May 19, 2025 • 30 mins
Community DC Host Dennis Glasgow visits with Glenda Fu Smith, Executive Director for So Kids Soar, a nonprofit organization in the DMV that provides life-changing programs to empower youth with physical and developmental disabilities. We also we’ll be visiting with one of So Kids Soar’s sponsors and partners – Jason Daniel from Panda Exteriors – to talk about his and the companies involvement in a big golf tournament helping out so kids soar – and a new podcast. Plus, we’ll talk bout programs, events and much more!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Good morning, and welcome to another edition of Community DC.
I'm your host Dennis Glasgow. This morning, we welcome back
one of our favorite and regular guests, Glenda Foo Smith,
executive director for So Kid Sore, a nonprofit organization in
the DMV that provides life changing programs to empower youth
with physical and developmental disabilities. We also will be visiting
(00:22):
with one of So Kids Sore sponsors and partners, Jason
Daniel from Panda Exteriors, to talk about his involvement with
the company in the Big Galterman helping out So Kids Sore,
and a new podcast. Plus we'll talk about programs, events,
how to donate, volunteering, and much much more over the
next thirty minutes. Here's my conversation with Glenda. I hope
you enjoyed as much as I did. Good morning, Glenda.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Good morning Dennis.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
It's great to have you back on the show. I
am always happy to have you back, and I know
there's so many great things happening, including a new podcast. Everybody, So, Glenn,
Glenna's in into our business now, which I love that
you're doing that. So we're going to talk about that,
and we're going to talk about funding and program and
events in the latest and a very big golf tournament
that's coming up on June thirteenth with so Kid Sore.
And also we're going to introduce a great partner, Jason
(01:08):
from Panda Exterior, who I know is a longtime friend
of yours, but also making some donations and helping out
with his team. So I'm really excited about that. But first, Glinda,
why don't you tell everybody what's so kid Sore is.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Our mission is to empower youth the physical and developmental
disabilities to strive, own, achieve, and realize their potential. That's
where the Sore in our name comes from. And we
do this through three different free programs. The first are
adaptive clinics. We also have a holiday program, and we
have a vocational building program, and through all three programs,
(01:40):
our goal is to really build up social engagement and
confidence levels for youth with disabilities.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
One of the things that I see on your social
media and your website lot is that you're big in
getting sports and sports teams as partners, which I think
is I know the Washington capitals are big partners of yours,
and you can talk about others, but can you tell
me about maybe the vision you you've been with them
for quite some time now, and about when you came
there to what the vision and the mission is now,
(02:07):
and just the involvement of all these different partners and
all these events and programs that you do, because I
know there's a lot.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Yeah, no, I love that you're having me break it
down a little bit, and we do. I think we
were most known when I started with the organization twenty
eleven for our partnerships with the local sports teams from
DC United to the Commander to the Washington Capitals, like
you touched on, and the most popular events were our
(02:34):
adaptive clinics that we held with these teams. And I
think it's also definitely just showing proof that what we're
doing works to seeing how long our partnerships have been
with these sports teams.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
So with the.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Washington Capitals, we've done an adaptive ice hockey clinic with
them since twenty ten and every year it has garnered
more participants, more ball in tiers. And now we work
with a great organization called Good Sports, Inc. That donates
equipment to us we can give out to the participants
after they come to the clinic too, So yesterday, we
(03:12):
worked with the Miracle League of Montgomery County to have
a baseball clinic and Good Sports donated all new brand
new baseball bats, baseball gloves, and we were able to
give those to the participants so that they could keep
using them to practice their skills after they left the
clinic too. So it's really neat to see all these
(03:33):
different organizations getting involved and really wanting to keep the
trajectory going for these kids.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Very cool. Now, before I ask you about criteria about
how people can be in families can be a part
of so kids or how far does the net go
in the DMV when it comes to either functions you do,
your partners, all those kind of things. How wide is
the net?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Oh, It's pretty wide.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
And I don't want to just kind of localize us
to this area, but we do service families in DC
pretty much all of DC, all the awards, most of Maryland,
I would say, all the counties that are pretty close
to DC. Prince George's Montgomery Howard. For Virginia, we go
(04:14):
pretty much into central Virginia.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
I know we have Stafford County in there.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
And it's funny because my team and I were talking
about this morning on another interview about what our reach is.
And during COVID we actually had individuals from Canada, from
Australia joining us on our virtual clinics, which we still
host every month. So we try to dream big here
and it is my personal goal to have circuitsor all
(04:40):
over the world, but right now we're starting locally and
hopefully hopefully going nationwide in the next five to ten
years and then hopefully worldwide.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Well that's huge. I love that you're thinking big that way,
and I don't doubt you're going to attain that goal. Now,
let's talk about criteria. The family's listening right now. They're saying, well, jeez,
you know, I have this person in my family, but
I don't know I qualified to have them do something
in some of your clinics or programs. So can you
go the whether it's a demo or any kind of
specifics criteria about how people can be friends with you
(05:11):
and do stuff in all the great programs and events
that you have.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
So the criteria is, we have to be a youth
with a disability physical, cognitive, or developmental age four to thirty.
Anyone in age four to thirty within that book can
come to our clinics or holiday program. Our vocational building
program is for young adults with disabilities within the eighteen
to thirty a range, and that's just because we're really
(05:37):
trying to get them on the feet with some job
skill training and hopefully finding independent and a job in
the future.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
So you've got the clinics, you also got a holiday
celebration in your path to success. When it comes to
that programs over you, can you talk to us a
little bit about all three for us, yes, of course.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
So the adaptive clinics are held once a month, once
or twice a month, and we have both in person
and online.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Some of our participants just have.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Not been able due to you know, immunocompromise situations, be
able to come in person again, so we still offer
our virtual clinics every month and those range from an
athletic to recreational to therapeutic activities from cooking to soccer
to water skiing. Our holiday program is at the end
(06:26):
of every year. It's like you mentioned, a holiday celebration
where all of our participants get to come in, they
get to perform give back activity, so they will wrap
presence for homeless youth. They will decorate cookies for local
area food banks. But we don't also just work with
local nonprofits for that we have we actually right now
(06:49):
work with a nonprofit in Japan called hands On Tokyo,
and our participants at our holiday celebration will create flashcarts
English Japanese speaking flash cards and we will send them
over to Japan every December after the program.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
So it's just.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Showing our participants that they can make an impact both
locally internationally no matter what ability type. And then our
vocational building program, your Pass and Success, that is a
three month curriculum in the fall, we accept up to
ten youngstabilities. They each get two mentors who awesome volunteers
(07:25):
that not only teach them skills but also just to
become a friend and kind of a big brother, big
sister mentor not just doing the program, but beyond the
program as well. And we've successfully i think found employment
for fifty one percent of the graduates out of the pit.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
That's outstanding. So I want to talk about being funded
in how you are funded and that will lead into partners,
whether it's a small, medium, large business and also people
that can donate personally, not only money, but with their
time too. So there's a lot to kind of tackle
in there, but the overall arching question is how are
you funded.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Yes, we are funded through grants, corporate sponsors, and personal donors.
