Roundtable Webinar: Turning Grief into Generosity

Joe McDonough: Sorry about that. I have to say, it was the coolest experience when I got a chance to actually learn how to do glassblowing.

 

Carly Bernstein: Yes, Joe. And I got the opportunity to take a trip out to Seattle, which was really amazing, to watch how the votives are made and to meet with the incredible artists who are making them all day long. It was truly an incredible experience that we appreciated very much. Joe, can you talk to us a little bit about how obviously you shared your story and it's laden with grief. How did that turn into the motivation of the Andrew McDonough B Positive Foundation?

 

Joe McDonough: You know, it's interesting. A lot of people have asked me, did I sit down and did Chris and Ally and I, you know, list pros and cons. And it really wasn't like that. It was. It just kind of came out of my heart, like this became my calling. And I say with their support because, you know, it's a team effort. And Chris and Ally were very supportive of this. And I left my career and I sat in this room right here by myself starting the foundation. Because it's just, it felt like a calling. You know, it's going to sound like a strange thing to say, but I'm tremendously blessed. Now my son died, but we had so much support. It's such a safety net. And as Lee said, so many families don't have that.

 

Joe McDonough: They can't buy the bus pass, or we have families that their car is broken down, they can't get to the hospital, or they're facing eviction because with a child with cancer oftentimes, and, you know, often the mom that. That is at the child's bedside for weeks at a time. And so it was really. I'd like to say that it was a very intellectual, calculated decision, business decision. It wasn't. It was really from my heart and kind of off we went. And people said to me, you know, did you know that foundation was going to be successful? And depending on however you deem success. I mean, if we helped one family, I thought that was successful. It was for that family. I always said, you know, I can't let Andrew down. And it's incumbent upon me to share the blessings that we received when we were in the hospital.

 

Carly Bernstein: Yeah, I have had the opportunity to work with you, Joe, for over 13 years now. And when you say you started it from the heart, all these years later, it is still very much run with the heart. And as I hear more about glassybaby and got the chance to meet you Lee and work closely with some members of your team, it seems like glassybaby is run in a really similar way with a lot of heart. And I think that brings a lot of synergy to both organizations. And while the missions are different and what we're doing is different, there is that synergy of doing good and helping others, which I think is really powerful. What is something that has and whoever wants to jump in first, but what is something that has surprised you since you started your respective organizations?

 

Lee Rhodes: I will just jump in for just quickly and just say that I think the beginning of glassybaby to me was that guilt, survivors guilt and certainly passion and seeing the holes that there were as that B Positive fills every single day. And then you know, becomes something you do and it becomes something the verbs change and now it's more like we're serving, we're serving B Positive. We're so much bigger now and we, I think being part of something that's been around a really long time and given back as much as we have is we're so lucky again. We're so, it's so joyful and I think their verbs have changed and they used to be passion and real necess, you know, kind of me just blindly moving forward and now I feel like we're moving into a really nice phase of serving the people and the situations through other organizations that are really being impactful and it's just, it's wonderful. It's just a wonderful change and I feel like we're going to be far more effective and it's just an honor to work with B Positive.

 

Carly Bernstein: Thank you so much, Lee. What about you, Joe?

 

Joe McDonough: You know, one of the things that struck me as very odd in the beginning because I always wanted to change the game. So be proactive and fund research as well as be reactive and help the families. And one of the things that I realized on the research side is keep in mind as you know, I'm a very impatient person and I want cancer cured tomorrow. I don't want any more children suffering. If Andrew had to have cancer and die, I wanted him to be the last child with cancer. And research takes a long time. But I've had to, I've been educated by a lot of really world class investigators and so I've learned a lot about that and I've gotten to a place where I'm kind of at peace, that we are supporting that game changing kind of work. The other thing that has been, I don't know if I'd say a surprise, but it's very stark. And that is that childhood cancer, and perhaps I could say all cancer, but my world is childhood cancer, doesn't discriminate. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor, Republican or Democrat, you know, ethnicity, religion, you know, it just, it impacts us all.

