Fridays 10:00am - 11:00am (EDT)
EPISODE SUMMARY:
By hearing about Rotary Club impact on local communities, an audience can gain insight into how volunteer efforts can create lasting change, understand the tangible benefits of service-oriented organizations, and be inspired to get involved in their own communities. This can lead to increased awareness of local needs, a stronger sense of civic responsibility, and potential opportunities for personal and professional growth.
"🌟 This Friday on Philanthropy in Phocus! 🌟
Join host Tommy DiMisa #InTheAttic as he welcomes Mark Kuat and Chris Soto, two passionate leaders from the Rotary Club of Gold Coast-Lake Success who are making a real difference through service, community engagement, and humanitarian outreach. 🤝🌍
This week, we explore ""Service Above Self"". Mark and Chris share how their local and international projects, like the Meal Food Packaging program that delivered over 86,000 meals, are transforming lives and inspiring others to embrace civic responsibility and community action.
🕙 Tune in Friday, May 2nd at 10 am EST to hear how giving back, leadership, and grassroots efforts create a ripple effect of change that strengthens communities and brings people together. 🎧
✨ Why listen?
Discover how Rotary’s service model builds stronger, more resilient communities.
Learn the tangible ways volunteer efforts can create lasting impact.
Be inspired to start your own journey of service and community leadership.
#PhilanthropyInPhocus #RotaryInternational #ServiceAboveSelf #CommunityImpact #Volunteerism #RotaryGoldCoast #GivingBack #TommyDiMisa 🎙️🌟"
"Organization: Rotary Club of Gold Coast - Lake Success
Website: https://gclsrotary.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?
q=the%20rotary%20club%20of%20gold%20coastlake%20success
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mukhtar-kuat-284871108/"
On this episode of Philanthropy in Phocus, Tommy DiMisa opens with his signature energy, recounting a packed night of nonprofit networking, dog wrangling for a youth-led animal rescue segment, and community-building with music and wine. He then brings on Rotary leaders Chris Soto and Mark Kuat to share their diverse backgrounds — from Chris's journey through insurance, graphics, and sales, to Mark's international career in finance spanning Kazakhstan, Dubai, and the U.S. — all leading to their shared passion for service through Rotary. The segment ends on a sobering note as Tommy highlights Long Island’s food insecurity crisis, emphasizing that nearly 300,000 residents — including almost 60,000 children — don’t know where their next meal will come from.
Tommy DiMisa and guests Chris Soto and Mark Kuat discuss how food insecurity on Long Island galvanized their Rotary Club’s involvement, with Mark introducing a hands-on food packaging initiative that grew into a pillar of their local service. They reflect on the value of bringing individual passions into community work, how Rotary meetings promote both impact and connection, and the club’s resourceful approach to stretching every dollar for greater good. The segment closes with a call to action: anyone interested in service, networking, and purpose is invited to a free breakfast meeting to learn more and get involved in something larger than themselves.
Tommy DiMisa, Chris Soto, and Mark Kuat highlight the powerful impact of youth-led service through the Interact Club, where students independently raise funds and choose causes to support — instilling early leadership and compassion. They celebrate the success of food packaging events, with over 86,000 meals distributed locally and plans underway for expanding community events in new regions like Glen Cove, driven by inspiration from even the youngest volunteers. The segment emphasizes the ripple effect of service — how one idea, like Mark’s food packaging initiative, can spark meaningful, collaborative action across generations and communities.
Tommy DiMisa, Chris Soto, and Mark Kuat highlight several initiatives of their Rotary Club, including a free appointment-only clothing pantry, mental health law education, estate planning workshops, and the life-saving Gift of Life program that has sponsored over 6,000 pediatric heart surgeries. They discuss the club’s vision for organic growth rooted in compassion, community engagement, and a ripple effect of service — emphasizing opportunities for new members to bring their own passions into the fold. The show closes with gratitude and a reaffirmation of Rotary’s Four-Way Test: everything they do must be truthful, fair, beneficial, and promote goodwill.
00:00:45.910 --> 00:00:58.299 Tommy DiMisa: Back your boy, Tommy D, the one and only the nonprofit sector connector. A little bit of a scratchy voice, a little bit of a later night. I'll tell you guys about that in a little while, but I just want to say this.
00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:23.260 Tommy DiMisa: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed. Citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead said that, and it was a group I used to be on the Board of, and they used to start a lot of the meetings with that quote. And you know what I think when we're talking about rotary talk about the Gold Coast Lake Success Rotary, and my 2 friends and colleagues, Chris Soto and Mark Kuat. Good morning, gentlemen. By the way, before I get into what I was doing last night.
00:01:23.260 --> 00:01:31.260 Tommy DiMisa: And then you guys tell me what you were doing last night, and we were both all 3 of us really out there, making the world a better place. But I just want to say good morning. Good morning, Chris. How are you.
00:01:31.260 --> 00:01:34.399 Chris Soto: Good morning. I'm doing great great to see you, and thanks for having us.
00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:37.569 Tommy DiMisa: Absolutely. Mark. Good morning, my brother. How you doing, man!
00:01:37.850 --> 00:01:40.310 Mark Kuat: Good morning, doing. Great thank you for having us.
00:01:40.310 --> 00:01:57.850 Tommy DiMisa: A 100%. We're going to get fired up today. We got a lot to talk about a lot of cool things going on. I just got to say where I was last night when you're the nonprofit sector connector, and you got this creative brain sometimes things just come to you. So a couple weeks ago, maybe a month. My friend Erica Bradley, at North Shore TV, where I do a couple of my programs.
00:01:57.850 --> 00:02:25.060 Tommy DiMisa: said Tommy D. We got this teen TV program here, and the young people want to interview a nonprofit connected to the animal world. So I said, well, I got just the one, my friend Deborah Whitney, from positive possibilities rescue. So what we did was the young people were interviewing on the show between like, let's say, 3, 30 and 5 30, Deborah and we had like 11 dogs there, guys, it was bananas, I mean the dogs. I was supposed to be there setting up for the next part of the night, which I'll tell you about in a second.
00:02:25.060 --> 00:02:49.849 Tommy DiMisa: But my friend Eric is like Tommy DI need you to like help wrangle the dogs so like we're bringing dogs in and out of the studio. I think I was on the show. I wasn't supposed to be on the show, but I was on the show, passing dogs around it was bananas, so shout out to them, shout out to the studio, and and Rebecca and the whole team over there. And then I had said, Look, if my friend Deborah is going to come out from Suffolk County out to Nassau County. Well, then, we got to make a little bit of a party.
00:02:49.850 --> 00:03:13.400 Tommy DiMisa: So we had about 45, maybe 50 people throughout the night come through all different business folks connecting networking. I had my friend Darcy Crawlton there from one Hope wines. She was doing a wine tasting. They always donate money back to the nonprofits, and then I had a band called the Time Traveling Trio in Studio. So it was like the perfect Adhd dream. Everything was there. You had all the activity.
