Heroes in Business - Stacey Weber Interview

Episode Date: May 31, 2024

Stacey Weber President of ChildHelp Phoenix is interviewed by David Cogan of Eliances Heroes radio show amfm. They discuss the epidemic of abuse impacting children all over and how ChildHelp's mission is making an impact. Together with founder Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, Weber works with celebrities from the big screen to the small screen and beyond to work toward ending child abuse.

Up in the sky! Look! It's captivating! It's energizing! It's Eliance's Heroes! Eliance's is the destination for entrepreneurs, investors, CEOs, inventors, leaders, celebrities, and startups. Where our heroes in business align. leaders, celebrities, and startups, where our heroes in business align. Now, here's your host flying in, David Kogan, founder of Eliance's. That's right. Thank you again. This is David Kogan with Eliance's, the place where entrepreneurs align. And this show is, it's all about heroes, those that are making an impact. Remember, these heroes are ones that are creating jobs or mentoring others. They're starting or expanding companies. They are entertaining or adding joy to someone's life, or they are helping one another's. That's who today's heroes are.

And our lineup today, I know I say it every week, but it just keeps getting more and more incredible and absolutely mind-boggling. And before I introduce our first hero, let me tell you the rest of the show of the lineup. We have the co-founder of Eventbrite. And if you've ever registered for any event, you probably have used Eventbrite. We also have the president of UPS Store with 4,700 franchised locations. And when you find out how he got his start, you will be amazed and you will learn from him. And we'll be ending the show with the founder of Blackboard. Well, if you haven't heard Blackboard, let me tell you, he sold the company for $1.6 billion. And he's going to share with us the

secret of how. But without further ado, let me introduce our first guest today. Absolutely incredible. And what she is doing for the community, especially for children, is making such an impact. She is the president of Child Help Phoenix, and the national headquarters is here too, who has been with Child Help working very closely with the founders. And the founders are Sarah O'Meara, closely with the founders. And the founders are Sarah O'Meara, Yvonne Feddersen, and she's been doing it for over 15 years. Now, ChildHelp is a very large nonprofit. Share with us today, Stacey Weber, who can be reached at ChildHelp.org. How did this all come to be? Well, ChildHelp was founded, like you said, by Sarah and Yvonne, Sarah O'Mara, Yvonne Fenderson, and we are celebrating our 60-plus years of serving children.

And they started back in, they were entertainers for the war vets in Vietnam. They started, they were the ones that were instrumental in Operation Babylift. They did all of that. And back in the 70s, realized that actually in the United States, there was an epidemic called child abuse. And so they started with ChildHelp. And it's the largest, like you said, nonprofit organization that helps abuse children. We are nationwide. And right now, currently, we have group homes all over the United States. We house here in Arizona, the Children's Advocacy Center, which is downtown, which is where when CPS knows of a case of abuse, they take these children to this very child-friendly

place down in central Phoenix where they can tell their story just one time. Anybody that needs to hear their story is able to view it through a pinhole. And the Phoenix Police Department is housed there as well as multiple medical people that are able to do any sort of health evaluations on these children. I mean, it's just so interesting, and it's helping so many. Because, right, again, we hear children, really, they are the future. And if there's abuse or anything going on, we have to intervene with that. And so ChildHelp is the place. And, again, you can go to ChildHelp.org.

So tell me some of the programs too that Child Help offers. So do they also do counseling? Share with us, our listeners, all the programs. Sure. There is therapy that happens at that advocacy center. We have the national hotline as well. It's 1-800-4-A-CHILD, and that is where anybody that has been abused, is being abused, is about to abuse can call that hotline, and that is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. into schools for bullying, signs of abuse, anything that they need to know and who to contact if that abuse is happening. That's the latest program. They're working with athletes as well, because as you know, that's been an epidemic with the athletes. And you're listening to Alliance's Heroes.

Are you a hero? Are you making an impact? Certainly like Stacey Weber is with ChildHelp.org. Make sure you go to our website, Alliances.com. That's E-L-I-A-N-C-E-S.com. I got to tell you, Stacey, it's just heart-wrenching when you think of a child just being bullied. I mean, the abuse and all that, who can't really fend for themselves. They're coming into this world, they're trying to figure out, I mean, it's bringing tears to me. I mean, it really is. And ChildHelp also has the support of many celebrities too.

Who are some of these celebrities that are behind it? Kathy Lee Gifford is a big supporter. Cheryl Ladd, Jane Seymour, John Stamos, John O'Hurley, who is Peterman from Seinfeld. He's a huge supporter. Those are just a few to name. And fact two is, is let's talk about maybe who's the first celebrity to get on board when this was launched 60 years ago and say, I'm going to be behind it. And I mention it because the celebrity status helps in a way get that ball rolling because people look at them, they follow them and so on. Who was that? Cheryl Ladd is probably the first ambassador, but because the ladies came from Hollywood, they had a huge following. It was Nancy and

Ronald Reagan that actually started them into ChildHelp and introduced them. What an incredible legacy and what an incredible legacy too that these founders and what you are doing and creating in that. And you know what advice can you give to parents out there to help their children have a safe environment and grow into a contributor to society and make their positive mark? Well, you know, five children die every day from child abuse. Abuse is actually reported every 10 seconds, a case of abuse. Communication and education around that there are resources and help is the biggest thing that parents could offer their children, getting them involved and just knowing that there is help out there available for all. And you don't have to

settle for the environment in which you may think is not right. And how did you become the president of the Phoenix chapter of Child Help? How did you work your way to that? chapter of Child Help. How did you work your way to that? My husband and I, and I have two sons, we're both very passionate about leading this organization to be as large as we can possibly be. We've just relaunched it, so we are currently seeking new members that are wanting to get involved. We primarily fundraise and educate the community. And we are currently looking for more people that are interested and you can reach us. Go to childhelp.org, childhelp.org. And you can go ahead and be able to contact Stacey Weber through there too.

And so what's the best way? Is that the best way to be able to help a child in need and get involved with child help? I mean, what are the different areas that Is that the best way to be able to help a child in need and get involved with child help? I mean, what are the different areas you're looking? Do you say members? Is it volunteers too? Is it supporters, sponsors? What are the areas? Well, obviously, financial support is always very helpful. Corporations getting behind the Speak Up, Be Safe program, that is really helpful. program that is really helpful but there are several volunteer opportunities downtown at the advocacy center as well as in group homes and as far as fundraising goes and fundraising is like a business what do you think has been so successful the magic behind childhelp.org to have been able to one be around for 60 years or so long?

Just the community efforts and the communication that happens around all of the networking and discussions around the fundraising and the need. I think once you learn the need, then you want to be able to help. Well, Stacey Weber, you certainly have done a lot. Just absolutely incredible what you've done for ChildHelp.org. You can also find her clip on our website. Go to alliances.com. That's the place where entrepreneurs align. And remember, we work with a lot of fundraisers also, so ChildHelp.org, making an impact. You know, a hero looks out for others.

They ensure their safety, supports them through tough times. ChildHelp and Stacey Weber do, and that is why they are our hero today. They are our mission to save all children from abuse and neglect. And when we return, we are going to have the co-founder of Eventbrite. That's right, Eventbrite. Incredibly huge company, and he's going to share with us some of the amazing successes and how we did it when we return David Kogan with Eliance's.