 

Joe McDonough: And when you have, I never thought Andrew would have cancer, but when you, when that happens and you're told your child has cancer, a real community is created. And I'm not saying I get a chance to personally meet all the families, the 4,000 families we helped last year, but my heart feels good that we are helping to support and build a community of people who need us. And you know, we can't do it though, without financial resources. And that's why I said at the top that, you know, I appreciate glassybaby's involvement with us because, you know, like this, it's not just, I mean, yes, if someone sent us a check, I would cash it. I owe that to the kids. But glassybaby has embraced us as a real partner. Not just, okay, mail him a check. And that's what I want. 'I want that for all the schools we work with, all the kids that help raise money for us all. All in any company, individual. I mean, it's Andrew, Andrew's name's on the Foundation. But there's enough of Andrew to go around and share.

 

Joe McDonough: That's what I said when he was in the hospital. And there's enough of the Andrew McDonough B Positive Foundation to share. So I feel good building this community. I sure wish there wasn't a need for it. 46 kids are diagnosed each school day. My heart breaks for the 46 families that tomorrow we'll start their day worrying about weather or their sports teams or what they're going to wear. And by the end of the day, we'll learn a whole new vocabulary and we'll be scared.

 

Carly Bernstein: Thank you so much. Joe, you mentioned communities and it's so funny because that was one of the notes that I had written down and we have members of our respective communities here and I know I'm doing a lot of the talking, but feel free to put questions in the chat. We'll be taking those too. One thing that I think is unique about both the B Positive Foundation and glassybaby, from what I know of each, is the communities that you've built. I've seen online the glassybaby collectors and the discussion boards and we've been in your stores and seen the customers that come whenever there's a new drop of a product. And I've been really fortunate to be involved with the B Positive Foundation since I was a college student and 15 years ago and now having college students that then become young adults that work with us. And we often call it the B Positive Nation. And it doesn't seem like people are just buying a one off votive or making a one time donation. It seems that people are coming back and we are creating these communities. And so how have the communities, both through the B Positive Nation and with glassybaby's community, how have they helped lead to the success of the impact that you're able to have?

 

Joe McDonough: Well, I'll jump in and say, you know, two things. One, I don't know if Lee saw this, but I felt our community suffered during the pandemic. I think we need community. I think we need each other. And it was difficult during that time. But I'll tell you something that might be a surprise. Our community, obviously in the case of a childhood cancer charity, raises money so we can help these families. But what the community does for me personally is it energizes me. The community energizes me. And in some small way they're honoring my son and keeping his memory alive. So I owe a lot to the community who, a lot of these people, 99% of the people that support us, they didn't have a child with cancer, but they, they're still there lifting us up. And that's what I appreciate.

 

Carly Bernstein: I've been able to witness that in a small way too, which has been really incredible. What about you, Lee? It seems that you all have built a really special community as well.

 

Lee Rhodes: Well, I think as you were saying earlier that the, you know, cancer, the chemo room I was in was like a battlefield. You know, it is one of the great equalizers and that, you know, we, I lit my first little glassybaby when I started my treatment in 1995. And so, you know, that's a long time ago. And I think to this day our community grows because when you drop a tea light into one of the hand blown vessels like this, they work, they make you feel better, they make the world a better place. And so I think, just like Andrew's story is authentic and real, I think glassybaby is, it's this, its story is authentic and real, but also the product is. And it kind of speaks for itself. It goes out into the world. And if you light a glassybaby and give it 40 seconds of your life watching and really engaging with it, it will impact you and make your life better. And I feel like there aren't a lot of things like that that you can buy, and it certainly is what has and will continue to build our community.

 

Carly Bernstein: We recently with one of the members of your team, Lee, sent a votive, a glassybaby, to one of the moms of a child with cancer that we work closely with. And she shared just what you were talking about when she lit it and she received it and how beautiful it was. And so we've been able to share that with some of the families we work with, too, in addition to the financial support, which has been really meaningful. Thank you for that.

 

Joe McDonough: I think of this as kind of emotional medicine. So often people talk about chemo and radiation, and clearly, yes, that is medicine. But what we're talking about here, what you offer is, I think, emotional medicine for the soul.

