Insight With Sylvia Maus 052624 Wonderful People and Causes Part 2

"They shine a light on all the wonderful people and causes in Central PA while encouraging us to make a difference.”

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Hi, I'm Sylvie Moss. Thisis part two. We're back. I
got so excited in talking to theselovely ladies last week about what we were
talking about. I asked if theycould stick around, and they're sticking around
because we got so much neat stuffto talk about with me. Lucy Nazov
known Lucy Watt one hundred and fiftyyears. Maybe we've been buddies for a
long time. She's the founder andpresident of Nazo Promotion Strategies. Did an

(00:23):
awful lot of work reaching out toall kinds of organizations on behalf of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania when she worked forGovernor Ridge and also for Missus Ridge and
Linda Johnston. How can you notlove that girl? She's on TV all
the time. Chief Culture Officer forRenewal by Anderson of Central Pennsylvania. And
this is why you got to listento last week's show. You can catch

(00:45):
it. If you didn't listen,don't forget this show is on several podcasts.
We started talking about all the thingsthat Lucy and Linda are involved with,
and it's so inspiring. It getsme all pumped up. Lucy,
you started telling us about you canleadership. All you Can. All you
Can. Yeah, so really greatorganization. We were talking about inspiring youth

(01:08):
and also giving them skills. Allyou Can incorporated in Ralph Rodriguez and he
runs a leadership academy for these mainlymiddle school even up into high school.
And where is He runs it outof the Steel High School district and All
you Can serves the entire Harrisburg Capitalregion, So it depends what, what

(01:32):
event or what initiative he's working on. But one of my absolute favorite things
in the world is watching Linda andher group and power Ralph and all of
his students with a customized apprenticeship,a junior window installer apprenticeship, And she

(01:56):
can tell you weekly her team wasmeeting with these kids over in their warehouse,
teaching them everything from measuring to building, to installing to building a wall.
And take it away, Linda,this was one of the most is
I just loved it. Yeah,it was. It was so fun to
be a part of our install managersFrank Hoy, Brandon Buffington, and Joe

(02:17):
Bates. My goodness, they theydid such a phenomenal job because obviously they
had to teach them all that stuff, but uh, you know, it
started out with the very first class. We had boards all cut in different
sizes, and we had to teachthem how to read a measuring tape.
But then we saw the light bulbsgo off on their in their brains,
going oh, this is why Ineed to know fraction. Ahha, And

(02:42):
you know they're like, okay,I'm like, yep, you better pay
attention to math classes. How olddid you say they were? They're I
think twelve to fourteen, right,yeah. And then we took them to
the warehouse every week and they builttwo window displays from the ground up.
So they cut the boards, theybuilt the frame, they insulated it,
they installed the window, they putsiding on, they put drywall on,

(03:06):
they finished the product, and itis as beautiful as any other display in
our showroom. And it's there anyonecan stop by. We have a little
plaque on it with all their namesbecause they proudly, you know, built
that entire display and they learned somuch, you know what, Sylvia,
it was really impressive to see acouple of the girls that was my really

(03:28):
really really get excited about it.And a couple of the kids said,
you know, wow, I thinkI could see myself doing this. Yeah,
so we held a big graduation.Our entire office was there when they
came in the door and really celebratedthem. It was a huge accomplishment for
them. And I was so happyto see the superintendent from Stelton High Spires

(03:53):
School District came and he couldn't thankus enough because he said, we filled
a voice for these kids because shopclass is gone in school and they're not
learning that stuff anymore. And sothey all got to take their tape measure
home. And you know, youknow who knows one of them in a
couple of years could end up onone of our teams and we would be

(04:15):
more than happy to have them.And that's what we need. We need
to get these kids when they're young. Yes, And like I said,
when technology electronics came up, wewere sleeping and Japan took over. And
now we know, we know thatwe need a skilled workforce, whether it's
agriculture, medicine, across the board. And you girls get it. So

(04:38):
you get it, your forward thinkers, you have solutions, you have connections.
And when I hear about stuff likethis, oh my gosh, oh,
I just get so excited. Andyou're right you are lighting a fire
under these kids and they're not goingto forget it. And Sylvia that all
grew out of a partnership renewal byAnderson and all you can doing it back

(04:58):
to school drive last August for thesekids and talking Linda, well, what
do you need help with Ralph?You know, what can we do?
And Ralph talking about their programs andsharing all that. What I'm saying is
a lot of these relationships and partnershipsare already out there with businesses and nonprofits,
So how can you build on that? Right? And this was their

