Meet Brandy Jemczura | Founder & Executive Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brandy Jemczura and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brandy, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
At Seeds of Caring, we’re all about empowering kids to make a difference right now – not someday when they’re “grown up.” We create service, social action, and community-building experiences where kids as young as age 2 can learn empathy, see the power of their actions, and start shaping the kind of world they want to live in.

Through hands-on projects, kids pack meals, make care kits, learn about issues like homelessness or inclusion, and reflect on what it means to care for others. While they’re taking part in these projects, we incorporate meaningful education to help kids build skills like empathy, awareness, and a sense of responsibility that will stick with them for life.

So really, we’re not just helping communities today. We’re growing the next generation of compassionate leaders who will help our world far into the future.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Seeds of Caring started from a simple belief in the power of kindness and the capacity for kids to change our world. In our first year, we provided 285 child volunteer experiences. Last year, just nine years later, that number grew to over 38,000 child volunteer experiences and we’ve been able to expand into a second city: Indianapolis. That’s something I’m incredibly proud of, not because of the numbers themselves, but because of what they represent – tens of thousands of moments where kids learned empathy, took action, and felt their own power to create change.

Getting here has taken a lot of teamwork. We’ve brought so many people to the table – volunteers, staff, kids, nonprofit partners, educators, donors – all contributing in the ways they could. It’s truly been a collective effort, a community of believers who saw the value in our mission and were willing to roll up their sleeves and make it happen. Collaboration has been our biggest strength from day one.

It definitely hasn’t been easy. I’ve had to learn something new pretty much every day, and I’ve learned to call on others for help when the challenges felt bigger than what I knew how to tackle. Building authentic partnerships with more than 50 nonprofits in the communities we serve has been key, ensuring we’re meeting real needs while empowering kids to be part of the solution.

Through it all, perseverance and a deep belief in our mission have kept me going. I truly believe raising kids who are empathetic, community-minded, and ready to act when they see something wrong in the world is essential to building a brighter future for all of us. When that belief guides you, it’s easier to stay steady through the ups and downs.

The biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way? First, deep gratitude for every person who’s plugged in to make this mission possible. And second, that real, lasting change takes all of us. When we work together with heart and purpose, there’s no limit to the good we can create.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend came to Columbus, we’d kick things off at our local Clintonville farmer’s market, spend a morning hiking at Highbanks or Blendon Woods to soak up some nature, and then catch a Columbus Crew game (best fans ever).

I’d definitely bring them to a Seeds of Caring volunteer event so they could see kids in action making a real difference. We’d hang in the Short North for art and coffee and we wouldn’t miss The North Market for an incredible variety of foods. By the end of the week, they’d see what I love most about Columbus – it’s a city with huge heart, where creativity, kindness, and community all come together.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My biggest shoutout goes to the incredible Seeds of Caring staff team. They pour their energy, creativity, and care into every program we run, ensuring we’re always making the biggest impact we can for kids and for the community. Our staff believe deeply in our mission and in the power of young people to change the world, and that belief shows up in everything they do. I’m constantly inspired by their dedication. Seeds of Caring wouldn’t be what it is without them.

Website: https://www.seedsofcaring.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seedsofcaring/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seedsofcaring/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeedsOfCaring/