought out a couple local businesses that I see a lot, people that I kind of know. Um, the Richardsons, I think, are gonna do an episode if you know the Richardsons.

Irene:

I do very well.

Justin:

Awesome family.

Irene:

They're great.

Justin:

Um they own traditions landscaping, they do a phenomenal job, they do a lot of hardscaping projects. So it's like spring, people are gonna start thinking about patios. So who better than somebody who's been through all the youth baseball craziness? I love that. Yeah. Um Aaron Steiniger uh might come on. He's with Sunlight House Painting. Yes. You know Aaron?

Irene:

We just had a conversation last week. Oh, great, good, good. Yeah, I do know him. I asked him if he knew you.

Justin:

Yeah, he texted me and said, I thought we were friends. I haven't seen him for a while, but uh I've referred him some business, so he owes me one.

Irene:

He's he and his crew have painted at my home, and I have referred him to other neighbors as well. And he's just a really kind person.

Justin:

Yes, very genuine.

Irene:

The kindness is right there. And it was funny. I he and Ted, he ran into Ted locally and take him home. I was like, Oh, Aaron wanted me to say hi to you, and I was like, Oh, how's he doing? And he said, Um, I was telling him a little about what you've been doing because he asked what you were up to, and he's just like, Well, I'm gonna sponsor that. I mean, again, yep. And it just right first didn't even ask, didn't be like, Oh, this is just what I read story. Oh, how do I how do I get involved in that? And so I just said, Why don't you just come to the happy hour and then we can chat and see what you're thinking?

Justin:

Better be there, Aaron.

Irene:

And then he has he has that um paint charity that he does in Orlando. Oh, so he's got to go to Disney.

Justin:

We'll Skype him in.

Irene:

Right. That's right.

Justin:

Like you're missing out when he comes back, he's the first one to get a pie.

Irene:

Oh. Oh, you really like that. I did got you. I thought you really got you going. Um, the other thing that happened that had not happened before, again, I love this whole first uh theme that you just kind of got me going thinking about. Um, don't give me a topic, Justin. Don't do it. Um, I got a call from Miguel who is a um really great person in the community, and she works for um a group where they they help women. She's kind of in that, in that genre of like self-help, you know, like for women uh in the Dublin area. And she and I had met, we'd met through the RTRX um that's done every year right before Paletania.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Irene:

And she was a presenter at that and really smart gal. She has a 13-year-old daughter who plays club volleyball. And she calls me and she's like, you know, um, I was thinking about you because I was thinking about your organization. My 13-year-old daughter's coach just got diagnosed with breast cancer.

Justin:

Oh my goodness.

Irene:

And I said, Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, you know. How's she doing? And this is literally on a Thursday. She said, Well, there's a tournament this weekend at the convention center, like they're a cli-level club, like they're a travel club.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Irene:

Um, Sunday is pink day. Do you think we could do something? I said, Oh, you just said something good. Yes, we can do something. Um, so the reverse kind of order of nomination happened. She already decided I'm nominating her without an official email or anything. They surprised her. I have to share with you pictures of the volleyball team all dressed in pink, taking turns reading the nomination letter to their coach with balloons and flowers and tears flowing and hugs happening. It was like, my friend said it was just magical. It was just perfect.

Justin:

That's awesome.

Irene:

And she said, and what you don't know, and what I found out later that I didn't know is this is a woman who, because she is a volleyball coach and she comes in contact with so many families and moms, she was Coleman's volunteer of the year one year. So she back in like 2012 was out there, the woman driving the girls to volunteer for Coleman and do various things in the community, even before she was diagnosed. And now here she is. Yeah. Wow. I can't wait to get her gift together and blow that up because we're just gonna have such a good time with her. Like her energy is just like off the charts. You think I'm crazy?

Speaker 3:

I think I've done my match with her.

Irene:

Yeah, she sounds fantastic. So great. Yeah, it's again that intentionality of like she's being seen, right? And she's being seen by the community around her, yeah. And they're showing up when you don't expect it. And that kind of moment in life is like, wow, yeah, did that just happen, right? Like so, yeah, we try to turn that ick to something better than ick.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Irene:

Um, but um, oh, I was just gonna share stats. So from my chapter last year, I was able to give 20 total gifts. That's a combination of all different various gifts in 2025. Um, there were six specific ones that were called just fun, right? That would be like concert experiences where you receive fun money and then you're funded to go. We get you try to get you very, you know, like the bougie seats up front, like right. The really good, yeah, like, oh wow, am I here? Like, yes. Um, and then we did 27 of the lemon to lemonade boxes, which is right, introducing people to the chapter, giving them a starter kind of version of like, we're here and you know, you go ahead and get nominated.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Irene:

Um, and then I did four vacations. That's awesome. Really, or really this the that's the icing on the cake, right? That's the icing on the cake.