 

Carly Bernstein: Totally. Lee, you started a company 30 years ago, sort of on your own. I listened to a podcast you were on recently about what it was like getting started and going to the bank for loans and being asked where your husband was. And Joe, you mentioned, as we first started, that this was a career change that you weren't expecting at 46 years old. And so you both have been obviously incredibly successful in your respective organizations. But what has been the biggest challenge since you've started?

 

Lee Rhodes: Is that directed at me?

 

Carly Bernstein: Sure. You could go first, please.

 

Lee Rhodes: There are so many. I think that in any business, and certainly ours, is uniquely difficult in that we do the giving at the purchase. We don't wait. I'm not waiting until I sell the company, and then I'm going to give money back. We're all in this together at the register. But I think one of the most amazing things that I learned is that vertical businesses are hard. We make what we sell. And so during the pandemic, we were hand to mouth, hand to mouth, hand to mouth, making to then sell. And this is more directed towards business people. And then now that we have, you know, up and running, we have our teams, we have gorgeous, huge, beautiful, effective, hot chops. And now we own a lot more than than we sell. And so I think the tension of business that generally you can just order less or kind of import less or whatever.

 

Lee Rhodes: With our business, it's very difficult because we're vertical, so we make what we sell. And so that's been the biggest hurdle, I would say. Another hurdle is really people understanding that giving for glassybaby is a line item for us. So this year we were not profitable and we still gave. And I think that that's not just difficult from a business model perspective, but I think it's difficult for kind of selling the idea and getting people to rally behind you, because I think people are like, why are you doing that? That's crazy. And that's all because I, you know, the flip side of that is the passion and like I said and the concept and the idea that serving is as important as anything else and serving other people is. Well, anyway, enough said. It's difficult as a business model. Be careful. Yeah.

 

Carly Bernstein: No, I can totally understand that. And I think it is incredibly respectable that that's something that you put ahead of profits, which not most for profit companies can do. And so that is really incredible. And thank you for doing that. Joe, what has been challenging for you?

 

Joe McDonough: I think one of the biggest challenges leading a charity, the B Positive Foundation specifically, is getting an introduction, getting that door opened. Because I have found if we get an opportunity to speak to someone about childhood cancer, the message resonates. There's nobody out there that says, "Oh no, childhood cancer is not important." So it's working hard to try to get people to answer our call or to have a meeting with us. Carly, as you know, a couple months ago, I ran the New York City Marathon and I trained with Coca Cola. And at the 16 mile mark, I basically did a little video asking Coke to work with us. It's the longest of long shots, but it's like just trying to find a way to crack through. Because if we... I don't mean this in an arrogant way, but if I can sit down with somebody and talk about kids, innocent kids suffering, like my son being stolen from the world because of childhood cancer, I think people want to help. And when I say help, whatever that means for them, that's fine, but it's just getting that door open, getting that introduction, we'll take it from there. But that's the biggest hurdle, I think, for us.

 

Carly Bernstein: Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. How does... You know, obviously you think and I think that this is the most important cause in the world. And how do we get in front of people to tell them why they should think that it is as well. And so I have definitely joined you in feeling that frustration and that challenge over the years for sure. Before we turn it over to questions, as people are listening tonight and as we're sharing this, both of you have turned bad situations. Lee, you called it lucky. And you know, Joe, you obviously turned your immense grief into something so powerful that has helped so many. What do you want your communities to take away from this conversation and from the experiences that you've had building these organizations? What can people who are listening, you know, what should they know? What should they take away from this?

 

Lee Rhodes: I hope that people just understand that, yes, both of us are here today, but, and personally for me, it's been 30 years, actually more, since I sat in those chemo rooms and nothing has really changed. And I think that that's, that's the takeaway that there are companies like glassybaby out there. There are people who want to do better and then there are people, you know, like B Positive. They're out there. But there is also a situation where there are people who cannot get help. They cannot serve themselves. They want to. How humiliating is it that you can't... You don't have 75 cents to get in the bus to go to chemotherapy? These are big, big, big. These are tiny little stories in a big, big issue that I wish after 30 years I could tell you that the first time it hit me how important it was to start this work, that it had changed and we'd progressed and we were. And all I can say is I hope that all of us try to push something forward so that people don't... People who are already suffering shouldn't have to suffer. And I hope in the next 30 years we can get a better handle on it.