00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:24.449 Tommy DiMisa: tons of dopamine flowing gang, and I'm fired up. But I do have a bit of the scratchy voice, because, you know, I don't stop talking. I did not sing. Last night I sang, but not on mic. We sang as a group
00:03:24.450 --> 00:03:48.060 Tommy DiMisa: because this this gang was fun. They played, and then they played some doors music at the end, and I kind of threatened that I would do roadhouse blues. So apparently in the future. At some type of event, Tommy D's gonna be doing roadhouse blues by the doors. So look forward to that. So if you love coming here every Friday and you hear me sing every so often. Well, maybe one night I'll just sing for the whole night gang. So let's get into it. You guys had your own event, our own event. I didn't realize
00:03:48.610 --> 00:04:11.229 Tommy DiMisa: that we regularly meet that 1st Thursday for rotary, and it's 1 of those things like, I got a serious case of Fomo fear of missing out, and last night I was like, how can I pull this off? How can I do the event that I'm hosting and get to the other event at the same time it was literally impossible, but I was still in my mind. Trying, is there a way, Tommy? Is there a way to do it? There was no way.
00:04:11.230 --> 00:04:13.230 Chris Soto: We felt the vibes, Tommy, we felt the vibes.
00:04:13.230 --> 00:04:29.810 Tommy DiMisa: Sending them to you, man, I was sending them, and I dig that place. Shout out to oak and Vine, man. I was talking to Billy over there, and I really like what they're doing. I actually went to a Qantas meeting, so shout out to Billy and the team at Oak and vine in Glen Cove, up North Shore. Here. All right, let's get into it, guys. I want to go into
00:04:30.030 --> 00:04:53.060 Tommy DiMisa: really your backgrounds. Because I was saying this to you both like we're friends. But like we're friends like that, you don't know a whole lot about each other yet, you know. So it's this thing like, Hey, man, I hug you, love you love what you're doing. And then, like, I don't know Chris Soto's story. I don't know Mark Wat story, so I want to learn that we're going to obviously get into the importance of rotary. We got time to establish these stories together in my world, though
00:04:53.060 --> 00:05:16.240 Tommy DiMisa: it's all about storytelling. It's all about. I say a lot. There was a show I used to watch called biography on A and E. And I love that show because it tells people's stories. So why don't we do this in alphabetical order by 1st name, and also how you guys are set up on my screen right now. I want Chris. I want you to tell me your story, and then we'll move over to Mark. So tell me about you, your background business wise. And then how you got to rotary.
00:05:17.220 --> 00:05:37.180 Chris Soto: Sure before I do that. Can I tell you about? Last night you said we were going to get to tell each other about last night, so real. Briefly, last night was a great night. We did have our monthly rotary gathering, as you mentioned, and oak and Vine is the restaurant of our newest member. So that's Billy Figaro. And it was a fantastic night.
00:05:37.430 --> 00:05:59.239 Chris Soto: We're just talking about some of the accomplishments we had talking about new things that are going to be happening. The restaurant is awesome, and he gave us a private room, and and he cuts us the rotary deal. So we were. You know, we don't like to spend a lot of money. We like to put our money towards. You know good causes. So it was a great, really great night. So thanks for thanks for letting me talk about that a little bit. Also.
00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:02.710 Tommy DiMisa: 100%. Actually, I'm gonna share Billy's website, real quick for everybody.
00:06:02.710 --> 00:06:03.640 Chris Soto: Oh, that's good.
00:06:03.640 --> 00:06:07.750 Chris Soto: Billy maybe gets a you know. As I say, a nice shot in the arm. Some business, you know.
00:06:07.750 --> 00:06:08.270 Chris Soto: should.
00:06:08.270 --> 00:06:31.229 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, if you're talking about like I did a video. My kids were laughing the other day because I did a video of me at a friend of mine's flower shop here in town talking about a little bit of home cooking, as I like to say, and I like to shout out the local proprietors and the business owners, because it's it's so important. What'd you guys eat last night at oak and Vine.
00:06:32.250 --> 00:06:33.170 Chris Soto: Where you at mark.
00:06:34.130 --> 00:06:35.350 Mark Kuat: I had a burger.
00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:37.290 Tommy DiMisa: You got a burger? Good burger.
00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:38.959 Mark Kuat: Oh, it was best one.
00:06:39.383 --> 00:06:41.220 Tommy DiMisa: Good! Good! Good! How about you, Chris? What'd you eat?
00:06:41.220 --> 00:06:56.950 Chris Soto: It really seemed to be a good burger, because about 8 people had the Burgers, and everybody was going crazy about it. I did try. It was awesome. I had a salad beets and goat cheese, and some some chicken with that. So it was really good.
00:06:56.950 --> 00:07:12.570 Tommy DiMisa: I love that, you know. It's funny I had beet salad the other night. Shout out to the Long Island, imagine awards! That's where I was Tuesday night, and they had a nice beet salad. There, man, I was just a little, I tell you, guys, I was a little anxious with the beet salad because I had a lavender linen suit on that I just picked off.
00:07:13.820 --> 00:07:37.290 Tommy DiMisa: so I sort of like leaning over the table eating my beets, but I was so excited to eat them, but I was also trying to get up a network. So I was like, Tommy D. Do not drop what I just saw in my mind, like one of these big old round beets landing on my lap. But I didn't. I didn't do it. So the suit is safe. Everything's good with the world, and and that's beets are good for you, man, healthy, all right. So we're talking burgers. We're talking beets. How many people showed up for the dinner last night.
00:07:37.881 --> 00:07:50.310 Chris Soto: We were. There were 14 of us, so it was pretty nice it was pretty nice, I expect to. There were just a few people couldn't make it. You were one of them. It's just impossible for a few people. So yeah, I expect an even bigger turnout next time. So it's very good.
00:07:50.310 --> 00:07:50.939 Tommy DiMisa: I love it.
00:07:50.940 --> 00:07:53.420 Chris Soto: Tell you a little bit about my background. If that's still on the play.
00:07:53.420 --> 00:07:55.710 Tommy DiMisa: It's well now we ran out of time. We were talking too much.
00:07:55.710 --> 00:07:56.250 Chris Soto: Okay, we're done.
00:07:56.250 --> 00:07:56.829 Tommy DiMisa: Don't get too much.
00:07:56.830 --> 00:07:57.769 Chris Soto: It was a great great.
00:07:57.770 --> 00:08:01.810 Tommy DiMisa: We gotta go right to Mark now. No, you can, Chris. Please take it away.