Justin:

I saw uh I man, I'm gonna butcher, I don't know where it was, but I saw in the Karen Wellington Foundation somebody did they go to a sporting event, like front row seats. I saw a picture of them like with the cheerleaders or something like that. Um was it Cincinnati? Yes. I thought so. Okay, it's pretty cool.

Irene:

So our Cincinnati chapter, we have a lot of connections down there. And then um, I know you and I talked about Angeline Wellington last time.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Irene:

Um, on the last podcast, the daughter of Karen Wellington, and um, she works with the Cincinnati Bengals chapter. She organization and not chapter, organization. And so, like the Cincy hat, they did a version of a pink Cincy hat for us. So there's a lot of collaboration down in Cincinnati. Yeah, they have the they're making that happen down there in a big way. Good. And um, like players showing up at the hospitals and things like that. So again, there's just so many ways that people can show up. And I think what we really like, and what Kent Wellington had spoken about from day one was so we have to have rules because we have to have we have to fit into the nonprofit space of the rules of the nonprofit.

Justin:

Yeah.

Irene:

But we can also make our own.

Justin:

And well, Ohio State is our Columbus's pro team. So where you at Ryan Day? Cincinnati's doing it.

Irene:

Call him out, man.

Justin:

I am.

Irene:

And he's a great guy, too. I mean, he really cares about mental health and and and you know, like with his story and his journey and everything you read, like he's just a very philanthropic and caring person.

Justin:

Um if he knew, he would say yes.

Irene:

Yeah. I mean, if you know, you know, right?

Justin:

That's right. That's right.

Irene:

Do you have his number in your phone? Because I'm gonna check mine, but I'm pretty sure not.

Justin:

We don't, we'll find it.

Irene:

Do we know somebody that's I'm certain we do. We need to have that conversation online and find that person, right? Yeah. Yeah, I've had friends who've done it.

Justin:

Let's talk about the impact that could have.

Irene:

Wow.

Justin:

Yeah.

Irene:

Yeah. Or on the field.

Justin:

Yep. Right? Yeah. We did uh I took the kids on a tour um at the stadium. No, you've never done that. It's it's neat. It's really affordable. Like really when you it's a little long. I wasn't ready for that. Okay. But uh so I think what what I think it was like I think it was around when I think it was the day before they played um their last playoff game. Uh, I think it was the day before after, I don't know what it was, but we were like, let's go, I gotta get the kids out of the house. We've been on break, like, this is craziness. And it was pretty neat. They take you up in the press box and like you tore the locker rooms. The band room was like the coolest thing I think I saw there, because you never really think about like where they go, and like to see their space was really neat. Um just the history of it. And then you finish on the field, of course, and it's like five degrees out, and where everybody's like ready to go, and my kids are just 100 yard sprints back and forth. Uh, but it was cool, it was fun to do. That's amazing. Yeah, it was pretty neat.

Irene:

I um I had the privilege um one year of helping present the pelotonia check.

Speaker 1:

Oh.

Irene:

So we went down on the field at halftime, and um does it it does it it felt like a different space from that vantage point.

Justin:

It was like this doesn't when you're up there, it look it look felt like I was in a completely different world.

Irene:

Okay, so I'll I'll also share the picture with you of me standing behind the line of football players. Like so we were on this side, like right behind like where all the action's happening. Yeah, and you hear like shh the noise of the bench being heated, you know, it was like snowing, and I'm just like, what is happening? And and the players that don't look big from the stands are like big humans on the field. Like they're really, really big dudes, and you're just kind of like, I I didn't have it felt a little surreal, right? Yeah, yeah, it's really kind of um daunting down there, but what an operation. Oh my gosh.

Justin:

Insane.

Irene:

Yeah, I mean, like people on people, and it's like it's like it's like their own little orchestra of like what's going on down there and what's happening. So yeah, sometimes when you're like, oh, that was a stupid play. Why didn't they look? There was a lot of thought put into that stupid play, right?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, so sorry it didn't work out.

Justin:

Yeah, nobody in that organization is trying, not trying to do their best.

Irene:

Right, right. So yeah, you gotta give people a little grace, right? I mean, we've been on some really great wins and we've had some really tough losses.

Justin:

We're the worst fans, right?

