Podcast Content


The Life of a Baller with Frank DeBlasi

Our featured guest on this episode is Frank DeBlasi, Founder of The Baller Dream Foundation, formerly known as Ballsfest, a non-profit organization that lifts the spirits of children and young adults affected by cancer. In our first Season, Frank shared how his struggle with cancer led him to create this incredible nonprofit to raise the spirits of kids with cancer through amazing personalized gifts, such as college funds, trips and once in a lifetime experiences. Since founding The Baller Dream Foundation in 2013, Frank has provided gifts of hope to 70 young cancer warriors. He has grown the organization to seven states (AZ, NV, CA, AL, FL, NY, NJ) and although he is based in Arizona, Frank travels to each of those states and visits with every "Baller" several times, cultivating personal lifelong relationships with them and their families. Listen to his first podcast episode here: frank-deblasi-of-the-ballsfest-nonprofiti

Mark and Frank talk about the incredible fundraising event held last month at a private home in PV where Mark and his daughters cooked and served Paella to the nearly 200 guests in attendance. At the end of each event, Frank gives each "baller" their time in the spotlight to talk about themselves and their hobbies, wishes, etc. before they are surprised with one of their big wishes being granted!! The look on the children's faces and their parents when these wishes are granted is incredibly heartwarming and it's no wonder Frank has dedicated the past 9 years of his life to keep this foundation flourishing… even despite the year-long pandemic!

Building a Monument to Compassion with Charles Keller

Sketch of The Colten Cowell Bat Cave

Sketch of The Colten Cowell Bat Cave

Today's episode is about goodness, kindness, charity, and compassion, as my guest today is a person who genuinely epitomizes all of these traits and does so in an energetic yet graceful manner. This person is Charles Keller, Founder of the Colten Cowell Foundation and the Monument to Compassion. The Colten Cowell Foundation is a non-profit that gives children with a disability or a terminal condition, and their families, one-of-a-kind experiences that are both a lot of fun and deeply meaningful. 

We designed the Superhero Experience to benefit the entire family. For the children, they get to forget that they are sick and simply enjoy being a kid. For the parents, this is an evening to momentarily let go of their worries and share a moment of pure joy with their children. By watching the Batmobile inspire wonder and joy Charles knew it was more than just a great set of wheels. Charles could see that sharing the Batmobile was a great experience not just for others, but for himself too. The Batmobile is now at the heart of a one-of-a-kind experience that transforms children into Superheroes, creating unforgettable memories for families.

After an imaginative, unforgettable “Crime Fighting Cave” experience, kids become real-life Super Heroes when they are empowered to give. In the process, they learn how rewarding it can be to help others — regardless of the amount. In the end, memories are all we have, and the best are the ones that we get to share with the people that we love.

Candelaria Design & Charles Keller designing The Bat Cave

Candelaria Design & Charles Keller designing The Bat Cave

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A native of Portland, Oregon, Charles moved to the Valley to attend Arizona State University. Before becoming Arizona’s most outside-of-the-box philanthropist, Charles worked in government (President George HW Bush administration), Finance (Charles Schwab) and Technology (Apple, Inc.).

All of these assignments are, of course, cakewalks when compared to working for Mr. Wayne at the Bat Cave - a taskmaster if ever there was one.


Follow the Colten Cowell Foundation here:

www.coltencowellfoundation.org

facebook.com/ColtenCowellFoundation

instagram.com/coltencowellfdn/

twitter.com/coltencowellfdn

linkedin.com/company/colten-cowell-foundation

youtube.com/channel/UCBfEesuv6R5VDDq-A1VuoUw

Fighting Day and Night with Jimmy Walker

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Truly a man that inspires so many of us, Jimmy Walker, founder and figurehead of Celebrity Fight Night which he started along with his good friend, Charles Barkley in 1994. As the event grew, Jimmy Walker collaborated and worked side by side with the great Muhammad Ali for nearly 20 years before he passed and has raised millions of dollars for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and the Banner Neurological Institute. This year's event in Phoenix, AZ has been postponed to October 3, 2020, tickets and info here.