00:08:02.080 --> 00:08:02.755 Chris Soto: So
00:08:03.530 --> 00:08:16.529 Chris Soto: yeah, background, not too interesting. I'm a lot more interested in rotary, but real brief. Yeah. Started out in insurance a million years ago. 1st thing, and then I did a bunch of freelancing
00:08:16.610 --> 00:08:33.569 Chris Soto: in the graphics world. I did some some sales. I did some auto sales wholesale retail. I did some technology sales as well. You know I've done. I've done a lot a lot of different things here and there, but
00:08:33.650 --> 00:08:54.948 Chris Soto: what I was, you know, while I was going through, you know, my business life and career life. You know, I'm watching always get to see people on TV talking about what they're giving back. Oh, my charity! And we did this at my charity, and that always interested me. And I was there, you know, one day, you know right now. Not ready, you know, and one day I'll be there, and
00:08:55.280 --> 00:09:06.119 Chris Soto: you know. Fortunately, blessings, etc. We were able to participate. And I said, This is a perfect time. I had a friend approach me and said, We've got a you know, a breakfast that happens every week.
00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:09.610 Chris Soto: If you want to come down, meet some good people who are doing some good stuff.
00:09:09.780 --> 00:09:23.979 Chris Soto: You're welcome, and I came down and Boom, you know, just got right into it. That shirt you're wearing is right from rotary. I've got the same shirt. So you beat me to it today. So yeah, I love that shirt. One of my favorites.
00:09:24.350 --> 00:09:49.870 Tommy DiMisa: It's it's funny about this shirt man. It's so funny, because so everybody, if you're only listening, it says, believe there's good in the world be the good in the world, you know they change the colors so you can kind of read both. A couple weeks ago one of my daughters was volunteering with Kiwanis here in the neighborhood. She's a member of the Community Service Club. My older daughter's a member of the Key Club, and we got to send a shout out to Talia Soto, who is founded. The Interact Club.
00:09:49.870 --> 00:09:50.970 Chris Soto: My daughter. Sorry.
00:09:50.970 --> 00:10:15.749 Tommy DiMisa: South. Well, we were going to get to that point. But yes, Chris's daughter. So Talia came on a show called Long Island Changemakers. But it's just so great to see these young people getting involved. But my daughter, my younger daughter, was volunteering with Qantas about 2 set right before Easter Easter Saturday, and I went out. I was wearing this T-shirt, and the folks over there were like, Oh, my God, Tommy, love that t-shirt! Where'd you get that. So the funny part about it is on the back here.
00:10:15.850 --> 00:10:42.509 Tommy DiMisa: It says West Hempstead Key Club. I'll tell you the story about this this shirt really quick. We have a family foundation in memory of my cousin Linda, and we've we have funded chapters of best buddies in schools here on Long Island best buddies. International Anthony Kennedy Shriver. You know, school programs, vocational work, what they call citizens programs for adults with intellectual developmental disabilities, who are
00:10:42.530 --> 00:10:50.719 Tommy DiMisa: partnering and and building friendships with what's called neurotypical, which I'm I'm pretty much over the whole neurotypical thing. Because
00:10:50.720 --> 00:11:14.809 Tommy DiMisa: in my, I haven't met any neurotypical people because I think we're all neurodivergent neurodiverse I know for sure. Most of the people I hang out with are and so best buddies, though I'm at the West Hempstead Middle School. And this woman is wearing this shirt. She's 1 of the moderators of the program, and I'm like, how you doing this is like way before I would just ask her stuff. I'm just kidding. I always ask her stuff.
00:11:14.850 --> 00:11:20.390 Tommy DiMisa: but I was like, how you doing I really like your shirt, and that's a way to get a shirt when you say things like that.
00:11:20.390 --> 00:11:20.810 Chris Soto: Oh, yeah.
00:11:20.810 --> 00:11:49.040 Tommy DiMisa: Really like. I usually get a lot of hoodies by that move, too, but it's it's such a cool shirt. And I noticed this morning. It's got some bleach stains on the front of the shirt, but I still had to wear it because we were doing this show today, and I think we need more shirts is what this boils down to. So I want it. We're going to get into rotary. But I want to hear from my friend Mark Watt. Mark. You know it's funny couple last year maybe you all asked me to to sponsor one of the food packing events which I know is like, really your thing, something you brought to the group
00:11:49.070 --> 00:12:11.380 Tommy DiMisa: when you did that I had a check for you for some amount of money, and I was like, why don't you? What's the what's it cost to be a member? And he told me, and I was like, Well, let me just write you another check, and I just said, Make me a member of the whole thing. Now I do my best to be a good member. I haven't been the best member, just surely, for my calendar and what goes on. But I try to infuse what I can mark your background. How'd you get to the rotary? Let's talk about it, sir.
00:12:13.970 --> 00:12:16.469 Mark Kuat: As you know, guys, I'm international.
00:12:16.650 --> 00:12:19.229 Mark Kuat: Wow. I was born in
00:12:19.680 --> 00:12:24.469 Mark Kuat: in Kazakhstan. It used to be part of Soviet Union. So I speak Russian. I speak Qatar
00:12:25.441 --> 00:12:37.499 Mark Kuat: so when I was in a college like Soviet Union was collapsed and terminated. So all countries become independent. When I returned back. I studied in Russia, actually by the
00:12:38.160 --> 00:12:40.620 Mark Kuat: St. Petersburgh State University.
00:12:40.930 --> 00:12:41.890 Mark Kuat: Whoa.
00:12:41.990 --> 00:12:56.400 Mark Kuat: mathematician by my education, then returned back to Kazakhstan. It was the Wild Wild West that time, you know, like it was no economy like Communist or Socialist economy was collapsed.
00:12:56.660 --> 00:13:03.070 Mark Kuat: Capitalism was not built yet, so it was like quite wild times.
00:13:03.270 --> 00:13:05.980 Mark Kuat: but at the same time it was like enough
00:13:06.170 --> 00:13:13.210 Mark Kuat: was 1st ever business school was opened in my city. So I I graduated.
00:13:13.410 --> 00:13:19.209 Mark Kuat: was working then in telecom company like on financial side. So then in the bank
00:13:19.330 --> 00:13:24.310 Mark Kuat: I did it again. It was not structured, so it was kind of
00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:28.790 Mark Kuat: mixed banking. What I did. It was a corporate
00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:35.460 Mark Kuat: project, financing at the same time like investment banking all in one. You know
00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:40.469 Mark Kuat: it's I have kind of experience. My industries was oil and gas and mining.
00:13:40.570 --> 00:13:43.279 Mark Kuat: It's the biggest industries for Kazakhstan.
00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:44.170 Mark Kuat: Well,
00:13:46.250 --> 00:13:49.200 Mark Kuat: Then, in 2,000
00:13:49.750 --> 00:13:59.770 Mark Kuat: 9, when it was crisis everywhere. We I am with my family. We moved to Dubai, so just it was nothing to do in Kazakhstan, so.
00:13:59.770 --> 00:14:04.019 Tommy DiMisa: I never, never knew that. See, this is what the show is about. I never knew. How long did you live in Dubai?
00:14:04.777 --> 00:14:15.910 Mark Kuat: We lived in Dubai for 6 years. It was great time. So, and I would say, it's a perfect transition time for my kids. So they learn English, because, like we studied in.
00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:22.000 Mark Kuat: it was British British Curriculum school. But
00:14:23.170 --> 00:14:30.290 Mark Kuat: when we moved to States 11 years ago, they was perfectly ready, you know so.