 

Carly Bernstein: Yeah, I totally understand that. And I know glassybaby has done a ton to help people in rural areas and underserved communities and the same at B Positive. And I agree that I wish that there was more out there as well.

 

Joe McDonough: And I would like to say that for everyone listening, you may not see yourself as, jeez, I don't know how I can build a multi million dollar business like Lee, but every single person, you have the ability to make a difference. And I know that sounds kind of corny, but you do. In your world, in some ways. Maybe it's not for the B Positive Foundation. Maybe it's somewhere else. One of the things I learned with Andrew is, I know it sounds obvious, but there's no guarantee of time. And Andrew was leading his team to a state championship, 48 hours later they tell us he's not going to live. If you were to die in five minutes, are you happy with the way you lived your Life the last 48 hours? Make a difference in someone's life today. God willing, you have tomorrow and make a difference. Every single person. There's not a person... I don't care if the person's eight years old watching this, which would be kind of crazy because they got to have better things to do. But, like everybody. And it's not about... For some people it's financial. Some people it's not financial. It's something that is also equalizing, inclusive. Everybody can make a difference. Don't think that it's just, oh, well, it's, you know, the successful people like Lee.

 

Carly Bernstein: Yeah. Joe, thank you. You make a really good point. And one thing that I know I've talked about with Danny and some other members of your team, Lee, is sort of the passion that you have and the work that you all do for people in underserved communities and the different quality of healthcare in rural communities. And I think that's something that we are trying to do too. Lee, you had mentioned the support and the resources that you had when you were going through cancer treatment. And Joe, I know you have also talked over the years about the support that you had and the access to quality healthcare, being so close to your house and all of that. Can you talk a little bit either Lee or Joe, whoever wants to take it first sort of a little bit deeper about what you do to try to help people in those underserved communities?

 

Joe McDonough: Well, I'll jump in there. I'm humbled and proud to say that we're the nation's largest provider of financial assistance to families of kids with cancer in the country. And it is unconscionable to me that a child who is in a lower income household has a lower or lesser chance of survival than someone who is wealthy. I mean, we have children who go home, they're going to go home to a moldy home regardless. With our help, we remediate the mold. And that child, who I'll remind you is immunocompromised from their treatment, will go home to a clean home. Without our help, they go home to a home with mold. That could literally set a child on a path that they could die from. You know, I don't know why kids get cancer. But money shouldn't be a factor at all.

 

Joe McDonough: The language you speak shouldn't be a factor at all. Where you come from shouldn't be a factor at all. I say, you know, when I left Chase, people said,"It must be nice you don't have a boss anymore or bosses anymore." I said, "Oh, I have bosses. They're about 6 years old and 9 years old and 12 years old and some of them don't have hair. And we work for them." And I couldn't care less what the color of their skin is or how much they make. And it just, it makes my blood boil. And there have been so many stories where I went to a hospital in Chicago and they didn't have the same clinical trial because they were the lower income hospital as a hospital that was two blocks away. That's just unacceptable. And we made a very modest donation so that that hospital could accrue patients on that trial. To me, that was a no brainer.

 

Carly Bernstein: Yeah. Thank you, Joe. I know that's important work that B Positive has done. And again, glassybaby helps us to further help families that might not be able to get it otherwise. Lee, did you have anything that you wanted to add?

 

Lee Rhodes: Yeah, and I was just saying we're recently in Montana and it's just interesting because there aren't enormous medical centers there and we're from Seattle, where there's phenomenal care here, the best in the world and certainly for cancer. And so any trial and things like that, yes, it does come down to who you know and whether you'll get in that trial, which is, needs to be fixed, as you say. But I also think it's astounding to me that if you live 50 miles east of Livingston and then 100 miles south, you will not get in trials either because they don't know about them, and they don't have resources to get you there. You know, there's a million different reasons. And just understanding that just because people live rurally doesn't mean they don't have and don't deserve the same options as people living two miles from the University of Washington.