Irene:

We really you guys are, right? For sure.

Justin:

I yes, uh yeah. Um I don't know if I'm the worst, but I could I have some really stupid thoughts after losses.

Irene:

You and Ted.

Justin:

You're rational.

Irene:

Just you're you're in with my husband in that category. He just gets like beside like he was playing the game, you know. Like he takes it with that personally. I'm just like, okay.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Irene:

Well, I mean, I think I told you, like being from New York and that being my home, like college football was not. I mean, yeah, I went to Hof University where the Jets practiced. Oh, wow. So I we like knew, like, not knew the public. But yeah, yeah, but they had a bar right across the street, and we uh were underage at their bar, like hanging out, you know, and knew the DJ and like there was a whole thing. That's cool. Yeah, they just wanted people to come, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's called Clecos, Joe Clecko. It's like yeah, the Gastonow and those crazy dudes. We'd hang out with them at their bar. Right, I know. That's a New York thing, though. You know what I mean? It's kind of like uh, oh yeah, I saw Billy Jolel and he played in a local bar. And people were like, What the who are you talking about, Billy Jolene?

Speaker 3:

He's like you or me. I was like, no, he just was like he's the regular, yeah.

Irene:

He's that guy, yeah. And the best story, I saw him at a concert, um, Nassau Coliseum, which is just a couple miles from where I grew up. And at this particular concert, it was when he first started getting into concert venues. And um, boy, I sound old. But um, he called Prince up on stage to play a set.

Justin:

Oh no.

Irene:

And nobody even knew who Prince was. And that next year, Prince came out with Purple Rain. And I was just like, I saw a five.

Speaker 3:

Like I was that person, right? Like I was in, I knew Prince before he knew Prince, like kind of thing. Yeah.

Justin:

What was your impression at first?

Speaker 3:

Oh, we were like, he's a tiny dude.

Irene:

Is he on stage? Like, why is he so tiny? But he picked up the guitar and he played like the closest thing we had even heard to anything he was riffing on was like Zeppelin. Yeah, you know, just like killing it. And and everybody was like, you know, because like you know, Billy Joel's vibe, and then there's like Prince's vibe, and they're just not the same vibe. So you're at a Billy Joel concert listening to Prince on guitar, and you're like, wow, people were like nuts. Yeah, people were like, damn, like, what was that? Yeah, it was pretty cool.

Justin:

I'll never understand New York. No, no, I've been there once.

Irene:

Yeah.

Justin:

Yeah. It's too much, too, way too much.

Irene:

Yeah, I know. We're extra. Yes, yes, yes, we're super extra on everything.

Justin:

It was a lot.

Irene:

Yes. We have to have like names and codes for things, and then there's like sayings, and then there's I mean, it's just so funny. I was even talking to a friend this morning on the phone, and she was talking about a friend she has in New York, and I would I I said some phrase, and she goes, Oh my god, my friend says that all the time. I was like, Oh no, New Yorkers get like a manual when they're born, and it's just like, read from here, say these things, act like this. This is how you do it. Right, this is how you do it if you want to be a good New Yorker. Yeah. I mean, I was in New York just two weekends, two weekends ago. I was with my daughter, and we were downtown Lower Manhattan. And what's fun, like for a fun weekend for me, my idea of fun, my fun weekend, you know, go to New York and um see a show, see a Broadway show. We saw MJ the musical. Oh, nice. I did not expect to cry, but you've met me. So maybe you thought I was gonna cry. Okay, okay. All right, that's it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But like joy and laughter and well, you know, his story is a sad story, too. It's a very tragic kind of like background. But with all that, the music, um, and I've seen Alicia Key's Hell's Kitchen on Broadway. That's insane, also, as well. Laughing and crying till you're like, I don't even like, and the music, because you know all the songs, it's very impactful story of her life. Um, so yeah, those are the those are the things. Maybe someday they'll write a musical about our life, Just. What do you think?

Justin:

Be a good one.

Irene:

What would yours be called?

Speaker 3:

I can't say it on here can't say it on here, not doing it. Don't make me do that, Irene.

Justin:

That's great.

