My "who-ness"

Switching gears from my professional personae to my personal “who-ness” (part one of four)…

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My goal: create new paths to success for kids in state custody… paths capable of saving billions of taxpayer dollars and making tens-of-thousands of productive futures possible.

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The challenge: 400,000+ kids in state care—too many experiencing multiple placements, too many warehoused, too many at-extreme-risk, too few with opportunities to excel—in academics, the arts, sports… or anything.

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My bona fides: I’m a nonprofit fundraising pioneer—the original catalyzer and capacity-builder of the nation’s walkathon movement—and, also, a former ward of the courts (with 12 years of lived experience).

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How to begin tackling the goal?? Three steps:

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-Bring to light the largely-unknown and incredibly inspiring 19th century origins of what is now called “billionaire philanthropy,” because today’s billionaires will need to step up!

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-Speak about my own seven years growing up in America’s oldest large-scale orphanage (think: excellent boarding school for wards of the court), because excellent boarding schools are a critical part of the solution!

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-Promote and build programs that have proven track records, and abandon “child-welfare sacred cows.”? For information about those cows, just call me.

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My perspective and optimism are informed by my relationships with many of today’s foster care alumni leaders, who are, in my opinion, the first-ever visible, proud, and empowered survivors of “the system.”? They have taught me A LOT!

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For a deeper dive on my “who-ness,” consider picking up my book—Macaroni and Cheese Manifesto.? It’s a collection of short essays and blockbuster poetry that crystallize my life-changing experiences and learnings.

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Question: What is your personal “who-ness”?

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If—in any way, shape, or form—yours intersects with mine, let’s talk and explore ways to collaborate… let’s change the game for kids in custody.? They.? Are. ?Our. Kids.

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Additional bio bits:

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-Former elite athlete and Division 1 college coach, and National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee

-Op-ed writer

-Coined the term “signature event” and developed the nation’s premiere special-event fundraising training program

-Raised more than $1.8 billion, and trained more than 13,000 nonprofit staff

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My photo on this post: taken 7 months ago at Girard College, in the gym where, as a 12-year-old 8th grader, I won my first varsity wrestling match.

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My LinkedIn photo: taken 16 months ago at U.S. Army War College, performing one of my tribute poems for 360 military officers.

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Sports and arts: just two realms in which kids in state custody rarely have the opportunity to excel.? Excellent boarding schools (and a couple other proven programs) would be game-changers.

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