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

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

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

What We Cover in This Conversation

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

Why This Matters

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

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

Learn More

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why This Matters

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

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

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

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

By the Numbers

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

Who This Episode Is For

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

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

Episode Chapters

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

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