It's really neat to see the people that want to
give back, not just financially, but we know we also
need people to just volunteer or give in kind donations,
which means, for instance, our water skiing clinic. Every year
(08:25):
we have about five or six fo captains that donate
their time, their boat, their equipment, their life, best everything
for the entire eight hour day. So yeah, I think
it's a conglomeration of not just companies, the individuals and foundations.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
And we'll talk about the website and you're end of
our conversation. I know a lot of orrier of our
smart listeners of Google, so kids sore and they're on there.
There's a big donate button, there's a newsletter sign up
and all sorts of information. It's a really beautiful website,
easy to navigate. So we'll talk about that at the
end of our conversation. But something I learned from you
about one one of the cool things is that you
do so many events that there are clients or not
(09:04):
clients but partners people that donate space for you, whether
it's a court or whether it's a field, or whether
it's a building. And I think that's important to talk
about because you do so many events that you really
encourage that kind of a partnership as well too.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Right, definitely, our soccer clinic we just had a month ago.
We worked with DPR, the DC Department of Parks and
Recreation to get field space to use their accessible bathrooms.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
It's little things like.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
That that you don't think about when you're putting on
a program, but when people want to get involved and
are willing to give you access to equipment and those
other resources, it really makes your job a bit easier.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
We get a.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Lot of venue space donated for our vocational building program.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
We work with a great company called van.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Meter, and all of the eleven or twelve meetings we
have in their office building, and they've also tried to
find other ways to host networking event for us. So
it's truly amazing to see how everyone comes together.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
To help all.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Right on the other side of a special guests that
I'm going to have you introduce Jason Daniel, We're going
to talk about the golf tournament that's coming up in
mid June, and we're going to talk about a lot
of other things that are happening when it comes to
So Kid Sore and the exciting podcast. But I think
this is a good segue because Jason and his company
are part of the podcast and overaltering sponsors for golf
(10:28):
tournaments and all sorts of other things that you do.
You guys, go wait back, but can you just do
a small introduction and then I'll have a conversation with him.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Yes, I would love to.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
Jason Daniel is one of the founders of Pandexteriors. Scott
Tucker and I've been friends with him a long time
and he's always personally donated, but when his company blew
up and just kept growing in twenty and funny, he
really wants to make sure that he supported So Kids
Sore from the beginning.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
So it's been We're extremely grateful.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
But he is a presenting are of not just our clinics,
but also the vocational Building program and the podcast that
came out of the Vocational Building program.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
And then just very quickly, can you tell me about
why you're doing a podcast? I know, but I want
you to tell our listeners why I think.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
It's a great story, So thank you for asking that.
We had honestly no goals or dreams, no intent of
building a podcast out. But one of our vocational building
program graduates, Michael. He when he came through our program,
he was a storyteller, like he really loved making comic stripts.
He loved even doing interviews, and so I was trying
(11:38):
to find a great internship to place him in, and
just at that time, fortuitously enough, my friend Dustin Canner,
he started podtext, which is a podcasting company. So Michael
went to intern there with the paid internship every summer,
even though he was also in college during the rest
of the year at the same time, and once he
was done with I Think Get twenty twenty four, he
(12:02):
asked me, he emailed me, came up with the idea
that I really want to start a podcast or so
good Sore, and from there it's just blossomed.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
So it's really his brainchild and we're just so proud
of him for it.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
I love it, and that on the other side, Glenda
will tell you about how you can listen to that
podcast because it's on a lot of different platforms, so
here's my quick conversation from Pandamic Exteriors with Jason. So, Jason,
Glinda did a wonderful job of basically introducing you to us,
But I I'd love to hear kind of a longer
story about your affiliation, your relationship not only with so
(12:34):
Kids Sore, but Glinda. How did you guys meet and
how did you guys become partners?
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (12:38):
So, I mean I've known Glinda, a good friend of
mine who actually grown up with Macron and introduced us
kind of in the DC scene a couple of years
ago and.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Just became friends.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
I kept being friends, and I was just so impressed
with everything that she was doing for the community that
I was like, I want to get involved as much
as I can. I want to support as much as
I can. And as I started pand Exteriors and really
being able to have the financial backing to make a
difference in the charity donations that we were able to,
(13:10):
we were able to kind of start this golf tournament
and help her more than from before.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Well, that's wonderful. And when it comes to Panda Exteriors,
I know, with you being an entrepreneur and a businessman
for many years, now that a lot of businesses like yourself,
hop on charities for whatever reason to help out or
maybe it's near and dearer. You have an affiliation like
you have and being friends personally with Glenda, But when
it comes to the overall arching thing that you want
(13:38):
to do, when it comes to the podcast and also
helping with a golf tournament or overall with so kids,
sort kind of tell me your vision about why you
want to get involved in what you are doing right
now to help out.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Sure.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
Yeah, so I think it's a passion of mine. It
was instilled when we were younger to always kind of
help those in need. And just watching Glenda's passion for
these kids and what she was doing for them, and
even I remember one of the golf tournaments that they
came out. It was one of our first interactions with
the family. Just seeing how happy they were to have
these kids out on the golf course and the parents
(14:09):
just ecstatic that they were there. It touched me in
a way that I was like, what can I do?
How much more can I help? Because it gets lost
on your every day to day, right, we get lost
in our work, we get lost in our families, and
we forget that you know what we are truly, truly blessed.
We are lucky for everything that we have. So many
people focus on what they don't have and they don't
see what they do have. And I love to be
(14:31):
able to be like, hey, you know what, I am blessed.