00:14:30.911 --> 00:14:37.240 Mark Kuat: and me and my wife, I would say as well, because we improved our English
00:14:37.950 --> 00:14:42.040 Mark Kuat: much better. Improvement was after I moved here.
00:14:42.680 --> 00:14:49.694 Mark Kuat: So when I moved here. So I bought a financial franchise. I did some alternative financing here, and
00:14:50.410 --> 00:15:00.820 Mark Kuat: did a lot of networking, and and it was when we I probably met Hba Group.
00:15:00.820 --> 00:15:04.990 Tommy DiMisa: That's how we met the health and business alliance a long time ago, man, for sure.
00:15:04.990 --> 00:15:11.680 Mark Kuat: But prior to Hba. So I was a part of small group in Suffolk County. It's called Li Connects.
00:15:12.250 --> 00:15:19.699 Mark Kuat: And oh! And this is where I get in touch with rotary. So it
00:15:19.950 --> 00:15:26.829 Mark Kuat: as a member of that group, Eamon Award, he actually he's a all time Rotarian.
00:15:26.970 --> 00:15:32.739 Mark Kuat: and he used to be a president of Smith Smithtown, I believe. Rotary club
00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:53.280 Mark Kuat: like at least last year so, and he introduced us food packaging to our group, he said, Okay, guys with the project, if you don't mind. So like a 40 bucks per person, and we can do like a package. 3,000 meals. Yeah, like, okay. So it was like, it was 14 or 15 of us.
00:15:53.510 --> 00:15:57.070 Mark Kuat: And we did. And it was 2,017 actually.
00:15:57.070 --> 00:15:57.830 Tommy DiMisa: Okay.
00:15:57.830 --> 00:16:02.199 Mark Kuat: And and it was great experience. But
00:16:02.350 --> 00:16:09.260 Mark Kuat: I was what was shocking for me to find out, and I was only 3 years in like in in the States.
00:16:09.260 --> 00:16:09.860 Tommy DiMisa: Yes.
00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:20.020 Mark Kuat: And like States, the richest county in the world, right? So like Long Island, so the wealthiest area in the United States.
00:16:20.140 --> 00:16:25.330 Mark Kuat: So, and at the beginning of our like 1st event
00:16:25.710 --> 00:16:27.629 Mark Kuat: I was a guy, Ted Swartwell.
00:16:27.830 --> 00:16:29.340 Mark Kuat: We all know him so like.
00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:30.559 Tommy DiMisa: That's worth what? Sure!
00:16:30.750 --> 00:16:31.089 Mark Kuat: Yup.
00:16:31.610 --> 00:16:44.889 Mark Kuat: So he did a small speech, and he said that, okay, on Long Island there's many families where kids like don't know what we will be having for the dinner, or if we will have a dinner.
00:16:45.180 --> 00:16:51.420 Mark Kuat: And I was so shocked to like I can't explain.
00:16:51.630 --> 00:17:03.859 Mark Kuat: So and then we did that event. It was. It's really great, great experience. When you have your hands on, you know, like you do something by yourself, not just cutting checkout.
00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:09.440 Mark Kuat: Well, I did it this event twice in in that group.
00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:19.259 Mark Kuat: And then I decide, okay, so rotary is okay. I should start. I should join rotary because actually advised me
00:17:19.430 --> 00:17:26.910 Mark Kuat: so, and I tried 1st Great Neck Rotary Club, for some reason didn't like it. But then.
00:17:26.910 --> 00:17:28.450 Tommy DiMisa: Club of ours. Yes.
00:17:28.450 --> 00:17:47.089 Tommy DiMisa: yeah. And they so let me ask you. So they weren't for some reason they weren't digging at the the Great Net Club. But then the Gold Coast Club really took to this, and we're going to get to that. So we got to take a quick break. So I want to come back. But before we go to break I want to do this. According to Long Island cares. The Harry Chapin Food Bank here on Long Island.
00:17:47.240 --> 00:18:11.989 Tommy DiMisa: you know gang. If you're not here, and even if you are here you might not realize this. A lot of people think Long Island equals the Hamptons and the Hamptons equals. Everybody has money and too much money, and so much money. Right? But no, listen to this. Here on Long Island approximately 287,300 people. Let me say that again, 287,300 people on Long Island suffer from food insecurity. Okay? You think that's bad. Well, here's the punchline.
00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:15.420 Tommy DiMisa: 58,500 of those are children.
00:18:16.300 --> 00:18:36.999 Tommy DiMisa: 58,000, almost 60,000 children on Long Island, where maybe folks think this is so wealthy, and there's such disparity here on Long Island, and those of us who live here know that. But just take that in as we go to a break, everybody. We're going to talk about it when we come back. But almost 300,000 people on Long island don't know where their next meal is coming from. We'll be right back philanthropy and focus.
00:20:20.350 --> 00:20:43.279 Tommy DiMisa: Back, and we were talking, and we were talking about the food insecurity here on Long Island, and we're talking about how Mark Quat really introduced the food packaging event to the Lake success, gold Coast chapter Chris and Mark are here with me, Chris Soto, Mark Quatt. And really we're talking about food insecurity here on Long Island. And it hits me guys so hard, Chris, I mean, you know, are you? Where are you originally from?
00:20:44.800 --> 00:20:47.889 Chris Soto: I was born in Manhattan, so I'm I'm from New York.
00:20:47.890 --> 00:20:53.799 Tommy DiMisa: So you know that there's such disparity of access to food and access to resources and things like that here.
00:20:53.800 --> 00:20:54.690 Chris Soto: See it all the time.
00:20:54.690 --> 00:21:01.770 Tommy DiMisa: It all the time right and you know, my friend, Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds was saying that Dr. Jeff Reynolds.
00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:10.760 Tommy DiMisa: from Family and Children's association. He he was on one of my 2 of my shows, hashtag ending the stigma, and also Long Island change makers, and he was just saying.
00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:12.790 Tommy DiMisa: you know.
00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:15.890 Tommy DiMisa: Sometimes people
00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:38.699 Tommy DiMisa: look at people who are either homeless or don't have access to enough food and say, Well, that person made some bad choices, and that's why that person is in that spot, and when individuals do that, and Dr. Reynolds, if I'm misquoting you, it was something to this, but I'm summarizing. But it was just. If, as individuals, we look at people who are in predicaments and tough spots that they
00:21:38.790 --> 00:22:01.040 Tommy DiMisa: they made bad choices. Well, then, we can say, well, that's not some choices that I would make, so I wouldn't. That doesn't affect me. And and it's like a way a loophole for folks not to have to feel any responsibility. It's group like it's groups like yours, Rotary, whether it be the great Net Club, your sister club of our club, and our club or the club that Mark learned about this from through Smithtown, and things like that
00:22:02.310 --> 00:22:15.610 Tommy DiMisa: that are out there making the change that is doing the important work that are out there on the front lines. So, Chris, you were already part of the club when when who was there 1st before you like? Give me that. So give me that timeline. So how you guys all collab and connected.