Celebrity Fight Night has always strived to make a difference for so many people in need who otherwise may not be able to help themselves.  Not only are they helping patients and their families battling against neurological diseases at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, and the Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders Program at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, but are also assisting St. Vincent de Paul in its efforts to provide much needed assistance to the homeless population in Phoenix.  Additionally, they are helping children and their families in the impoverished country of Haiti through work with the Andrea Bocelli Foundation in Italy. Celebrity fight night has given approximately $90 million over 25 years to different charities with the lead beneficiary being the Muhammad Ali Parkinson center.

Recognized as one of the nation’s elite charity events, the 26th annual Celebrity Fight Night will be held October 3, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona with all the star-studded entertainment our guests have come to expect throughout the years. They will be honoring Jimmy Kimmel, Reggie Jackson who will be introduced by Larry Fitzgerald and Broadway sensation Kristin Chenoweth, along with performances by Reba McEntire, David Foster, Kristin Chenoweth, the Tenors, Flo Rida, and more! This power-packed night of excitement not only leaves the audience with unforgettable memories each year but, more importantly, provides significant dollars for charities.

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Living Your Mission with Darcy Olsen of Generation Justice

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Today we speak with one of the strongest, most caring people we know, Founder of Generation Justice, Darcy Olsen. In 2011, Darcy found herself with a foster baby in her arms and a mission: to put an end to the bureaucratic failures, violence, and deaths she’d seen children suffer in our nation’s broken child protection system. Today, Darcy has adopted all four of her children from foster care, pictured below.  Darcy has testified before Congress, written for The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and has published a book "The Right to Try" along with countless appearances on public affair shows. 

The story she shares in this episode about her life’s journey and work is heartbreaking and heartwarming . . . but please give it a listen and understand what is happening all around us in this city and cities all over America. We must use our strengths to help others, especially those who cannot help themselves.

Gen Justice works to mend the child protection system and bring a permanent end to innocent children enduring violence in the foster care system. Through bipartisan reforms, they have improved the safety of more than 35,000 kids across the country. Coupled with those reforms, their Children’s Law Clinic provides free counsel for children and creates precedent that serves all child victims.

When Olsen announced the formation of Gen Justice, National Review declared, “Children could have no better guardian angel!” Gen Justice received the Arizona Capitol Times award for “Up and Comer” in 2018 and Olsen herself was named as a “Best Activist” honoree in 2019. 

By making a donation to Gen Justice, you receive a dollar-for-dollar credit off of your Arizona taxes, which means you get a credit on your state taxes for the full amount of your donation. Or, get involved!

Darcy & Mark at the Shamrock Foods Office - Sponsors of Gen Justine

Darcy & Mark at the Shamrock Foods Office - Sponsors of Gen Justine

Keeping the Balls in the Air with Frank DeBlasi

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Our featured guest on this episode is Frank DeBlasi, Founder of BALLSFEST, a registered non-profit organization that lifts the spirits of children, young adults, and their families affected by cancer. Frank will share the joys and journey of creating this nonprofit, including how his own battle with testicular cancer inspired him. Since founding Ballsfest in 2013, Frank has provided 56 young cancer warriors, or “Ballers” as they are called, with spectacular, personalized gifts and experiences. He has grown the organization to seven states (AZ, NV, CA, AL, FL, NY, NJ) and although he is based in Arizona, Frank travels to each of those states and visits with every Baller several times, cultivating personal lifelong relationships with them and their families.

We’d love to invite you to join Frank and the Arizona Ballers on Sunday, March 15th for a wonderful afternoon filled with laughter, positive vibes, food and drinks at the beautiful Mountain Shadows Resort in PV from 2-5 pm. Tickets are available on ballsfest.org/arizona. Be sure to use promo code BALLER75 on the checkout page to receive 50% off tickets.