Let me try to help as much as I can.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
So.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
I know that you're busy, but when you get a
chance to either see SO Kids Sore in person, Glenn
in person, and maybe some of the functions, and I
don't know if you had a chance to check out
the podcast I have and Glenn and I have been
talking about that. We're going to talk more about it
and just a few minutes here after we finish up
with you, Jason, but tell me you know what you've
seen and what you've heard and the response that you're
(14:57):
getting with your involvement in being partners with SO Kids Sore.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
So we've done a couple of events where I haven't
been able to get there to most of them, but
I'm able to send my employees to help out. She's
done a hockey program or hockey where she's taking the
kids out and it's the first time on the ice
and just my employees coming back and being like, Wow,
it was so gratifying to see these guys smiles and
(15:21):
see how much fun that they were having. We had
the chance to actually do one of her podcasts, and
it was humbling to see how amazing this one of
her graduates were running the entire the entire podcast, asking
the questions, coming up with it, setting up the mics.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
It was awesome.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
You know, Jason, I've talked to a lot of nonprofits
on this program, and one of the things that I've
noticed that that you talked about, and Glenn has talked
about me and other nonprofits is having the full circle
thing happen where you're helping either a family or a person,
and then after they're basically done or when they grow
a little bit older, they paid forward and help out themsells.
(16:00):
And you've seen that and heard that in person. I
think that's one of the cool things, especially about sokinsor
about somebody coming through the program and then helping out
at a higher level. It's pretty cool.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Yeah, And I think that's what makes it a little
bit different, Right, You're not just donating money, You're you're
donating to have them grow and be part of society
and contribute back and really help back the.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Kids that are coming through the program. Again.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
It's awesome to see that cyclical thing of it.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Well, one final thing I wanted to get from you, Jason,
and it's kind of a message to all the small, medium,
and large businesses out there. And since we're talking about
so kind sore about your relationship with Glinda, with sokid soor,
but you know, there's other businesses that might be thinking
about joining in and being partners for whatever reason, whether
it's a podcast, a golf tournament, overall arching sponsor maybe
(16:48):
donating their space. And I know this is your journey
with PANDAM Exteriors, but can you just talk to all
the businesses out there about maybe the future and what
it's like to work with sokdsor and you get back
from it.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
I think the passion that I see in Glenda for
this program is so contagious. That's what brings me back
every year, and the different clinics, the different ideas, and
like you said before, seeing the kids start in the
program and then graduate from the program and then helping again,
it's amazing and her dedication has made me want to
(17:22):
be better as a business as a company and continue
to donate.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Well, Jason, I know that you don't have to do this,
you want to do it, and I think it's cool
and you know it's a testimony to your friendship but
also what you believe in when it comes to so
kids source. So thank you so much for spending just
five minutes with us and telling us all the great
things that you your team in Pandixteriors are doing. I
really appreciate it and I hope to get to see
in person down the line. Thank you so much for
joining us on Community DC.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
I appreciate it as well.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Thank you guys so much.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Well, Glenda, that was great to me Jason, and I
can see why you guys are partners. You guys go
way back your friends. But I think it's a testament
not out to him, but other businesses that work with
you and want to give their time and their money
and their space to you. And I know that that
relationship is pretty special. That he and the company are
sponsoring so many things. It just sounds like a wonderful
(18:11):
marriage in a partnership.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Yes, definitely.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
I mean we couldn't have launches podcasts without their seed funding.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
To help make it a reality.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
All right, well, let's talk about the podcast. What's the content,
who's hosting? Are their multiple guests and give us the
insight on what we're going to listen to. After him,
we're going to find out where you can find it too.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
So the name of it, which Michael, our graduate came
up with, was Sore and High with so Kid Sore.
So that's the name of the podcast, and his idea
was to interview people within our community who are either families,
have beneficiaries of our programs.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Or sponsors, partners.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Who have contributed to our programs, and even just volunteers.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
So we've got four episodes I.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Think we've recorded under our belt, but only two have
been released so far since Michael is also doing all
of the editing and putting it online for us. But
yet the first couple of episodes, we had not only
other graduates that he interviewed of the vocational building program,
but their parents on as well, because I think it's
really interesting and also introspective to hear from the parents
(19:21):
there what they received out of the program, not just
the participant, but what they got to see from their
child and how they developed through the program, and then
the latter two episodes we recorded, we looked at our partner,
so we interviewed former Cats Carl Alsner and his wife
because they started a fantastic foundation called the Alsner Foundation,
(19:44):
and then Handicteriors and then the last one we also
talked with an occupational therapist who's a partner, who also
gave great insight on what we can or what family
parents can do if they are seeing any early signs
of different seeing different abilities.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
And then we.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Also spoke with current CASS player Charlie Langren. His wife
is also an occupational therapist, Michayla, so she was also interviewed.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
That's great, and how how many episodes per month are
you doing? Once a week? Is it once a month?
How ambitious are you getting with this?
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Once a week would be very ambitious for us that
we will make it there one day.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Right now, it's our goal is once a month.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
That's great, that's good. You know you and I have
talked offline about this, and I know it's an extension
of your brand, but the reason why I like that
you're doing the podcast is once again you're getting to
a new audience and might not know much about so
kids sort but also in long form you get to
talk about all the cool things that you're doing and
you're going to do to people that might not have
access to you personally at length, because I know how
(20:50):
busy you are with everything and you try and make
time for everybody, but you know, your stretch thin when
it comes to all that you do for the organization.
So it's cool that people can access all the wonderful
things that you're doing.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Yeah, I totally agree, and it's what we're really One
of our long term goals also is to just have
more graduates help Michael out the podcast, so employing them
to be engineers or even do marketing and that way,
like you said, it could be a little bit off
my plate.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Too, but also just empowering them.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
To find this passion and really create a job for themselves.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
You know. One of the things I noticed that there's
some people that come through your events and your programs
and then end up helping you in other ways. And
I think that's probably one of the most rewarding things
by just helping families in general, Glenda, somebody kind of
paying it forward after you help them. It's just such
a cool thing, and that's happening here, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Yes, definitely.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
I mean, Michael is so excited to see who else
you can train to help him out with the podcast.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
But like we've talked about before, a lot of our.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
I guess senior participants have come back and now volunteer
at our clinics or at our holiday event.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
We had.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Named Josh come on Sunday to our baseball clinic and
he he only wanted to volunteer. He just wanted to
help us run the batting station. And I love that
energy and it's yeah, it's heartwarming and fulfilling for us
to see as well.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Well, I want to talk about your golf tournament because
that's a really big deal coming up, and we talked
about PANDIC Scurors being sponsors of that. It's on June thirteenth,
So let's hear everything about it about not only when
it is, where it is, how people can be a
part of it, or if you need last minute sponsors
or volunteers. Let's get the whole thing out there to everybody.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
It was definitely.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
So it's called the Epin Open and Augie Epin, he's
wonderful guy.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
He started it.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
This golf tournament because his father passed away from a
block panster years ago. So it's that was the inspiration.