00:22:15.960 --> 00:22:22.130 Chris Soto: Yeah, no. So so I was there first.st I was I might have been. I think I was president of the club when you joined? Or was that? Yeah.
00:22:22.130 --> 00:22:22.450 Mark Kuat: Yep.
00:22:22.450 --> 00:22:42.729 Chris Soto: So. Yeah. And there was just a question that we we started posing to our prospective new members or and new members, you know if they had any passions and such that they're they're welcome to share them. We'll get behind them, or they can just jump on board with us not to feel any pressure. And you know we suggested that in Mark
00:22:42.820 --> 00:22:47.349 Chris Soto: took to that right away. He said, Hey, I did this thing. It was really great.
00:22:47.410 --> 00:23:13.870 Chris Soto: I was shocked about Long Island, the the like. You said, the wealth, disparity people needing food, and we said, That sounds great. If you want to run with it. We will support you. And we have a you know we we can. We can make the right connections and make it happen. And yeah, I think I was there a few years already by the time Mark joined. And that was it. And that's how the relationship started with Mark being part of the club, and he is by far a super integral
00:23:13.900 --> 00:23:20.449 Chris Soto: member of our club. And I, as I can see, more Tommy, you are going to become as well, and we're so excited to have you as a member.
00:23:20.450 --> 00:23:23.049 Tommy DiMisa: I appreciate that. And and you know what if.
00:23:23.320 --> 00:23:44.620 Tommy DiMisa: and not to be tough on me. But you know the challenge I've had is being available to to partner up with a lot of what you guys are doing that said like, when I sit on a board of directors, people don't put me on a board of directors because I'm really good at board governance or things like that. People bring me into organizations because I know a lot of people, and I can put people in a room. So what I'd like to do is continue
00:23:44.860 --> 00:23:54.689 Tommy DiMisa: and I promise to do my best to not book any other events on the 1st Thursday of you know of the month, and it's funny, like I had.
00:23:54.690 --> 00:23:56.920 Chris Soto: Good looking guy. You make you make the dinner look better. So.
00:23:56.920 --> 00:24:01.350 Tommy DiMisa: It's good to have you stop it all right. You know, it's funny, like.
00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:17.549 Tommy DiMisa: typically those meetings are Friday mornings. Right? So let's shout it out Friday mornings. And typically I'm standing here in the attic doing this show on Friday morning, so infrequently do I make the Friday meeting. But what? So it's a breakfast meeting where folks get together. Talk about the club, talk about what's going on. Let's go. Let's go there a little bit.
00:24:19.790 --> 00:24:22.109 Chris Soto: Go ahead, Mark. Tell him about the breakfast.
00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:25.270 Mark Kuat: Breakfast.
00:24:25.470 --> 00:24:34.210 Mark Kuat: Oh, it's it's 1st of all, it's a great breakfast. So right now we have 2 occasions.
00:24:34.810 --> 00:24:41.750 Mark Kuat: We meet in Bagel Boss in Lakes.
00:24:41.750 --> 00:24:43.190 Chris Soto: Like success for me.
00:24:43.521 --> 00:24:54.799 Mark Kuat: It's a great place, great food and great discounts, which we like very much, because it helps our club to save a little bit money and spend to the like to the good cause.
00:24:54.800 --> 00:25:04.550 Tommy DiMisa: I like that. So let me go there so like I keep hearing that theme, and we heard about it at oak and vine, and they're doing the right thing, giving the rotary price, and, you know, shout out to Bagel, Boss, too, you know.
00:25:04.690 --> 00:25:12.049 Tommy DiMisa: That is because you you're talking about keeping things as tight as possible, so more money can go back and and make impact right.
00:25:12.050 --> 00:25:23.869 Chris Soto: Yeah, 100%. When we when we spend less. If there's extra after the breakfast, it goes right into the rotary bank account. So we charge a fixed amount, and that money, the more that we save the more money goes into the account. So it's great.
00:25:23.870 --> 00:25:28.589 Tommy DiMisa: I love that I love that, and that's that's so great. You know. It's like.
00:25:28.710 --> 00:25:44.630 Tommy DiMisa: when you think about how much need there is. And we sort of established some of that, as it relates to food insecurity. I want to go back to like the history of of rotary. And you, you guys know some of the background being, Mark. You were also the president of club at 1 point, too correct.
00:25:45.390 --> 00:25:46.070 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah.
00:25:46.070 --> 00:25:47.830 Chris Soto: 3 time, President, mark.
00:25:47.830 --> 00:26:12.649 Tommy DiMisa: See, you know, I think it's best. I stay as far away from this thing as I can sometimes, too, because I don't want to turn around all of a sudden. Be a president of something, you know. But I say, what I was about to say before was, I want to get more folks, you know, from different parts of the community. There, you know, there used to be, I think there used to be a club in my neighborhood here, right? And there's no longer a club, right? So I'd like to extend the reach of the Lake Success Gold Coast to our community
00:26:12.650 --> 00:26:37.550 Tommy DiMisa: here in the North Shore area and continue to to bring more people together. So how I want to hear from you guys like, yeah, the history. But also the now, how can somebody get involved and become part of rotary other than just meeting Mark, you know, in the in the parking lot of the Long Island children's museum to give him a check for the food packaging event. Just give him a second check like that's 1 way you could do it, Mark, I mean, but there's probably more.
00:26:37.935 --> 00:26:39.475 Tommy DiMisa: You remember that day.
00:26:40.760 --> 00:26:41.280 Chris Soto: Time.
00:26:42.340 --> 00:26:46.680 Mark Kuat: Expected to get only like a sponsorship check. But when
00:26:46.800 --> 00:26:59.679 Mark Kuat: Tommy said that, he joining, I know Tommy. So, Tommy, so such a great value, you know. So and so, and I was so excited him to join in our club, because I know that together we can do and like
00:26:59.950 --> 00:27:01.070 Mark Kuat: much more. You know.
00:27:01.070 --> 00:27:11.999 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, thank you. Thank you. So talk. Talk to me about that like what a membership looks like, how how people can plug in. Let's and and and we'll weave in kind of some of the stats in the history of Rotary.
00:27:12.270 --> 00:27:31.820 Chris Soto: Yeah, I mean, I can give you a little bit of that. Maybe so, you know, Rotary began in 19 0, 5, gentleman and 3 of his buddies got together thinking about doing business, it eventually blew up they actually were critical. And
00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:37.829 Chris Soto: the reason for the formation of the United nations as well. It grew community by community.
00:27:37.910 --> 00:27:56.110 Chris Soto: Now, it's 1.4 million members, 35,000 clubs across the world. They do not work with government. Okay, because government money might tend to get a little lost, you know, in governments. So usually, clubs when they want to do international projects, do it club to club.