 

Carly Bernstein: Yeah, definitely.

 

Lee Rhodes: So we're very active in that. It's astounding to me.

 

Carly Bernstein: Yeah, thank you. Before I sort of wrap us up with the final question, I'm going to turn it over to the participants. So if anybody who's listening has a question, please feel free to go ahead and put them in the chat. We'd love a couple questions. So we'll wait a minute on those. And while we're waiting for those to come in, you know, Lee, you have shared glassybaby has been around for 30 years, I believe you said, and B Positive for 17, now. Obviously from when you started to today, things are very different. But what are you most proud of? Lee, do you want to go first?

 

Lee Rhodes: Oh, I guess I'm proud that we're still going. Kind of amazing. It's interesting. My son Maricos, who works with me, he gave me this book, Go Givers, I think it's called, and it's about, you know, companies that are driven by altruistic concepts, giving, you know, things like that rather than the bottom line. And, you know, we've been that way from the beginning because of how we started and why we started. And I guess what I'm most proud of is we're still here. We're still here. We're proving all those people, I mean, wrong isn't what we set out to do. I don't want to prove anyone wrong. I just want everyone to join us. So it's different. And I think the fact that we're still here asking nicely to have people join us so that we can support and partner with people, like, B Positive is what I'm, I'm mostly proud of. I guess I'm also mostly proud of the fact that my three children are all employed and healthy and happy and kind. And so all three of my, all four of my children are fantastic.

 

Carly Bernstein: Wonderful. Thank you, Lee. How about Joe?

 

Joe McDonough: Well, first of all, I'll say a couple. One, I'm proud that Lee has not said B plus, and nobody has said B plus on this call.

 

Lee Rhodes: Never.

 

Joe McDonough: Because we get that. And I would be remiss if I didn't say that girl over my shoulder who has blessed me as a grandfather of two grandkids. I mean, that, I can't describe my pride there. As far as the foundation, we get letters and videos after we've helped families. And I'm telling you, it's brings me to tears to see the impact, because when we help a family pay a bill, it's far more than that. Yes, we're paying a bill, but we're showing them that someone cares about them. We're giving them hope. And I know firsthand. And I imagine Lee experiences well, when people do kind things for you as you're going through this tremendous adversity, it's energizing. And secondly, on the research side, as you know, Carly, we helped fund a clinical trial in Seattle, actually, many years ago. And before this trial, there were 22 children in the trial. Before this treatment, three would have survived. After admission into the trial, 20 out of 22 kids were in complete remission.

 

Joe McDonough: And I think about that Delta. Of the 17 families, I would love to be able to look at the moms and dads, and we only played a small part and say, "Here's your child back." You know, and who knows, I don't know a complete remission, you know. We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. It could be, you know. But 17 families had their child figuratively handed back to them. And if somebody could have done that for my son, man, I would have, I'd be eternally grateful. And so I'm proud that... And it's not me, it's me, Chris, Allie, you, Carly, and our whole team. I'm proud that we play a small part in changing those families lives.

 

Carly Bernstein: Thank you both so much. A couple of questions have come through through the question and answer, but I have to say, one of them that just came through, Joe, is specifically for you. And it's from your grandson Luke, who is watching right now. And he said, "that's us", when you were talking about your grandkids. So, Luke, if you're still listening. Hi there.

 

Joe McDonough: My boy Luke will be four years old in a couple of weeks and I cannot spend enough time with him and his sister Julia.

 

Carly Bernstein: One of the questions is, what are some ways you inspire others to share your vision and passion of giving and are serving within the cancer community? Which is a great question. You've both talked a lot about sort of your passion and motivation, but how do you share that with others? Lee, you want to go first?

 

Joe McDonough: Lee, you want to go?

 

Lee Rhodes: Sure. Okay. How do I share with others? Well, I think just through glassybaby and through what we do and really continuing to be passionate and believe that what we're doing is unique and different and special and that everyone should, everyone in the world should own one, if not 40. And that, you know, people more inspire me than I inspire them, I think. I think, you know, that's what I look for in the world, are people that inspire me. And I certainly work with incredible people who inspire me. My children inspire me. My grandson also inspires me.