But then when Panic Series came on as a co organizer,
they brought so could sort in as a beneficiary too.
And the neat thing is the last two years that
we've been a beneficiary of the golf tournament, we've had
a couple of our participants get to play alongside some
(23:01):
of the NFL grates that go to the tournament. So
Clinton portis Marshall faf are participant, Frank, you got to
play golf with them the last two years. It's on
June thirteenth this year, I believe they do. I think
it's called a shockun start at noon. But if you're
interested in playing, I think they have a few spots left,
(23:23):
you can go to epinopen dot com and we will
be there representing SOCOD Sore and we plan have I
think around five of our participants out this year golfing
again alongside some of the celebrity professional athlete players.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
All right, and can people get more information through the website? Yes, okay,
so how do they do that? Let's get the website
right now. We'll give it again at the end of
our conversation.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
No problem. Yeah, it is epinopen dot com.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
That is e A p e N O p e
n dot com and it kind of gives a brief history.
But there's a register now link and that's why I
think you can go if you would like to play
individually or as a foursome.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
But it's a great day and you also get to.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
Network with a lot of other people that will be
golfing that day and they do a big reception after.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
The tournament too.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
Well cool, listen, we have about five minutes left in
I know you hear so many great experience from families
that so kids sort of exist and then they get
to use them for their family. I don't have a
child or a young adult that has worked through so
could soar, but after talking with you all these many
times on the program GET, I can just imagine the
relief that these families have that you guys exist and
(24:37):
that you have these programs where they didn't have help
before now they do. And I imagine I probably can't
even put words into it at what means to them,
but as they talk to you about their experiences, just
overall arching and if you want to share a quick story.
You're welcome to do that. You don't have to mention
any names at all, or any any sponsors or anything.
But is there what's the kind of feedback that you're
(24:58):
getting from families when it comes to this stuff.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
Other than just offering the respite that they get for
two hours three hours on a random weekend during the month.
We also, just within the last few months, we started
a parent support group online, so every month it's a
different topic that they would like to talk about.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
Going back to your question.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
We've really created this community and the support group for
our families, not just the participants to have a social network,
but also for the parents.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
They they are usually.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
So burnt out and busy from planning everything for their
children that for them to come to our programs, be
able to talk to another parent going through the same thing,
or come on our parents' support Zoom and be able
to connect directly with some of the service providers in
the area, from the rehabilitation, the federal rehabilitation or the
(25:54):
state wife of rehabilitation organizations.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
It's I think showing them that we are not just trying.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
To support their children, we want to support their family
unit as a whole.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
We want to make sure the parents are getting taken
care of.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Now that I am a mom, I just I think
these parents are super heroes and I don't know how
they do it.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Yeah, you know, I'm so glad that you do this.
I'm talking to more and more nonprofits out there and
different charities where they were allowing this to be shared
with each other. And the reason why I'm kind of
expounding on this clendem is that you know, at one
time when I got really sick with my roomor toward
arthritis when I was twenty one, I didn't have anybody
to relate to, so I thought I was on an
(26:33):
island by myself. And now today with the Arthritis Foundation
I talk to, they have a network where families can
talk to each other, right like you do for your families,
and more or more, and I'm sure you'd agree with me.
People just want to relate. They want to realize that
they're not on an island by themselves. So I am
thrilled that you're doing that. And I imagine the feedback
(26:53):
from parents just being able to talk to another parent
saying I'm going through the same pile of stuff that
you are, and we can really late on that and
thank goodness, I'm not the only one pulling my hair
out or I've got this great you know, so kids
sort of that to work with it. It must be
just a dream to hear the feedback about that that
they can relate to each other and come together just
for a few moments, definitely.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
And just with funding getting cut in some places, I think,
especially now, it's important for them to have a place
to connect with each other.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
And like you're saying, as much as.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
I would love to be able to talk with them
about everything they're going through, I have not personally gone
through it. So being able to give them someone who's
gone through the similar situation, I think that's very important.
And we kind of when we facilitate these meetings, we
just sit back and we listen. I think that's another
lost art form, you know, just listening and hearing what.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
They're going through. So, yeah, I appreciate your insight on those.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
Well, that's great. I'm glad you're doing that because once again,
being able to relate that we're just not the only
family that's going through this is huge. I don't think
you can put a price on it. So it's wonderful
that you're doing that well. Listen, we only have a
couple of minutes left. I want to get some final
thoughts from you, recap what we talked to, give information
once again on the golf tournament coming up, and then
the website. So the floor is yours, Glinda, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
So much, Denne.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
So, first off, we have an awesome golf tournament coming
up June thirteenth.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
It's Eve and Open.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
We are one of the beneficiaries along with Luky Malmphoma Society.
There will be a lot of celebrity professional athletes there,
but it's a big fundraiser for us and only have
a few every year. And just if you are on
the fence about getting involved or having your participant and
your child come to one of our clinics, just shoot
(28:34):
me an email.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
We can talk about what you're.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
Looking for for your child, or just go to our
website and you can kind of get a download of
what our programs are.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Our podcast is on there now.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
So you can hear from the parents themselves about what
we've done to help make their lives a little easier
or better. Then and yeah, that's all on sokitsore dot org.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
But I am always here to answer any of your
questions and you can buy my email on the site
as well.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
And then don't forget about that big fat red donate
button that's in the top right hand corner, and all
the social media Glinda and our team probably just Glinda
because I know how Archie works, has a lot of
the social media folks. It's active all the time, and
then somehow you have time to do your own family too,
which I don't know how you pull it off. It's
absolutely amazing, so check it out. And also, by the way,
when you go on the website, just go to the
(29:22):
nabbar and media and you'll see podcasts and blog and
that'll give you where you can download and listen and
watch and all those kind of cool things. So that's
just wonderful one. Glinda, you continue to grow so good Sore.
It's incredible what you and the team are doing. It's
mighty and I'm so glad that Jason and Panda Exteriors
are partners with you and others out there. Let's make
(29:44):
sure that we revisit before the end of the year
about what's coming up near the end of the year
in the fall, the winter of course, your big celebration
and then in twenty twenty six. But thank you again
so much for joining us on Community DC. We really
appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
Thank you so much, Dennis, and we couldn't do it
without you and you just sharing our store right
Good morning, and welcome to another edition of Community DC.