00:27:56.180 --> 00:28:10.830 Chris Soto: That being said, how do people get involved? It's super easy. Internationally, it's even easier to get a new member, because it's super prestigious. They kind of see the United States as a beacon to philanthropy, to, you know, and and good works.
00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:31.499 Chris Soto: and people like really want to be a part of it like like, with a great desire. Here, we don't do as a good a job, let's say, as promoting it, but we're doing our best to get better at that. And I think, Tommy, you are helping us with that a lot. And we appreciate that. And we'll continue to so we basically just invite people for a good time.
00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:57.209 Chris Soto: a, a breakfast that's on us, everyone and anyone in earshot of this is a hundred percent welcome. You need to let us know in advance, so we can make sure we'll cover your breakfast. Not a problem. You'll learn about the things that we're doing in our local community, which, of course, we can touch on a little bit. But then it just might strike a chord with you. If it does strike that chord. We want you as a member, because you're gonna be able to be a part of something that's a lot bigger than you. So
00:28:57.430 --> 00:29:03.710 Chris Soto: and I think that kind of touches on how we get people started and and into our club.
00:29:04.050 --> 00:29:29.289 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, it certainly does, for sure. And I'm going to share the website, you know. We'll go to break in a moment when I go to break. But gang, if you're listening, go to gclsrotary.org. And I say, if you're listening, I mean, if you're listening only, and you're not going to see what I share in a second gclsrotary.org. I'll share that. And recently Gail Deutschman's become president of the club, and you know Gail and I had a cool situation.
00:29:29.290 --> 00:29:29.700 Chris Soto: Because.
00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:42.899 Tommy DiMisa: I was telling her that I do the shows where where Talia Soto had just been on the show got to keep shouting out Talia. She did such a great job. We had such a fun time. We'll probably put that show out next week, and in the same studio
00:29:42.910 --> 00:30:07.840 Tommy DiMisa: I had Gail's son come out because he has an interest in media work, and he's he actually went to school for media and editing and all this kind of stuff, and that's called what do they call that networking? That's what that's called right and connecting. And you know, that's what I'm all about the nonprofit sector connector. But, like, you know, while rotary is not a group per se of a networking situation, it is a group of helping right service above
00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:13.400 Tommy DiMisa: self service for the community, but service for each other like that to me is just that's old hat like
00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:23.089 Tommy DiMisa: Gail says, hey, could you? You know I told her about what I was in. She's like my son would love that, I said, well, I'll be in the studio doing 4 shows next week. Have him come through. And that's what we do. So
00:30:23.090 --> 00:30:31.000 Tommy DiMisa: we will be right back. I'll share the website as we go to break. And and Chris, Mark and Tommy D. Philanthropy in focus. Right back.
00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:09.959 Tommy DiMisa: Cut through the attic. No, don't cut through the attic, I mean, sometimes it gets a little bit crazy up here. You got to cut right through the attic, but cut through the static, join. You're more in the attic.
00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:33.050 Tommy DiMisa: It's so funny because the way my brain works is sometimes the way my computer works. And I have a lot of open tabs and open files. And the computer's a little slow. So I was trying to show some pictures on the website, and it got jammed up. And that's on me and the technology I'm dealing with here. So let's go into, though, you know, as I'm reading this food packaging event, peace poll, project, Gold Coast rotary clothing, pantry at the
00:32:33.050 --> 00:32:52.060 Tommy DiMisa: mark. Krieger shout out to my buddy, mark had an event yesterday, and I did not get there because I was prepping for my event last night. So maybe some of you guys were there and we could talk about that but serve as Decker judges also involved in the Interact Club. We talked about Talia and how she founded the Interact Club at Great Neck, South, right Great Neck, South.
00:32:52.060 --> 00:32:52.650 Chris Soto: Yes.
00:32:52.650 --> 00:33:00.380 Tommy DiMisa: Because I we had to like role play and prep her. And I because I kept in my mind thinking North North North. So I had to remind myself. But like.
00:33:00.380 --> 00:33:27.500 Tommy DiMisa: let's talk about, why don't we start there? You know the the Interact Club. We talked a little bit about food packaging, and I will share, you know, Mark and I've been talking to Ted and Declan Smartwood, because I want to do an event over here up in North Shore area, and we will it just with my stuff. It's not. We're not going to pull it off. But so Mark and you and I, Chris, we're talking about. I think it was just yesterday, probably do that when the kids come back to school in September, so excited about that going to be looking for some support from some other
00:33:27.500 --> 00:33:52.599 Tommy DiMisa: local business friends. And when you you know, I'm sure it's going to be a great event, because this is a great community where I live. However, I don't see enough of what I'm talking about, so we're going to do more of that. And you want to be a little disruptive in this world, even when it comes to giving back and philanthropy, or even especially when it comes back to that. So what about the interact. Club. Chris, why don't you talk about that? Because I feel like you got certainly got a connection to that. What's that look like in practice?
00:33:53.290 --> 00:34:16.129 Chris Soto: Yeah. So interact club, you know, a, a, a type of extension of a rotary club. Basically, you're sponsored by a rotary club one of the members is usually the liaison between the Interact Club and our Rotary club. They, however, do operate independently, come up with their own ideas. Certainly we can pose some ideas, the liaison.
00:34:16.130 --> 00:34:31.260 Chris Soto: and then they have a a connection inside of the school that has to represent the school as well. In our case, currently, you know. We we have, fortunately, a member who is in the school, and and now the liaison of the club
00:34:31.620 --> 00:34:53.559 Chris Soto: working to do that. So that's basically it. They come up with ideas. If they want our support, we'd like to hear about it and keep a link, and we'll help them if we can. But they do things on their own. And so it's really impressive, and they learn fantastic habits. That's the real thing. I think they learn to become those charitable givers from a young age and take charge in doing it. So I love it.
00:34:53.560 --> 00:35:12.209 Tommy DiMisa: Well, you haven't seen the episode where i 1 sec. Mark. We'll come to you in a sec. But you haven't seen the episode yet, because we haven't put out there yet. But you know just an inspiration. Your daughter, because she saw so much watching you do what you do. You know what I'm saying, and and that to me makes me very emotional, because my youngest of
00:35:12.210 --> 00:35:24.949 Tommy DiMisa: my 4 children says to me all the time, hey, Dad, when are we going to do another day of service? And that young man and his older sister out of my 4? The 2 young ones, excuse me, were at our recent food packaging event.
00:35:24.950 --> 00:35:48.129 Tommy DiMisa: And listen, gang, if you haven't been, and I'm going to send out some pictures, and if you want to reach out to me, Tommy D. At philanthropyandfocus.com, and we spell focus PHOC. US. But send me an email if you want pictures and stuff, because the coolest thing is you got hairnets. You got plastic gloves on. You got like it's a whole thing. I mean, I actually, because the hair grows out of all parts of my face. Sometimes they make me wear like a hair net on my.
00:35:48.130 --> 00:36:03.819 Tommy DiMisa: on my face, for the for the goatee, and stuff like that. So, but you know, Mark, all the funny pictures and stuff like that. Because, you see all these smiling faces because we're making an impact. This year we packed 15,000 meals right? It's not unbelievable because I was in the room, and I saw it happen.
