Welcome to My Friends in Philanthropy, the podcast dedicated to sharing the stories, struggles, and hope behind the organizations and individuals making a real difference.

In this episode, Patti Parker sits down with Emily Rasmussen, founder and CEO of Grapevine, the leading platform for Giving Circles. Emily shares how everyday people—not just big donors—can pool their resources, learn together, and make meaningful charitable impact in their communities.

Together, they explore why collaborative giving is one of the fastest-growing movements in philanthropy and how Grapevine is making it easier than ever for anyone to become a philanthropist.

This episode is for aspiring donors, nonprofit supporters, financial advisors, community leaders, and anyone who has ever wondered if a small contribution could truly make a difference.

Here's what we cover:

• What a Giving Circle is and how a group of people can combine modest donations into transformational gifts for nonprofits
• Why collaborative giving is becoming one of the fastest-growing movements in philanthropy
• How Grapevine helps anyone find an existing Giving Circle or launch one of their own in just minutes
• Why you don't need to be wealthy to become a philanthropist and how pooling resources creates impact far beyond individual giving
• How Giving Circles help donors discover new nonprofits, volunteer opportunities, board positions, and deeper community involvement
• How Grapevine provides secure donation processing, transparent voting, tax receipts, nonprofit grant distribution, and community management all in one platform
• Why getting started is often the hardest step—and how just a few minutes today can begin a lifelong journey of charitable impact

To learn more about Grapevine or start your own Giving Circle:

🌐 Visit: grapevine.org

Access the Global Giving Circle Directory here: https://www.grapevine.org/giving-circle-directory

Patricia Heaton Parker has been an active member of the Financial Planning Industry for over 25 years. Her firm, Discovery Wealth Management, is an Independent firm specializing in the needs of clients going through transition. Discovery Wealth Management is a DBA of Accurate Wealth Management, LLC.

Whether it's retirement, marriage, divorce or being widowed, change is difficult. Finding someone to trust, someone who will help you make smart financial decisions, is challenging. Patricia has helped hundreds of clients over the years find peace in these turbulent times. Services include Financial Plans (initial and ongoing) and Investment Management services. The initial consultation, whether by phone or in person, is free and obligation-free. It is time to see whether the client and advisor are a good fit. Any investment management services are available on an annual basis as a percentage of Assets Under Management (AUM). This fee is based on account size and will be quoted upon retainer. She believes in helping the communities we serve.

As a former Registered Nurse, Patricia has been highly beneficial to her clients as they deal with end of life issues of their own, or with their parents. In addition, several clients have been referred to her after recently losing loved ones because of her sensitivity, insight, and experience.

Learn more about Patti's advising here:

discoverywealthmanagement.com/our-team

Welcome to My Friends in Philanthropy, the podcast dedicated to sharing the stories, struggles, and hope behind the organizations and individuals making a real difference.

In this episode, Patti Parker sits down with Sue Rueb, the founder of BRAIN (Brain Rehabilitation and Injury Network), a Southern California nonprofit that started with one family's heartbreak and grew into a lifeline for adults navigating life after traumatic brain injury, stroke, and blast-related injuries.

Their conversation is a reminder that brain injury does not always look like what we expect, and that the people who need help most are often the least likely to ask for it.

This episode is for everyone: survivors, caregivers, moms who are still not "over it," and veterans who were told to be strong when they needed support. It is also for the donors and volunteers who make organizations like BRAIN possible.

Here's what we cover:

- How BRAIN was founded after Sue's daughter Kristin was born with a brain injury and why the organization grew to serve everyone, not just one person

- Why brain injury is often called a "hidden injury" and how it affects communication, cognition, emotion, and daily life in ways that are invisible to others

- The wide range of causes BRAIN serves: car accidents, strokes, aneurysms, blast injuries, falls, gunshot wounds, sports injuries, and more

- Who BRAIN serves: adults 18 and older, because programs for children exist but there is a massive gap in services for adult survivors

- The therapies available, including speech, cognitive, emotional counseling, strength training, acupuncture, and massage, all under one roof in Cypress, California

- How BRAIN operates completely independently from the government, insurance companies, and hospital systems, and why that matters for privacy

- The scholarship program BRAIN quietly offers to veterans from all branches and all conflicts, so cost is never a barrier to care

- The zoom option for those who cannot make it in person, and why Sue still believes nothing replaces the personal touch

- How charitable contributions to BRAIN as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit may be tax deductible, and how Patti can help donors maximize that impact through strategic financial planning

- The first step to reaching out: a real voice-to-voice conversation with someone who will listen, no clicking through a website alone

To reach BRAIN and get connected with services:

📞 Call: 714 - 828 - 1760

🌐 Visit: www.thebrainsite.org

📧 Email: inquiry@thebrainsite.org

Patti Parker, CFP®, is the host of My Friends in Philanthropy and the founder of Discovery Financial, an independent advisory firm specializing in guiding clients through major life transitions such as retirement, marriage, divorce, or loss. With more than 20 years of experience in financial planning—and a prior career as a Registered Nurse—Parker brings a unique blend of expertise and compassion to her work, helping hundreds of individuals make confident financial decisions during challenging times. Through her podcast and her advisory practice, she is committed to elevating community impact and empowering people to navigate change with clarity and trust. Learn more about Patti's advising here:

discoverywealthmanagement(.)com/our-team

Welcome to My Friends in Philanthropy, the podcast dedicated to sharing the stories, struggles, and hope behind the organizations and individuals making a real difference.

What does it really mean to serve, and what happens after? In this episode, Patti Parker sits down again with Cindy Parsons, a Wounded Warrior Project representative who doesn't just speak about the mission, she has lived it.

Together, Patti and Cindy speak directly to warriors, caregivers, and families who feel alone, afraid, or unsure of where to turn. They break down the critical work of Wounded Warrior Project, its no-cost programs, and how they support both families and veterans emotionally, physically, financially, and practically.

This is an emotional, heartfelt episode about courage, loss, community, and the bravery it takes to ask for help. If you or someone you love has been impacted by military service, PTSD, or life-changing injury, this conversation may be the most important one you hear today.

Here's what we cover:

• How Wounded Warrior Project was founded in 2003 and what it stands for today
• Why invisible wounds, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, survivor's guilt, and military sexual trauma, are just as real as physical ones
• The Warrior Care Network: a free, world-renowned outpatient mental health program
• How WWP now supports active duty service members, not just post-9/11 veterans
• The free services available including mental health care, adaptive sports, career counseling, financial wellness, and benefits guidance
• How WWP supports the families and children of wounded warriors
• The WWP Talk App that connects alumni to local events and peer support
• Why WWP is 100% donation-funded and how charitable contributions may be tax deductible
• How to access WWP services and what documentation post-9/11 veterans need to get started

If you are a veteran, service member, caregiver, or family member in need of support: 📞 Call: 877-TEAM-WWP (832-6997) 🌐 Visit: woundedwarriorproject.org

Patti Parker, CFP®, is the host of My Friends in Philanthropy and the founder of Discovery Financial, an independent advisory firm specializing in guiding clients through major life transitions such as retirement, marriage, divorce, or loss. With more than 20 years of experience in financial planning—and a prior career as a Registered Nurse—Parker brings a unique blend of expertise and compassion to her work, helping hundreds of individuals make confident financial decisions during challenging times. Through her podcast and her advisory practice, she is committed to elevating community impact and empowering people to navigate change with clarity and trust. Learn more about Patti's advising here: https://www.discoverywealthmanagement.com/our-team