I'm your host Dennis Glasgow. This morning, we welcome back
one of our favorite and regular guests, Glenda Foo Smith,
executive director for So Kid Sore, a nonprofit organization in
the DMV that provides life changing programs to empower youth
with physical and developmental disabilities. We also will be visiting
(00:22):
with one of So Kids Sore sponsors and partners, Jason
Daniel from Panda Exteriors, to talk about his involvement with
the company in the Big Galterman helping out So Kids Sore,
and a new podcast. Plus we'll talk about programs, events,
how to donate, volunteering, and much much more over the
next thirty minutes. Here's my conversation with Glenda. I hope
you enjoyed as much as I did. Good morning, Glenda.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Good morning Dennis.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
It's great to have you back on the show. I
am always happy to have you back, and I know
there's so many great things happening, including a new podcast. Everybody, So, Glenn,
Glenna's in into our business now, which I love that
you're doing that. So we're going to talk about that,
and we're going to talk about funding and program and
events in the latest and a very big golf tournament
that's coming up on June thirteenth with so Kid Sore.
And also we're going to introduce a great partner, Jason
(01:08):
from Panda Exterior, who I know is a longtime friend
of yours, but also making some donations and helping out
with his team. So I'm really excited about that. But first, Glinda,
why don't you tell everybody what's so kid Sore is.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Our mission is to empower youth the physical and developmental
disabilities to strive, own, achieve, and realize their potential. That's
where the Sore in our name comes from. And we
do this through three different free programs. The first are
adaptive clinics. We also have a holiday program, and we
have a vocational building program, and through all three programs,
(01:40):
our goal is to really build up social engagement and
confidence levels for youth with disabilities.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
One of the things that I see on your social
media and your website lot is that you're big in
getting sports and sports teams as partners, which I think
is I know the Washington capitals are big partners of yours,
and you can talk about others, but can you tell
me about maybe the vision you you've been with them
for quite some time now, and about when you came
there to what the vision and the mission is now,
(02:07):
and just the involvement of all these different partners and
all these events and programs that you do, because I
know there's a lot.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Yeah, no, I love that you're having me break it
down a little bit, and we do. I think we
were most known when I started with the organization twenty
eleven for our partnerships with the local sports teams from
DC United to the Commander to the Washington Capitals, like
you touched on, and the most popular events were our
(02:34):
adaptive clinics that we held with these teams. And I
think it's also definitely just showing proof that what we're
doing works to seeing how long our partnerships have been
with these sports teams.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
So with the.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
Washington Capitals, we've done an adaptive ice hockey clinic with
them since twenty ten and every year it has garnered
more participants, more ball in tiers. And now we work
with a great organization called Good Sports, Inc. That donates
equipment to us we can give out to the participants
after they come to the clinic too, So yesterday, we
(03:12):
worked with the Miracle League of Montgomery County to have
a baseball clinic and Good Sports donated all new brand
new baseball bats, baseball gloves, and we were able to
give those to the participants so that they could keep
using them to practice their skills after they left the
clinic too. So it's really neat to see all these
(03:33):
different organizations getting involved and really wanting to keep the
trajectory going for these kids.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Very cool. Now, before I ask you about criteria about
how people can be in families can be a part
of so kids or how far does the net go
in the DMV when it comes to either functions you do,
your partners, all those kind of things. How wide is
the net?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Oh, It's pretty wide.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
And I don't want to just kind of localize us
to this area, but we do service families in DC
pretty much all of DC, all the awards, most of Maryland,
I would say, all the counties that are pretty close
to DC. Prince George's Montgomery Howard. For Virginia, we go
(04:14):
pretty much into central Virginia.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
I know we have Stafford County in there.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
And it's funny because my team and I were talking
about this morning on another interview about what our reach is.
And during COVID we actually had individuals from Canada, from
Australia joining us on our virtual clinics, which we still
host every month. So we try to dream big here
and it is my personal goal to have circuitsor all
(04:40):
over the world, but right now we're starting locally and
hopefully hopefully going nationwide in the next five to ten
years and then hopefully worldwide.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Well that's huge. I love that you're thinking big that way,
and I don't doubt you're going to attain that goal. Now,
let's talk about criteria. The family's listening right now. They're saying, well, jeez,
you know, I have this person in my family, but
I don't know I qualified to have them do something
in some of your clinics or programs. So can you
go the whether it's a demo or any kind of
specifics criteria about how people can be friends with you
(05:11):
and do stuff in all the great programs and events
that you have.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
So the criteria is, we have to be a youth
with a disability physical, cognitive, or developmental age four to thirty.
Anyone in age four to thirty within that book can
come to our clinics or holiday program. Our vocational building
program is for young adults with disabilities within the eighteen
to thirty a range, and that's just because we're really
(05:37):
trying to get them on the feet with some job
skill training and hopefully finding independent and a job in
the future.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
So you've got the clinics, you also got a holiday
celebration in your path to success. When it comes to
that programs over you, can you talk to us a
little bit about all three for us, yes, of course.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
So the adaptive clinics are held once a month, once
or twice a month, and we have both in person
and online.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Some of our participants just have.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Not been able due to you know, immunocompromise situations, be
able to come in person again, so we still offer
our virtual clinics every month and those range from an
athletic to recreational to therapeutic activities from cooking to soccer
to water skiing. Our holiday program is at the end
(06:26):
of every year. It's like you mentioned, a holiday celebration
where all of our participants get to come in, they
get to perform give back activity, so they will wrap
presence for homeless youth. They will decorate cookies for local
area food banks. But we don't also just work with
local nonprofits for that we have we actually right now
(06:49):
work with a nonprofit in Japan called hands On Tokyo,
and our participants at our holiday celebration will create flashcarts
English Japanese speaking flash cards and we will send them
over to Japan every December after the program.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
So it's just.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Showing our participants that they can make an impact both
locally internationally no matter what ability type. And then our
vocational building program, your Pass and Success, that is a
three month curriculum in the fall, we accept up to
ten youngstabilities. They each get two mentors who awesome volunteers
(07:25):
that not only teach them skills but also just to
become a friend and kind of a big brother, big
sister mentor not just doing the program, but beyond the
program as well. And we've successfully i think found employment
for fifty one percent of the graduates out of the pit.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
That's outstanding. So I want to talk about being funded
in how you are funded and that will lead into partners,
whether it's a small, medium, large business and also people
that can donate personally, not only money, but with their
time too. So there's a lot to kind of tackle
in there, but the overall arching question is how are
you funded.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Yes, we are funded through grants, corporate sponsors, and personal donors.