00:36:03.930 --> 00:36:08.499 Tommy DiMisa: But it is just so important, Mark, take it away, because I know you had something to say. There.
00:36:09.470 --> 00:36:25.949 Mark Kuat: Oh, I just want to add a little bit about interact club. So which is great, they raise money themselves, which is really great, and they decide themselves how to spend this money, not asking liaison or whatever. So, because I know that
00:36:26.160 --> 00:36:48.218 Mark Kuat: they it was a story about one Italian like who had a kidney transplant. I believe so. And there are club. Then they decide, okay, so to spend some money they raised to help this guy's family so out. So, which is is really great, you know. So and
00:36:48.850 --> 00:36:50.809 Mark Kuat: as Chris said, that
00:36:52.490 --> 00:37:05.980 Mark Kuat: mindset it sets the mindset like, I believe so. And like these kids are, gonna be great adults and caring about not just families, but I believe about their communities as well.
00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:16.150 Chris Soto: Like your kids who come to the food packaging event and do a heck of a lot at the food packaging event. So yeah, tell them about not only the 15,000, but we did more right, Mark, what did we do?
00:37:16.340 --> 00:37:22.350 Mark Kuat: Oh, we by now we did 80, 86,000 meals
00:37:22.720 --> 00:37:28.249 Mark Kuat: and all meals was distributed locally. So it's a
00:37:29.216 --> 00:37:42.750 Mark Kuat: and the way we and I mean our club want to. Not just food packaging events, but some other events. We try to involve other clubs. We collaborate.
00:37:43.870 --> 00:37:49.910 Mark Kuat: We love to have joint events. We love to help each other, and also like help.
00:37:50.130 --> 00:38:04.290 Mark Kuat: This way we can spread, I believe the wider so, and not just to do like a food packaging for only our community and keep the all like food here, because, you know, like
00:38:04.420 --> 00:38:07.929 Mark Kuat: new sorry, it's everywhere.
00:38:07.930 --> 00:38:25.370 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah. And and you know what it is, too. They had to be throughout the day. I don't know 8,000 people that came through the doors there. Right? I mean, yeah, easily, because we got like, how many lines. So gang let me get. Let me give you the lingo. If you never done a food packaging event. So we have these long tables, you know, when you have probably 15 people at a table, right? And.
00:38:25.370 --> 00:38:26.359 Chris Soto: 10 to 12 people. Yeah.
00:38:26.360 --> 00:38:39.991 Tommy DiMisa: 12 so, and you probably had 6 or 7 lines in that. So 6 long tables, so picture it. Close your eyes, envision with me or text me, and I'll send you pictures. But like just vision it and the hair nets and the whole thing. And you know,
00:38:40.270 --> 00:39:02.910 Tommy DiMisa: you get okay guy at the 1st station pours in the beans, and then, you know, then the rice and then the seasoning right, and the vitamin pack. And all this stuff goes in, and at the end of the line is really kind of the fun. But you have to make sure it doesn't weigh too much. So we're like pouring out, pouring in right? It has to be certain. Then we have, like the vacuum sealer, which is like the fun thing, like my son loves out that thing, but I'll tell you.
00:39:02.910 --> 00:39:21.249 Tommy DiMisa: He likes that a lot, but then he wants to do something else. So you do a half hour over here. You do a half hour over there, and it's like it's so special. So a buddy of mine came with his, with all 4 of his daughters, and that was their 1st experience, him and his wife and the 4 girls. And that's kind of what sparked what we're going to do something over here because
00:39:21.250 --> 00:39:47.740 Tommy DiMisa: I was talking to his daughter. She probably like 6 or 7. And I said, What do you think is this fun? And she goes, Yeah, Tommy D's fun. I said, we do this once a year, and she goes, you know, Tommy DI want to do this more than once a year, and I go. Okay. I looked at her mom. We kind of caught eyes. We made it. And that's how it's, gonna you know, kind of that ripple effect, Mark. So if you don't come up with this idea and you don't launch it, then we don't continue to ripple it out. So you know we're going to do so much work together in that regard as it relates to to.
00:39:47.740 --> 00:40:11.610 Chris Soto: And the good news is your event, Tommy, that you're gonna help, you know Spearhead here, and we're gonna support you and make it happen really well is gonna be actually one of 3 events that we're gonna be doing every year. So we do 2 now every year. Because we do one at the cyberwalk school. Yeah, it's an elementary school, and it's phenomenal. I mean, we've got every half hour a new set of kids rolls in
00:40:13.060 --> 00:40:13.470 Chris Soto: set up.
00:40:13.470 --> 00:40:15.339 Tommy DiMisa: It's like their class period. They come through and.
00:40:15.340 --> 00:40:34.299 Chris Soto: You're correct. They cycle through all kids, from the different grades, cycle through the the kindergartners draw on the boxes and put little notes in the boxes. That's their contribution, and it is phenomenal. So that's 10,000 meals right there and then. We do our 15,000. So bare minimum we're doing now is 25 a year, and we're just gonna up it.
00:40:34.500 --> 00:40:36.433 Tommy DiMisa: I love that. You know it's something.
00:40:36.960 --> 00:40:56.760 Tommy DiMisa: It's funny because I didn't realize last year when I sponsored it with you guys, that your mark's like. Tell me you got to take some of these boxes of food, and I go, Mark, what are you talking about, man? He goes. That was part of your sponsorship. I go dude fine, so like I got a little car, and it's not always the neatest. So we're like getting as many boxes that fit in my car, and we had to put my son in there somewhere, so we stuck him.
00:40:57.900 --> 00:41:16.099 Tommy DiMisa: That was last year, but then I took them to Nosh delivers, which is right in my neighborhood, up like Glen Cove Area, which is a pantry. So that was last year. And then this year, you guys were like, there's so much. Take this food. Take that. And I brought it to Nosh again, and Nosh was just a semifinal. Excuse me, strike it a finalist
00:41:16.100 --> 00:41:32.359 Tommy DiMisa: in the Long Island. Imagine awards the other night. So the whole board was there. So it's just like what I want to do is we're going to collab with them, too, to see. You know we were talking about. Well, the meal we have packed before has been the same meal, but there's different varieties, and you can ask the company the outreach project what is best
00:41:32.360 --> 00:41:46.360 Tommy DiMisa: for where it's going right like, what? What do they need like if they need breakfast meal if they need you know the dinner meal, whatever we we can do that so just so much. And that's another collab, because the outreach project is a nonprofit itself, if I'm not mistaken, right? So that.
00:41:46.360 --> 00:41:47.360 Chris Soto: Yes, 100%.
00:41:47.360 --> 00:41:55.990 Tommy DiMisa: We just continue continue the ripple effect. So with 3. Now this Marwood school, what time of year? Yeah, right? What time of year do you do that one.
00:41:56.430 --> 00:41:57.419 Chris Soto: Mark? When was that.