(05:19):
idea then, not only to helpsupport the events around the year and do
things like that that are needed forschool, but what can we do using
our expertise, our team's expertise tohelp educate and train these young minds you
know, who are eager for this. So I love that. I love
how it just blossomed and it evolved, and kudos to all of you for

(05:44):
that. So there are other programsout there in the community that are doing
this type of thing. So we'vebeen contacted by a couple other schools to
see how we can do it.And you know, obviously we can't do
that's not our full time job.So we're talking about, you know,
is there a summer program that we'regonna do something different? You know,

(06:05):
and it will probably be all youcan summer program. And you know,
they build a window display. Now, what what are we going to do
with them next? What about thetext credits that you get the schools can
get for trainings and stuff through businessesracy and there's a number of there's a
number of things they can get.So they need to plan ahead and do
it fast and have the personnel rightly. You also have to install windows right

(06:29):
for your customers and all that.But but again, it's just such a
great example. If you're out theredoing something with a nonprofit, there are
other needs going beyond maybe just thevolunteering at the organization's warehouse or whatever.
But turning that into this, thiswas a special customized initiative to fill an
educational void, hands on learning.It was, it was wonderful, and

(06:51):
it can be done. It canbe done. That's exactly right. So
and you may not know there maybe parents out there who do this or
want to step up with businesses.There's so many opportunities for this. And
another thing I wanted to talk aboutwith these kids is we talk about mental
health in the number one issue inthis country. And you know, and

(07:12):
I know because I've been around kidswho have been Eh, they sit at
home, they don't do anything,or they come from families where they don't
really get encouragement. Get involved here, right because what it does, what
volunteering does, It's like I don'tknow, a purpose. It gives you
a purpose and everybody needs a purpose. You feel good, Absolutely it does.

(07:33):
And mental health is so important aswe all know. And how how
do you feed your mental health?And how do you get help when you
need the help? But how doyou also surround yourself with things that uplift
you and make you feel important andworthy and valuable and loved and special.
So I agree anything we can doto help that and help folks on that

(07:56):
journey, I applaud absolutely anything comingup. You guys are working on that.
You wonder where do we start?Please do because you never know who's
out there listening might be able tohelp you. Right well, in the
tiniest way possible. Go ahead,there's a really big football game coming out.
Yeah, I hear. It's theSuper Bowl of high school football.

(08:18):
And why did they call it that? Ah, in the history of Big
thirty three fifty seven years, yes, ye seven year? Has he never
been a Super Bowl played that doesn'thave a Big thirty three alumni in it,
isn't that? Well? These areall superstars, yes, and they
played in this game. They playedin the Big thirty three for the Pennsylvania

(08:39):
team. But uh it when wejust did the heart screenings the other weekend,
you know, I'm standing there andI'm thinking one of these kids could
be in the super Bowl, that'sright, you know, right eight or
ten years or six or eight years, and you know we're standing right there
with them. So it's a it'sa great day for football for the kids

(09:00):
for you know, and like PaDairyman's Big thirty three supports so many other
things, the Buddy program. Oh, that's wonderful. Yah. And so
that's some Memorial Day weekend that isSunday, May twenty sixth. There's actually
a free Community Aid fan fest inthe afternoon. Miss Pennsylvania's going to be

(09:20):
there inflatables. Military will have someof their vehicles, games, all kinds
of stuffs. Three to six pmat Cumberland Valley over at Chapman field right
and outside of there, and thenthere are free girls flag football just now
actually just started. The NFL teamedup, so the four clubs, the

(09:43):
Commanders, the Ravens, the Steelers, and the Eagles are putting together all
star teams to come in Saturday inthe afternoon to play games free to the
public. And Sunday and a championshipand there's a PEP rally in the afternoon
you can come to that's free,and then the big game. The gates
open at five point thirty Sunday eveningMay twenty six, Veterans and military getting

(10:05):
free. There are military components tothe game. Again. Renewel by Anderson
is a title sponsor and helps themdo this along with their other major sponsors.
And what we love about it isthe buddies team up with the football
players and cheerleaders. So you'll seea halftime routine with the Buddies. You'll
see the players and buddies announced onthe field, and then the game and

(10:28):
then they have an MVP and Renewalis going to give each MVP an AED
through the Peyton Walker Foundation to designateto a nonprofit of their choice. Oh
so much fun. There's food,food, trucks and just it's just a
great event. So all ages arewelcome to come. And for people who

(10:48):
may not know who these Buddies are. It's funny because I was telling talking
to my friend about it yesterday andshe goes, oh, a friend of
me has a kid that's a Buddyand is also a sponsor, and I
should get out. Yeah, tellus about the Buddies. So the Buddies
are their young children up through teams. There's really no cutoff. It's a

(11:11):
year round program now and it couldbe a physical disability and intellectual challenge and
they can enter the Buddy program andthroughout the year before Big thirty three,
they do miniature golf outings, theyhave bowling out outings. They just did
their first dance, and they teamup with the regions football teams and cheerleaders.