It's really neat to see the people that want to
give back, not just financially, but we know we also
need people to just volunteer or give in kind donations,
which means, for instance, our water skiing clinic. Every year
(08:25):
we have about five or six fo captains that donate
their time, their boat, their equipment, their life, best everything
for the entire eight hour day. So yeah, I think
it's a conglomeration of not just companies, the individuals and foundations.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
And we'll talk about the website and you're end of
our conversation. I know a lot of orrier of our
smart listeners of Google, so kids sore and they're on there.
There's a big donate button, there's a newsletter sign up
and all sorts of information. It's a really beautiful website,
easy to navigate. So we'll talk about that at the
end of our conversation. But something I learned from you
about one one of the cool things is that you
do so many events that there are clients or not
(09:04):
clients but partners people that donate space for you, whether
it's a court or whether it's a field, or whether
it's a building. And I think that's important to talk
about because you do so many events that you really
encourage that kind of a partnership as well too.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Right, definitely, our soccer clinic we just had a month ago.
We worked with DPR, the DC Department of Parks and
Recreation to get field space to use their accessible bathrooms.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
It's little things like.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
That that you don't think about when you're putting on
a program, but when people want to get involved and
are willing to give you access to equipment and those
other resources, it really makes your job a bit easier.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
We get a.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Lot of venue space donated for our vocational building program.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
We work with a great company called van.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Meter, and all of the eleven or twelve meetings we
have in their office building, and they've also tried to
find other ways to host networking event for us. So
it's truly amazing to see how everyone comes together.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
To help all.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Right on the other side of a special guests that
I'm going to have you introduce Jason Daniel, We're going
to talk about the golf tournament that's coming up in
mid June, and we're going to talk about a lot
of other things that are happening when it comes to
So Kid Sore and the exciting podcast. But I think
this is a good segue because Jason and his company
are part of the podcast and overaltering sponsors for golf
(10:28):
tournaments and all sorts of other things that you do.
You guys, go wait back, but can you just do
a small introduction and then I'll have a conversation with him.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Yes, I would love to.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
Jason Daniel is one of the founders of Pandexteriors. Scott
Tucker and I've been friends with him a long time
and he's always personally donated, but when his company blew
up and just kept growing in twenty and funny, he
really wants to make sure that he supported So Kids
Sore from the beginning.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
So it's been We're extremely grateful.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
But he is a presenting are of not just our clinics,
but also the vocational Building program and the podcast that
came out of the Vocational Building program.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
And then just very quickly, can you tell me about
why you're doing a podcast? I know, but I want
you to tell our listeners why I think.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
It's a great story, So thank you for asking that.
We had honestly no goals or dreams, no intent of
building a podcast out. But one of our vocational building
program graduates, Michael. He when he came through our program,
he was a storyteller, like he really loved making comic stripts.
He loved even doing interviews, and so I was trying
(11:38):
to find a great internship to place him in, and
just at that time, fortuitously enough, my friend Dustin Canner,
he started podtext, which is a podcasting company. So Michael
went to intern there with the paid internship every summer,
even though he was also in college during the rest
of the year at the same time, and once he
was done with I Think Get twenty twenty four, he
(12:02):
asked me, he emailed me, came up with the idea
that I really want to start a podcast or so
good Sore, and from there it's just blossomed.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
So it's really his brainchild and we're just so proud
of him for it.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
I love it, and that on the other side, Glenda
will tell you about how you can listen to that
podcast because it's on a lot of different platforms, so
here's my quick conversation from Pandamic Exteriors with Jason. So, Jason,
Glinda did a wonderful job of basically introducing you to us,
But I I'd love to hear kind of a longer
story about your affiliation, your relationship not only with so
(12:34):
Kids Sore, but Glinda. How did you guys meet and
how did you guys become partners?
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (12:38):
So, I mean I've known Glinda, a good friend of
mine who actually grown up with Macron and introduced us
kind of in the DC scene a couple of years
ago and.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
Just became friends.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
I kept being friends, and I was just so impressed
with everything that she was doing for the community that
I was like, I want to get involved as much
as I can. I want to support as much as
I can. And as I started pand Exteriors and really
being able to have the financial backing to make a
difference in the charity donations that we were able to,
(13:10):
we were able to kind of start this golf tournament
and help her more than from before.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Well, that's wonderful. And when it comes to Panda Exteriors,
I know, with you being an entrepreneur and a businessman
for many years, now that a lot of businesses like yourself,
hop on charities for whatever reason to help out or
maybe it's near and dearer. You have an affiliation like
you have and being friends personally with Glenda, But when
it comes to the overall arching thing that you want
(13:38):
to do, when it comes to the podcast and also
helping with a golf tournament or overall with so kids,
sort kind of tell me your vision about why you
want to get involved in what you are doing right
now to help out.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Sure.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
Yeah, so I think it's a passion of mine. It
was instilled when we were younger to always kind of
help those in need. And just watching Glenda's passion for
these kids and what she was doing for them, and
even I remember one of the golf tournaments that they
came out. It was one of our first interactions with
the family. Just seeing how happy they were to have
these kids out on the golf course and the parents
(14:09):
just ecstatic that they were there. It touched me in
a way that I was like, what can I do?
How much more can I help? Because it gets lost
on your every day to day, right, we get lost
in our work, we get lost in our families, and
we forget that you know what we are truly, truly blessed.
We are lucky for everything that we have. So many
people focus on what they don't have and they don't
see what they do have. And I love to be
(14:31):
able to be like, hey, you know what, I am blessed.