Irene:

So here's our here's our letter for 2026. Are you ready? I'm ready. Okay, all right, this is good. Um we have given and dedicated this year to impact with intention. Not just how many women we serve, but how deeply we show up for them. We are recommitting to the personal touch points that make KWF what it is: moments of joy, dignity, hope, and normalcy that remind women their mental and emotional well-being matters just as much as their treatment. A reminder that fun is a priority, especially amidst a cancer diagnosis. We are focused on sustainable practices that ensure we can grow responsibly, deepen our impact, and move closer to our vision of serving all women living with breast cancer. But we do not do this alone. Because of the growth we've experienced, now more than ever, we're looking for people to be involved, engaged, and actively participate. Donors, ambassadors, volunteers, partners, championship, people like you. Your time, your voice, your advocacy, and generosity is what allows us to meet this moment and rise to the need before us. 2026 is not about pulling back, it's about leaning in together. So thank you for believing in the mission and for trusting us with your support and for helping to ensure that women facing cancer feel supported, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as they navigate their journey. And I am truly incredibly hopeful that you are headed where we're headed and deeply grateful to walk this path alongside you.

Justin:

Very nice. Yes, very nice.

Irene:

So thank you again for having me.

Justin:

Yeah, no, I uh I I hope that I I think that I think the it'll this will continue to grow. I'm hoping that this episode does better than the first one um and more people um just ask questions, get involved, find a way to. Like whatever it is. Like that it that little just, hey, what if we gave somebody lights? You know what I mean? Like it didn't take much, it wasn't a huge expense, it wasn't a ton of time, you know what I mean, and it had it had a big impact.

Irene:

Well, I think it goes back to the question that I kind of ask myself every day. And I kind of say, you know, what does cancer look like? Right? Some people say, Oh, it's a it's a spot or it's something on a chart, it's a number, it's it's a statistic. No, it looks like a guy showing up and putting lights on the house to bring actual light and joy to a family with a cancer loss. Yeah. It looks like friends showing up in a girl's living room with whipped cream pies and saying, sure, I'll donate, but smash a pie in my hands first. Like it's that, right? We get to choose. That's what we get to choose when cancer chooses you. Yeah. Right. That's what we get to choose. We get to say, all right, you know what, we're gonna script while we can, when we can do it, we are here for to do that.

Justin:

Yeah.

Irene:

And that's the power of what you and I can do.

Justin:

Um, absolutely. And so one last first. Yes, I don't I I the New Albany Community Foundation, which you know, I'm not involved with at all. Um, but what I found out was that there was some grant money set aside specifically for Karen Wellington Foundation. And am I saying this right? Yeah. And there were some parameters around the gift and that it was somebody within the school district.

Irene:

Correct. The zip codes, all the all the zip codes that this school serves.

Justin:

Okay.

Irene:

So there are like five of them.

Justin:

And then so Kay was the first recipient of some of that grant money.

Irene:

So and that was a very generous family. And I don't know if they want to be mentioned, but I'm gonna try to meet with them this year and have that discussion. But to your point, the the first that happened on that gift delivery was well, when Kay received that first grant. The day that I went to her home to deliver it, which is she and I coordinated, just she and I, like, hey, is today a good day? You know, came to her home, ding-dong, it's never met me before, you know, sitting at the table holding her hand, we're talking, we're crying. Husbands like kids bouncing balls off the walls. I'm like, this is I love this vibe. I mean, while we're doing that, I get out of the meeting, I go back to the people who gave me the grant, I send them the pictures, like, this was so lovely, she's so lovely. We're you should this is the update. This is how we're spending the money, we're sending this family. They sent it to the donor. It was the donor's deceased wife's birthday. The donor's memory.

Justin:

Wow. Wow.

Irene:

And he was he was blown away.

Justin:

We can't say who that was.

Irene:

I don't know. I don't know. I don't I don't wanna get I don't know. Yeah, all right. Yeah, I'm gonna, but I'm gonna follow up because I asked the community foundation if I would be able to kind of then, you know, talk about like what we're looking to do and how we make that impact grow. What that looks like. And so um they, of course, as other organizations do, they have grant cycles. So we did go ahead and apply for more grants from them again this year, hoping to make further impact with other families as well.

Justin:

You're just paving the way.

Irene:

Dude, I want to send five families to Disney.

Justin:

Like, why wouldn't I, right? Yeah, absolutely.

Irene:

Yeah, so that's how it happens.

Justin:

All right. So we'll uh we gotta make this periodical. So we'll do another update soon.

Irene:

Yes. I appreciate that.

Justin:

Can't wait to hear.

Irene:

Yeah, thanks again to soap and water for their support.

Justin:

No, no problem.

Irene:

And just kind of putting that out there because again, like who would say holiday lights? What does cancer look like? Does cancer look like holiday lights? Probably people would say no.

Justin:

Yeah.

Irene:

And you and I said yes.

Justin:

Yeah, that was awesome. Thank you. I can't wait to see what comes.

Irene:

I know you do.