(11:35):
Uh to come out with them atall has their own buddy right.
And then then the big culminating weekendis you know Buddy Day, Memorial Day
weekend, and then of course thebig Game Day where the players, you
know, they're out throwing football withthem. On Buddy Day, they're doing
bag toss, they're you know,grabbing pizza. Have you know eating.

(11:58):
Uh, and these oftentimes or lifelongfriendships, Yeah, that are established,
just like with host families exactly.You know the host families that host the
players. And Sherry Brenneman, Sherryon our team, her son one son
not only played grant, but youknow, they've hosted and it's just been

(12:18):
an incredible experience just to watch allof these people connect and support these youth
and go on to stay in touchyou know a lot of times. But
they're so cool, isn't it neatanything else you want to talk about?
Well, this summer again, alot of involvement with food banks. Summer
is a time when you know alot of children in need of meals.

(12:41):
Yes, they don't have summer mealsunless they're part of a camp or a
program. So oftentimes, like ourteam or Linda's team, you know,
we might put meal kit bags togetherand drop them off, whether it's you
know, your food pantry or likeCentral Pennsylvania Food Bank or Midwest Food Bank
or there's so many of them,New Hope, there's so many out there.

(13:03):
You did last was it spring orfall? With the backpacks? Yes
to the guest, and that wasRENEWL. B. Anderson again yes,
uh and and so that's important.And then the other thing is June is
dairy month, So come out lookfor where the pop ups are all across
the region, every everywhere from thestate Capitol there are things happening down through

(13:24):
Lancaster's having they do a big firstevent, and you can go on to
the Dairyman's website and Facebook for thatinformation. There's there's just so much out
that we could continue talking about.But I just think it's important if everybody,
either on their own or with theirteam or with their friends got together

(13:46):
and found a charity or speranza withwith whether it's animals, you know,
animals needing toys or food or goingand volunteering and taking time to do that,
or a food bank or again PeytonWalker Foundation they were just doing there
for an adventure race again and theyneeded volunteers, you know, all day.

(14:07):
There's just so many great nonprofits outthere. Through Harrisburg Academy they had
you know, they do a lotwith like the Bridge over in Harrisburg.
Our Summer Garden Project needs volunteers withGary over there. And there's like the
Healthy Diaper Bank. You know,so many things and so oftentimes again,
our team doesn't do anything organized.We just organize small donations, you know,

(14:31):
and drop off or drop off toan organization that's having a bigger drive
of some sort. So yeah,just a lot of things, a lot
of things. Well, you know, Lucy, you can do all this
stuff, but if people don't knowabout it, you know, and that's
that's where you come in. Youare phenomenal when it comes to getting the
word out advocating and could you talka little bit about that's so important?

(14:56):
Seriously it is because you know,all of these organizations and these businesses work
so hard day in and day outon their mission and on serving whether it's
customers or clients you name it,or folks in need. And that's why
it's important to share, you know, what is going on in your community.

(15:20):
Social media is free, I alwayssay, and I love being able
to share things on social media.But even with our media friends, our
media friends like you and everybody elseare so wonderful and shining a light on
these important causes and events and organizations. And you know, I just encourage
everyone to take time. If you'regoing to put all of your time into

(15:41):
planning something, you need to promoteit you know, you need to,
you know, you need to tolet others know that your cause or your
event exists because they want to comeout and support it. And that's one
thing that really gratifies me is whenI'm able to team up with somebody and
I'm able to help them share theirstory. Well, no, case in
point. Excuse me a second,I think it was Who was it,

(16:04):
Tom Russell. I was talking tohim about that and he said people would
do it, but they don't knowwhat's going on, right right. I
know he's another one. He doesn'thave to do this, like about media
friends. He is such an incrediblywonderful man with family, his daughter,
three daughters, their race and everything. He's married. But yet somehow he