Let me try to help as much as I can.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
So.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
I know that you're busy, but when you get a
chance to either see SO Kids Sore in person, Glenn
in person, and maybe some of the functions, and I
don't know if you had a chance to check out
the podcast I have and Glenn and I have been
talking about that. We're going to talk more about it
and just a few minutes here after we finish up
with you, Jason, but tell me you know what you've
seen and what you've heard and the response that you're
(14:57):
getting with your involvement in being partners with SO Kids Sore.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
So we've done a couple of events where I haven't
been able to get there to most of them, but
I'm able to send my employees to help out. She's
done a hockey program or hockey where she's taking the
kids out and it's the first time on the ice
and just my employees coming back and being like, Wow,
it was so gratifying to see these guys smiles and
(15:21):
see how much fun that they were having. We had
the chance to actually do one of her podcasts, and
it was humbling to see how amazing this one of
her graduates were running the entire the entire podcast, asking
the questions, coming up with it, setting up the mics.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
It was awesome.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
You know, Jason, I've talked to a lot of nonprofits
on this program, and one of the things that I've
noticed that that you talked about, and Glenn has talked
about me and other nonprofits is having the full circle
thing happen where you're helping either a family or a person,
and then after they're basically done or when they grow
a little bit older, they paid forward and help out themsells.
(16:00):
And you've seen that and heard that in person. I
think that's one of the cool things, especially about sokinsor
about somebody coming through the program and then helping out
at a higher level. It's pretty cool.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Yeah, And I think that's what makes it a little
bit different, Right, You're not just donating money, You're you're
donating to have them grow and be part of society
and contribute back and really help back the.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Kids that are coming through the program. Again.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
It's awesome to see that cyclical thing of it.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
Well, one final thing I wanted to get from you, Jason,
and it's kind of a message to all the small, medium,
and large businesses out there. And since we're talking about
so kind sore about your relationship with Glinda, with sokid soor,
but you know, there's other businesses that might be thinking
about joining in and being partners for whatever reason, whether
it's a podcast, a golf tournament, overall arching sponsor maybe
(16:48):
donating their space. And I know this is your journey
with PANDAM Exteriors, but can you just talk to all
the businesses out there about maybe the future and what
it's like to work with sokdsor and you get back
from it.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
I think the passion that I see in Glenda for
this program is so contagious. That's what brings me back
every year, and the different clinics, the different ideas, and
like you said before, seeing the kids start in the
program and then graduate from the program and then helping again,
it's amazing and her dedication has made me want to
(17:22):
be better as a business as a company and continue
to donate.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
Well, Jason, I know that you don't have to do this,
you want to do it, and I think it's cool
and you know it's a testimony to your friendship but
also what you believe in when it comes to so
kids source. So thank you so much for spending just
five minutes with us and telling us all the great
things that you your team in Pandixteriors are doing. I
really appreciate it and I hope to get to see
in person down the line. Thank you so much for
joining us on Community DC.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
I appreciate it as well.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Thank you guys so much.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Well, Glenda, that was great to me Jason, and I
can see why you guys are partners. You guys go
way back your friends. But I think it's a testament
not out to him, but other businesses that work with
you and want to give their time and their money
and their space to you. And I know that that
relationship is pretty special. That he and the company are
sponsoring so many things. It just sounds like a wonderful
(18:11):
marriage in a partnership.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Yes, definitely.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
I mean we couldn't have launches podcasts without their seed funding.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
To help make it a reality.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
All right, well, let's talk about the podcast. What's the content,
who's hosting? Are their multiple guests and give us the
insight on what we're going to listen to. After him,
we're going to find out where you can find it too.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
So the name of it, which Michael, our graduate came
up with, was Sore and High with so Kid Sore.
So that's the name of the podcast, and his idea
was to interview people within our community who are either families,
have beneficiaries of our programs.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Or sponsors, partners.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Who have contributed to our programs, and even just volunteers.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
So we've got four episodes I.
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Think we've recorded under our belt, but only two have
been released so far since Michael is also doing all
of the editing and putting it online for us. But
yet the first couple of episodes, we had not only
other graduates that he interviewed of the vocational building program,
but their parents on as well, because I think it's
really interesting and also introspective to hear from the parents
(19:21):
there what they received out of the program, not just
the participant, but what they got to see from their
child and how they developed through the program, and then
the latter two episodes we recorded, we looked at our partner,
so we interviewed former Cats Carl Alsner and his wife
because they started a fantastic foundation called the Alsner Foundation,
(19:44):
and then Handicteriors and then the last one we also
talked with an occupational therapist who's a partner, who also
gave great insight on what we can or what family
parents can do if they are seeing any early signs
of different seeing different abilities.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
And then we.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Also spoke with current CASS player Charlie Langren. His wife
is also an occupational therapist, Michayla, so she was also interviewed.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
That's great, and how how many episodes per month are
you doing? Once a week? Is it once a month?
How ambitious are you getting with this?
Speaker 3 (20:22):
Once a week would be very ambitious for us that
we will make it there one day.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
Right now, it's our goal is once a month.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
That's great, that's good. You know you and I have
talked offline about this, and I know it's an extension
of your brand, but the reason why I like that
you're doing the podcast is once again you're getting to
a new audience and might not know much about so
kids sort but also in long form you get to
talk about all the cool things that you're doing and
you're going to do to people that might not have
access to you personally at length, because I know how
(20:50):
busy you are with everything and you try and make
time for everybody, but you know, your stretch thin when
it comes to all that you do for the organization.
So it's cool that people can access all the wonderful
things that you're doing.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
Yeah, I totally agree, and it's what we're really One
of our long term goals also is to just have
more graduates help Michael out the podcast, so employing them
to be engineers or even do marketing and that way,
like you said, it could be a little bit off
my plate.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
Too, but also just empowering them.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
To find this passion and really create a job for themselves.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
You know. One of the things I noticed that there's
some people that come through your events and your programs
and then end up helping you in other ways. And
I think that's probably one of the most rewarding things
by just helping families in general, Glenda, somebody kind of
paying it forward after you help them. It's just such
a cool thing, and that's happening here, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Yes, definitely.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
I mean, Michael is so excited to see who else
you can train to help him out with the podcast.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
But like we've talked about before, a lot of our.
Speaker 3 (21:51):
I guess senior participants have come back and now volunteer
at our clinics or at our holiday event.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
We had.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Named Josh come on Sunday to our baseball clinic and
he he only wanted to volunteer. He just wanted to
help us run the batting station. And I love that
energy and it's yeah, it's heartwarming and fulfilling for us
to see as well.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Well, I want to talk about your golf tournament because
that's a really big deal coming up, and we talked
about PANDIC Scurors being sponsors of that. It's on June thirteenth,
So let's hear everything about it about not only when
it is, where it is, how people can be a
part of it, or if you need last minute sponsors
or volunteers. Let's get the whole thing out there to everybody.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
It was definitely.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
So it's called the Epin Open and Augie Epin, he's
wonderful guy.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
He started it.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
This golf tournament because his father passed away from a
block panster years ago. So it's that was the inspiration.