 

Carly Bernstein: Congratulations, by the way. Grandma.

 

Lee Rhodes: Thank you. Yeah. And so I think that it's a really good question. And I'm not sure if I inspire people, but I know that every single day I'm inspired by what people do with their glassybaby in terms of feeling better, finding healing, sharing that spirit of kindness and, you know, appropriate arm's length, but giving and thoughtful energy. And so I just hope that that continues. And I think that, yeah, I mean, I don't know if I'm inspiring, but I certainly am inspired by all our people.

 

Carly Bernstein: Thank you. Joe?

 

Joe McDonough: Yeah, I mean. You know, I think it's probably same at glassybaby with the B Positive Foundation. We may technically be the leader of our organizations, but it's not about me. It's about the team of people that make this happen. And, you know, you talk about. I think you're just inspired by your actions. You know, it's not words. You know, you just, it's like your character. I mean, how do you handle stuff when people aren't watching and let people, you know, people will see that and hopefully you will inspire them. I don't set out to inspire people, and I don't think I'm inspiring, but I am proud.

 

Lee Rhodes: You are. Yeah.

 

Joe McDonough: Yeah, no, I, you know, I'm proud of this whole organization and B Positive Nation that. That has made the world a little bit nicer, kinder, gentler, better. There are certain things we can change in the world right now, and cancer is large, you know, largely would fall into that category, and childhood cancer certainly. And so at that fork in the road, do you choose to be, you know, cold hearted, SOB basically, or do you try to go the other path and try to put one foot in front of the other and make a difference in the world? And I encourage, you know, I think that's the healthier route to take.

 

Carly Bernstein: Yeah. Thank you. Lee, on that podcast I listened to recently that you were on, you also talked about hiring and staff, and one of the things you said was, and Joe and I talk about this a lot, that it's hard to, you know, hire people that really don't just want a job, but really want to be a part of something. And I know that at B Positive under Joe's leadership, we have a really great team of people who I think, and Joe, I know you said you don't set out to be inspiring, but are inspired by your passion and realize that, you know, it's not just a job. And there's so much more behind that. And I think you both do that really well. There's a few more questions, but I'll give one more to each of you. Joe, this one's for you specifically. Can you share a story of, or an example of how a glassybaby purchase can directly benefit someone through the B Positive Foundation?

 

Joe McDonough: Yeah, well, you know, like I kind of referenced earlier, we have this framework, we have an organization, and I don't like to talk about money that much, but without it, nothing happens. Let's be honest. If people don't buy glassybaby votives, glassybaby will not be able to support us. And there will be families that we will not be able to help. It's just really simple. And so your purchase of a glassybaby will result in every Friday we write checks, 100 to $125,000 of assistance going around the country. And that's made possible by you. Now, when you're in that store and you're making that purchase, you may not be thinking that, but that purchase or however many you're buying, that could be, you may be paying rent. And I want you to think that. You're paying rent. You're covering fertility preservation treatment because when a child goes through chemotherapy, sometimes they're rendered infertile.

 

Joe McDonough: You're buying medicine or a medical device they can't afford. There's so many critical things, and you know what? They're not tens of thousands. One of the first families we helped, a girl needed oxygen to go home. And it was $390. And she was staying, she was stuck better, for lack of a better term, in the hospital because she and her mom were sitting there. They didn't have the money and the insurance wasn't going to cover it. I heard that and almost made my head explode. I would have pulled the three... I would have paid out of my own pocket. $390. It changed their situation. So, yes, every single purchase you make goes right to the family. Even if you don't know, even if that name is not on the votive that says Jones family or Rodriguez family or whatever the case may be.

 

Carly Bernstein: Wonderful. Thank you so much. This one isn't a question, but somebody wrote in the question and answers. It's profoundly inspiring that both founders have translated their cancer experiences, as different as they were, into such positive ways to help cancer patients and their families. Thank you.

 

Joe McDonough: That's very kind of you.

 

Carly Bernstein: It is very important for everybody who's listening and everybody who might see this to know how people can become customers of glassybaby and how people can support the B Positive Foundation. So, Lee, please tell everybody where can they find glassybaby and the beautiful work that you do.