(16:25):
finds time to do this, andhe's got a goofy schedule at the TV
station. But that's the whole thing, getting that word out. It's so
important. It's important. It's Ialways say on your to do list when
you're planning your event, your causeor whatever it is to do should be
promotions. However you do it,whether you get professional help or whether you

(16:48):
do it with a volunteer or butyou need to promote those causes. I'll
give you another example. You know, sometimes I'll do like a coach drive
just among my friends for whether it'sthe community police or whether it's in all
you can And I'm like, Iknow all of you really don't have a
lot of time in your day.Drop it off on my porch. I'll

(17:10):
put a box out right, ButI know about that. But sometimes maybe
I find those things out from otherorganizations because they pose them, you know,
online. So I just think that'simportant. And another thing that's important
to me since it's May, andI just want to put this plug in
is May has stroke awareness munchy absolutely, and I enjoyed that you are.

(17:30):
There's a grap about five, wellthe gentlemen and four or five women who've
come here to talk about terrible tragedyof something. You almost say you almost
lost your daughter, but these incredible. I'm I can't even say it.
I'm beside myself. I don't knowhow they go along when they lose a

(17:51):
child and what do they do?They find a purpose, just like you
said, Lucy, and that's that'simportant. And we have many dear friends,
even our friend the Bieber's Jackie Beeber. You know, Mother's Day was
recently, and that's tough every year. And that's another dear person that I
love that when that happened, losingher daughter Sean to suicide because of an

(18:15):
online chat room, and she andI went together. I said, I'll
help you. I'll help you tryto make a difference in create awareness and
took her up to the Capitol andintroduced her to legislative leaders and she worked
really hard for a couple of yearsto get Shawn's Law, which is step
one, get that enacted, totry to create awareness what's out there and

(18:37):
what's happening around that issue. Andwith stroke awareness, yes, no,
but back to our daughter Lucy Alanawho had suffered a massive stroke seven years
ago and underwent a brain prenactomy.But thankfully, I'm so grateful for her
heroes down at Hershey and you knowthat. But just helping to again spread

(19:00):
awareness the bee fast. You know. I always say, you know,
balance, eyes, face, arms, speech and time and call nine one
one if you have any symptoms orsigns or something you think is just out
of the ordinary. But I justtry to continually get that message out,
you know, taking care of yourselfand knowing about a lot of these health

(19:21):
issues and causes. So I knowit's we veered off a little bit from
volunteerism, but with May being StrokeAwareness month, it's important to our family
and important to so many people outthere because you can be saved. You
know the time, I mean thattime, it's it's time is again equals
brain and and you've just got toact fast, like you do in any

(19:44):
situation. Well and she was whattwenty five, twenty six, one twenty
six and had a little boy who'sgorgeous. But the whole thing is that
again, people don't realize this.People, young people are having drokes more
than they ever did. They're havingheart attacks at twenty thirty, forty years
old. People didn't realize that.But I guess because of all the pressure

(20:08):
and stress and everything. And lookat Lucy, I mean, and then
you learned so much, and thankgod you're out there to tell other other
families. I just want to share. Never give up hope, never give
up hope and push and again,you know, rehab is so important and
key, but time matters. Youknow, time is brain, as I

(20:30):
mentioned, and in any any ofthose symptoms, and then there's a lot
you can do for prevention's around thatas well. With a lot of the
subjects we've talked about and issues we'vediscussed, a lot is you know,
centered around prevention. In her case, you know, we couldn't have done
anything differently, But I'm just saying, you know, it happens at any

(20:52):
age, and strokes occur at anyage. So what they say about God
doesn't give you more than you canhand. Well, sometimes you wonder,
wonder, but I think it's true'rueit's true. Do you ever think,
with all the stuff you're involved in, all the lives that you change,
that this has been your mission?This is your I mean you do it

(21:14):
all the time and you thrive onit. I get that. But do
you think things are pre we're predisposedof things, like as far as that's
why I'm here, What do youthink? I think that happens maybe later
on in life. It's not youknow, like forty fIF Yeah, because
you don't have the wisdom, youhaven't gone through things. What do you

(21:36):
guys think? I think I thinkyou might be right. You know,
I I've watched employees like myself.You know, I started as a part
time employee grow and you know thecompany I work for changed my life.
There you go. And I've seenthat happened numerous times with other employees,

(22:00):
and I think it's just become aprogression of you know, okay, now
again, we're so grateful to ourcustomers, and now we're not only changing
the lives of our teammates, butwe're also changing lives in the community.
And when we put together, youknow, we relooked and tweaked a little
bit our mission statement and core values, but we didn't touch our purpose.