But then when Panic Series came on as a co organizer,
they brought so could sort in as a beneficiary too.
And the neat thing is the last two years that
we've been a beneficiary of the golf tournament, we've had
a couple of our participants get to play alongside some
(23:01):
of the NFL grates that go to the tournament. So
Clinton portis Marshall faf are participant, Frank, you got to
play golf with them the last two years. It's on
June thirteenth this year, I believe they do. I think
it's called a shockun start at noon. But if you're
interested in playing, I think they have a few spots left,
(23:23):
you can go to epinopen dot com and we will
be there representing SOCOD Sore and we plan have I
think around five of our participants out this year golfing
again alongside some of the celebrity professional athlete players.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
All right, and can people get more information through the website? Yes, okay,
so how do they do that? Let's get the website
right now. We'll give it again at the end of
our conversation.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
No problem. Yeah, it is epinopen dot com.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
That is e A p e N O p e
n dot com and it kind of gives a brief history.
But there's a register now link and that's why I
think you can go if you would like to play
individually or as a foursome.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
But it's a great day and you also get to.
Speaker 3 (24:07):
Network with a lot of other people that will be
golfing that day and they do a big reception after.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
The tournament too.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
Well cool, listen, we have about five minutes left in
I know you hear so many great experience from families
that so kids sort of exist and then they get
to use them for their family. I don't have a
child or a young adult that has worked through so
could soar, but after talking with you all these many
times on the program GET, I can just imagine the
relief that these families have that you guys exist and
(24:37):
that you have these programs where they didn't have help
before now they do. And I imagine I probably can't
even put words into it at what means to them,
but as they talk to you about their experiences, just
overall arching and if you want to share a quick story.
You're welcome to do that. You don't have to mention
any names at all, or any any sponsors or anything.
But is there what's the kind of feedback that you're
(24:58):
getting from families when it comes to this stuff.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
Other than just offering the respite that they get for
two hours three hours on a random weekend during the month.
We also, just within the last few months, we started
a parent support group online, so every month it's a
different topic that they would like to talk about.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
Going back to your question.
Speaker 3 (25:20):
We've really created this community and the support group for
our families, not just the participants to have a social network,
but also for the parents.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
They they are usually.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
So burnt out and busy from planning everything for their
children that for them to come to our programs, be
able to talk to another parent going through the same thing,
or come on our parents' support Zoom and be able
to connect directly with some of the service providers in
the area, from the rehabilitation, the federal rehabilitation or the
(25:54):
state wife of rehabilitation organizations.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
It's I think showing them that we are not just trying.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
To support their children, we want to support their family
unit as a whole.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
We want to make sure the parents are getting taken
care of.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Now that I am a mom, I just I think
these parents are super heroes and I don't know how
they do it.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
Yeah, you know, I'm so glad that you do this.
I'm talking to more and more nonprofits out there and
different charities where they were allowing this to be shared
with each other. And the reason why I'm kind of
expounding on this clendem is that you know, at one
time when I got really sick with my roomor toward
arthritis when I was twenty one, I didn't have anybody
to relate to, so I thought I was on an
(26:33):
island by myself. And now today with the Arthritis Foundation
I talk to, they have a network where families can
talk to each other, right like you do for your families,
and more or more, and I'm sure you'd agree with me.
People just want to relate. They want to realize that
they're not on an island by themselves. So I am
thrilled that you're doing that. And I imagine the feedback
(26:53):
from parents just being able to talk to another parent
saying I'm going through the same pile of stuff that
you are, and we can really late on that and
thank goodness, I'm not the only one pulling my hair
out or I've got this great you know, so kids
sort of that to work with it. It must be
just a dream to hear the feedback about that that
they can relate to each other and come together just
for a few moments, definitely.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
And just with funding getting cut in some places, I think,
especially now, it's important for them to have a place
to connect with each other.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
And like you're saying, as much as.
Speaker 3 (27:21):
I would love to be able to talk with them
about everything they're going through, I have not personally gone
through it. So being able to give them someone who's
gone through the similar situation, I think that's very important.
And we kind of when we facilitate these meetings, we
just sit back and we listen. I think that's another
lost art form, you know, just listening and hearing what.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
They're going through. So, yeah, I appreciate your insight on those.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
Well, that's great. I'm glad you're doing that because once again,
being able to relate that we're just not the only
family that's going through this is huge. I don't think
you can put a price on it. So it's wonderful
that you're doing that well. Listen, we only have a
couple of minutes left. I want to get some final
thoughts from you, recap what we talked to, give information
once again on the golf tournament coming up, and then
the website. So the floor is yours, Glinda, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
So much, Denne.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
So, first off, we have an awesome golf tournament coming
up June thirteenth.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
It's Eve and Open.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
We are one of the beneficiaries along with Luky Malmphoma Society.
There will be a lot of celebrity professional athletes there,
but it's a big fundraiser for us and only have
a few every year. And just if you are on
the fence about getting involved or having your participant and
your child come to one of our clinics, just shoot
(28:34):
me an email.
Speaker 2 (28:35):
We can talk about what you're.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
Looking for for your child, or just go to our
website and you can kind of get a download of
what our programs are.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Our podcast is on there now.
Speaker 3 (28:45):
So you can hear from the parents themselves about what
we've done to help make their lives a little easier
or better. Then and yeah, that's all on sokitsore dot org.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
But I am always here to answer any of your
questions and you can buy my email on the site
as well.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
And then don't forget about that big fat red donate
button that's in the top right hand corner, and all
the social media Glinda and our team probably just Glinda
because I know how Archie works, has a lot of
the social media folks. It's active all the time, and
then somehow you have time to do your own family too,
which I don't know how you pull it off. It's
absolutely amazing, so check it out. And also, by the way,
when you go on the website, just go to the
(29:22):
nabbar and media and you'll see podcasts and blog and
that'll give you where you can download and listen and
watch and all those kind of cool things. So that's
just wonderful one. Glinda, you continue to grow so good Sore.
It's incredible what you and the team are doing. It's
mighty and I'm so glad that Jason and Panda Exteriors
are partners with you and others out there. Let's make
(29:44):
sure that we revisit before the end of the year
about what's coming up near the end of the year
in the fall, the winter of course, your big celebration
and then in twenty twenty six. But thank you again
so much for joining us on Community DC. We really
appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
Thank you so much, Dennis, and we couldn't do it
without you and you just sharing our store right
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com