 

Lee Rhodes: I think the easiest thing to do is just go to glassybaby.com and you can find out everything, all about our giving. You can find out all about the glassybaby that we have at offer right now. You can find out how they're made. You can find out about our glassblowers. You can find out about me. So, and everyone else at glassybaby. So it's a resource, and that's the best place.

 

Carly Bernstein: Wonderful. And for everybody, I'm not sure if this was mentioned, but every single votive is completely handmade. And so they're all, you know, slight unique, which when I was out there, I thought was really cool. You can also find links to glassybaby social media on the website that Lee shared before. You have some of the most incredible social media and photos and content that I've seen a company do. And so make sure that everybody checks that out as well. And Joe, how can people support the B Positive Foundation?

 

Joe McDonough: Oh, and before I answer that, I'd like to just say, and Lee did not ask me to say this, but tell people about glassybaby. You know, when we go out to Seattle, you can't stop a person on the street that doesn't know glassybaby. And so if you're in another, you know, you're in New York City or whatever, and someone doesn't know about glassybaby, tell them. I mean, it's a really cool thing. And I say that even if they weren't supporting us, it's a, there's heart put into this product. So spread the word. Buy, but spread the word so, you know, the ripples go out there and more people are buying. So to your question, Carly, I would encourage people to visit bepositive.org. But most of what we do, we're not a kind of charity that sends out, you know, newsletters and written stuff.

 

Joe McDonough: It's social media. So, you know, Facebook, Instagram, X, I guess TikTok now has been restored. So, you know, go to social media and Carly, you can give them the handles better than me. You're much closer to it. But what's really great about, I think our social media, and I can say that because I don't handle it, is that there's a lot of personal stories and, you know, there's so many charities that, you know, you make a donation, you don't know where the money goes. I'm not saying that they're bad. You just don't know. With these stories, you just feel the connection and it becomes very real. And so I think, you know, becoming part of our B Positive Nation through social media. Carly handles.

 

Carly Bernstein: Yeah, you can find us on all social media platforms at bepositivefdn. And I agree with Joe. We like glassybaby on their social media as well. We've really worked to do a lot of storytelling, so you understand why we do what we do opposed to just what we do. And so the last question I will ask both of you and I thank everybody who put questions in the question and answer box is how do you envision future collaborations between glassybaby and the B Positive Foundation? How do you see this moving forward? Lee, would you like to go first?

 

Joe McDonough: You're putting Lee on the spot here.

 

Carly Bernstein: Well, it's actually a question from the question and answer, so I'll, you know.

 

Lee Rhodes: Well, I think we have more to come this year, 2025 into 2026. So I'm excited. I mean, you guys are at my sweet spot. And what I care about the most besides elephants and the environment, I like care about them as well, but cancer and certainly kids, cancer, elderly, people with cancer, people who can't help themselves, mostly because I had so much help. And you guys are, that's your sweet spot and you're brilliant at it. And so we just, we're honored to be on your team.

 

Carly Bernstein: Thank you.

 

Joe McDonough: Wow. We're very appreciative of that and very humbled by your support because as I said earlier. Excuse me, you know, I'm not an idiot. If someone was to send us a check, obviously we'll cash it, but I would much prefer to partner with organizations that share a soul like we do. And it's more than a business. The business is bigger and there's heart to it. And I think that in our case, we are just perfectly aligned. So I hope our partnership goes on forever.

 

Carly Bernstein: Well, Lee and Joe, thank you both so much for your time. Everybody who might not be familiar, please visit glassybaby.com and bepositive.org to continue to see what we do and to find all of our socials from there. Thank you very much and have a wonderful evening, everyone.

 

Lee Rhodes: Thank you. And thank you, once again, B Positive for being such a touchstone.

 

Carly Bernstein: Thank you.

 

Joe McDonough: Thanks, Carly.

 

Carly Bernstein: Thank you. Have a good night, everyone. Thank you to everyone who joined us. We're still, have some people in here. Yeah, we still have a couple people. Margaret, I'm still on. I see your hands raised. Check the chat here. No? Okay.