(22:23):
And our purpose is just one simplesentence, but it sums up who we
are, renewed by Answersen and ourpurposes to make people happy. So it's
either our teammates, our customers,our community, everybody we work with our
purposes. Just to make people happyis my purpose? Well, my purpose

(22:48):
has always been from a young ageto be able to truly make a difference.
And as I say, my hashtagsmake it count. And that's how
I live every single day with agrateful heart and to share whatever it is
I can do or resources to makeaccount. And I think I've shared this

(23:11):
with you over the years, andLinda and I have talked that from a
very young age we had a lotof tragedies and loss, and I didn't
grow up with a lot, andI worked from a young age, but
I learned from a young age howto help a neighbor because we always had
neighbors we were helping, or familymembers or family members who had illnesses and

(23:32):
dealing with death and all of that. So that was instilled in me.
And from that age, my entirelife has been learning how to make a
difference or use my gifts or talentsin whatever manner. And like I said,
you know, you just want toknow that you have purpose in life.
And I believe that we all havepurpose and we all can make a

(23:53):
difference, no matter how small,how large. Absolutely I totally agree.
Lindy. What do you say Youhave a quote about enjoying your work.
Oh, if you love what youdo, you'll never work a day.
Yeah. I've been telling my mansonthat he's going to college next year and

(24:14):
you got to find something that youcan pay the bills. But the worst
thing in the world is to goto a job that you hate agree day
because you spend most of your timeworking and you'd be surprised. How what
these ladies do. I have thisquote when you take a step to improve
somebody else's life. The life youimproves yours in so so many ways.

(24:38):
And people might be out there listeningthink yeah ladies, eh, yeah,
whatever, whatever, But you justdo it. You just do something like
that, and oh my gosh,your life gets better, not only for
what you do, but you attractpeace to you. I'll tell you we
were just at the food bank acouple of weeks ago, and you know,

(25:00):
we've talked about so many other thingswe do, and I believe that
that is so impactful to myself andmy team because we see it. We
go in Andy, we're there acouple hours. That's all it takes.
You can go on their website signup to volunteer, you can take your
family in, you know, yourkids, baseball team, whatever. All
it is a couple hours. Butwe knew at the end of that there

(25:23):
were fifteen of us there. Wepacked four hundred boxes. Wow. So
we walked out knowing that we justprovided food for four hundred families in central
Pennsylvania because they're going to leave thatwarehouse and go right into somebody's hands.
So it's so impactful that you justwalk away with that feeling of wow.

(25:47):
I did something today for somebody andit's a great feeling. Doesn't take much
again, no big checks, justgive a couple hours. How does someone
get in touch with either if theywant to volunteer. You've got a lot
of people, you're connected. I'mnot giving out your phone numbers. You
know. You can connect through socialplatforms, Facebook, LinkedIn, or call

(26:11):
the office. You know, ouroffices right on Carlisle Pike. Call and
ask for me and Lucy. You'rein touch with so many nonprofits. Oh,
I love that. I enjoy itand I love those partnerships and so
fulfilling. But you can also connectwith me on social media Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram, LinkedIn. Yes, I'mon TikTok and snapchat right now,
but the other platforms mainly, oryou can contact my office, or you

(26:34):
can email me or go on mywebsite Naso Promotions dot com. That's Naso
with a G. And you canalways get in touch with me. And
I'll refer to these ladies because we'relike glued at the hip or how do
they say it, attached at thehip, Attached at the hip. I
love, love, love when Ihear what they're up to. So there
you have it. A slice outof the busy lives of two women,
or were true, true difference makersin our lives To Lucy Naso, my

(26:57):
buddy owner of Nazal Strategies, youmight just to make it count, right,
Luis. Now I'm now listening tothis and I'm gonna give you award
for being the most positive person thatI know. Okay, and Linda,
you're the most generous and both ofyou are gonna have to share the award

(27:17):
for inspiration because you inspire me somuch. I mean, every time I
turn around Facebook anywhere, you guysare changing people's lives, seriously changing people's
lives. Thank you so very muchfor that, guys, and we're gonna
talk about this. You guys willbe in again. So anyway, catch
Inside on one of our ten iHeartstations this weekend. If you missed it
last week, you can always catchit under our podcast, the iHeart Podcast

(27:41):
app or a whole lot of otherpodcasts app. I'm Sylvia Moss. This
has been insight. Thank you somuch for listening. To see you next week.