One of the most rewarding things about getting to know so many entrepreneurs is seeing first-hand how many of them are focused on so much more than just financial results.  So many of the folks we connect with are focused on having a positive social impact on their community or the world at large.  Check out some of these amazing folks below.

Cheryl McColgan | Author, Coach and Founder of Heal Nourish Grow

There are a lot of big sites that write about health and wellness. However, mine is a bit different because to this point, I write all of the content myself and they’re all topics in which I have a personal interest. It’s important to me to go beyond conventional wisdom or standard of care and really dive into the research when I have questions about a particular topic. I realize not everyone has time to do this for themselves, so my goal is to make HealNourishGrow.com a source of in-depth health information that goes beyond mainstream information. Read more>>

Nathan Timmel | Stand-up Comedian

This is a fascinating question that I’ve never been asked, which means I’ve never given it much thought. As a stand-up comedian, I’m not “helping the world” in the same way a volunteer at a soup kitchen might. I’m not a doctor, so I’m not healing the sick. I’m not a scientist attempting to further the cause of clean energy. I’m a comedian, which means I sling jokes into a microphone. Understanding that, I have put together 12 “Comedy for Charity” shows over the past 15 years. (COVID broke the flow of having an annual show, unfortunately.) Over those 12 shows, I’ve helped raise over $25,000 for various causes, including researching pediatric cancer, sponsoring veterans returning home from combat, and private families in need. Read more>>

Kim Shannon | Founder of Three Pits And A Lady

This organization assists pet owners, more specifically dog owners, in financial situations with their dogs. We strive to keep dogs in their homes, provided that is the best scenario. We never want a dog to be surrendered or humanely euthanized over a financial situation, when feasible. Read more>>

Sarah Curry | Author/Founder of Smile Books Project and Trauma and Resilience Specialist

Smile Books Project helps individuals and other nonprofit organizations share their stories. We give a voice to those who otherwise may go unheard when they have a powerful story to tell. We bring awareness, fundraising and hope to those who need it. Our social impact on the lives of those we work with continues to grow. If a child or parent we are working with has a terminal diagnosis, we are giving them a gift that anyone in their situation can hope for: a legacy to leave. We know we can’t change what is happening, but we can give them a chance to know they will be remembered in such a unique way. Read more>>

Sara Continenza | City Councilwoman and Nonprofit Founder/Executive Director

Food Strong’s mission is to use fresh foods as a tool to educate, empower, and cultivate health throughout Northeast Ohio. We offer numerous programs to achieve this goal: School Gardens and Culinary Arts Programming: We visit schools and other institutions to guide young learners through the process of planning, building, planting, maintaining, and harvesting fresh food, herb, and native flower gardens. We emphasize STEM, the arts, environmental and community stewardship, nutrition, and entrepreneurship. We also teach our students how to cook healthy food from scratch. Read more>>

The Cincinnati Peace-Movement | Social enterprise specializing educational services and educational leadership

The entire intention for Cincy Peace was for it to be a social enterprise, meaning it is a for profit business but we put our social impact ahead of capital gain. So just with that alone we knew the way we went about our business would set us aside from a lot of for profit and non-profit entities. And as we amerced ourselves in the community not only did our business grow but so did our social impact; it started with community clean-ups where we coined the term “street sweeps”. That started off with just four people who wanted to do something positive and by the end of it we had whole communities outside in the heat or in the cold- happy to make their neighborhoods look beautiful. Read more>>

Julie Martin | Nakama Studio Owner & Teacher

I created Nakama Studio for the community of Batavia, Ohio and surrounding areas. At Nakama Studio, we offer a wide variety of classes, camps, parties and events that allow kids and adults to escape the daily stresses of life to learn a new skill, do an activity they love, practice self care, celebrate special occasions and be creative while myself and other members of the community lead them thru activities and experiences that will create lasting memories while also improving their mental health. At Nakama Studio, we offer a year round reading program that allows kids from newborn and up to earn prizes. We believe in the importance of reading aloud to kids from birth and on, so we love to encourage parents and kids. Read more>>

Lillian Morales-Laster | Executive Director

Empowering Latina Leadership Academy (ELLA) helps Latinas boost their careers by giving them the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to be rock stars in their chosen fields. And this isn’t just about personal growth; it’s a ripple effect that spreads through the community, making it more skilled and confident. ELLA’s program covers a wide range of essential topics, from personal branding to financial wellness, and from leadership skills to salary negotiation. We combine this with mentoring and networking events. The mentorship and networking opportunities that ELLA offers are like gold. They not only help Latinas move up in their careers and break down barriers but also create a strong sense of unity and support in our community. Read more>>

Dion Green | President of The Fudge Foundation

The impact of what The Fudge Foundation is trying to achieve is to promote healing in our communities and decrease the amount of violence that is occurring in our country by working with our youth and adults in society to offer a positive way of thinking and to change the thought process from a negative outcome to a positive one. The Fudge Foundation also works to eliminate the stigma around trauma in the BIPOC community. Creating safe and brave spaces allows individuals to share and be vulnerable in areas to speak on the issues that bother an individual in a non-judgmental setting. Read more>>