00:41:58.660 --> 00:42:02.130 Mark Kuat: Okay, so this school, it's February.
00:42:03.160 --> 00:42:07.600 Chris Soto: Yep, February. I think I just called it Smartwood School. I think I just did so, Ted.
00:42:07.600 --> 00:42:08.479 Chris Soto: A lot of smart kids.
00:42:08.480 --> 00:42:12.980 Chris Soto: You have your own school gang. That's how it works in the show. You got to be careful. Things happen fast.
00:42:13.030 --> 00:42:41.840 Tommy DiMisa: We're going to come back in a moment or 2, and we're going to talk about the future of the organization. And I would say the future of the organization is certainly the younger people getting more and more involved, and I laugh about it because sometimes people call, they say to me, hey, Tommy? D you know. Will you speak as the young professionals group and I go? Oh, can you be on this board of young professionals? And I said, I'm 47 years old. I'm happy to serve on whatever board, just because I dress up like a child doesn't mean I'm actually that young anymore.
00:42:41.840 --> 00:42:53.370 Tommy DiMisa: But I think it is important to get our folks who are in their twenties and their thirties involved in community services early on. And I mean like, I said, in meeting with your daughter Chris. She has such
00:42:54.220 --> 00:43:04.349 Tommy DiMisa: gratitude for seeing what you've done. And she learned from that, and took right to this. And who's the the moderator at the school? He's got like a nickname, or something like that.
00:43:04.350 --> 00:43:04.870 Chris Soto: Mark.
00:43:04.870 --> 00:43:06.830 Tommy DiMisa: Much shout out to march, so.
00:43:06.830 --> 00:43:07.930 Chris Soto: March is the best.
00:43:07.930 --> 00:43:20.799 Tommy DiMisa: And that's what she she said. She plugged in with much, and he and March was digging it. And that's kind of how that all happened. So all right, we'll be right back. Quick! Break! I will share some. I'll share the website again on the break. All right. Everybody see you in a minute.
00:45:03.860 --> 00:45:20.540 Tommy DiMisa: All right. Join me in the attic. Let's get after it. Let's go all right. So Chris and Mark are here from the Rotary Club club that I'm a member of. I want to talk about the I want to talk about the clothing pantry and the connection to the club. Chris, you want to take a little bit of that one.
00:45:21.050 --> 00:45:27.689 Chris Soto: Sure. Basically. The is run by Mark Krieger
00:45:27.990 --> 00:45:32.109 Chris Soto: out of his synagogue. He opens it
00:45:32.250 --> 00:45:58.399 Chris Soto: certain days by invitation only for the purpose of getting clothing to people in need for free. So 100 free appointment only, and he's ready to service the largest of its kind in the country. Pretty amazing. He has over 3,000 or 3,500 articles of clothing and accessories at any one time. So, yeah, pretty amazing, pretty amazing.
00:45:58.400 --> 00:46:07.530 Tommy DiMisa: Pretty amazing. So go to beautiful memories. Gamak, which is Gamak, is GEMA. ch.org, and I'm doing the best pronunciation I can mark for me. Gamak.
00:46:07.530 --> 00:46:11.570 Chris Soto: The rest of us. It's a clothing pantry, that's that's what that's what they need to know. That's what it is.
00:46:11.570 --> 00:46:22.269 Tommy DiMisa: That's it. I'm sharing the website, everybody but go check it out. And there was an event yesterday. I think it was connected to the Gamak, but it was also was around mental health yesterday. I couldn't get there. What was that, guys.
00:46:23.530 --> 00:46:25.190 Chris Soto: Mental health was.
00:46:25.190 --> 00:46:26.890 Tommy DiMisa: That was a couple of weeks ago. That was.
00:46:26.890 --> 00:46:27.330 Chris Soto: Yes.
00:46:27.330 --> 00:46:27.880 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah.
00:46:28.600 --> 00:46:57.389 Chris Soto: Mental health was a couple of weeks ago. It was really great. Our past president was one of the speakers. That's Mariah Adamo. She's a partner at at her law firm. And they're the only law firm in the United States that specializes in mental health law. Believe it or not. So this is pretty amazing. And she and she is, you know, a managing partner, I believe, at the firm. So pretty pretty amazing stuff. It was a great evening, and then we had the event that you were talking about. That took place
00:46:57.450 --> 00:47:02.939 Chris Soto: yesterday. During the day. Mark can tell about that because I wasn't able to make it.
00:47:05.625 --> 00:47:09.079 Mark Kuat: It was like regarding estate, planning.
00:47:09.080 --> 00:47:09.780 Tommy DiMisa: Okay.
00:47:12.060 --> 00:47:19.270 Mark Kuat: It's it's again. It was great event, and Elizabeth for span.
00:47:19.760 --> 00:47:42.025 Mark Kuat: So she was a main speaker at the event, and she didn't know what she's doing. So it was. She did a great great attorney so, and I even it was like I believe, it was my second event with her as a speaker. But again I learned something new and not just me. So.
00:47:42.430 --> 00:47:55.020 Tommy DiMisa: That's what it is. It's it's educational, you know, right? Like. So the club is community focused. But we bring in education about different topics. And we partner up with different organizations and and companies and things like that, to to continue to educate members of the community.
00:47:55.020 --> 00:48:20.900 Chris Soto: She's also like, I'm sorry we can say she's like a super caring person, a great individual, and and and we had her down at one of our rotary breakfast before, and we really connected. And that's why I used her for our state planning and help with my mom mom and Dad's estate. My dad recently passed. My mom is, you know, has early onset, I mean not early onset. She has dimension. She lives with us at the house and she's helped set us up so she's just been fantastic.
00:48:20.900 --> 00:48:23.419 Tommy DiMisa: I love that, and shout out her name again. The attorney you're referring to.
00:48:23.420 --> 00:48:31.070 Chris Soto: That's Elizabeth forspan of clear of 4 span and clear attorneys, and they're located here in Great Neck.
00:48:31.070 --> 00:48:43.229 Tommy DiMisa: Love that, Elizabeth. Thanks for what you're doing in the world. Let's go there. There's a couple notes you put in the chat here for me, Chris. I want to make sure we hit upon, and then also some just stats and statistics that you told me about rotary. But why don't you mention what you talked about here.
00:48:43.560 --> 00:48:59.062 Chris Soto: Yeah. And so, our club rotary in general has a big impact on heart surgeries for kids. And it started out of Long island. Our club then added to it in a really really big way, and started,
00:48:59.980 --> 00:49:02.628 Chris Soto: oh, my God! What's the name of it?
00:49:03.290 --> 00:49:04.359 Tommy DiMisa: Of the life or no.
00:49:04.360 --> 00:49:32.120 Chris Soto: Thank you. Thank you. Yes. So gift of life. And then we started gift of life. India. We actually have 2 or 3 buses now traveling around India with our club's name on it. We've done literally over 6,000 heart surgeries for infants and small children, and then, on top of that we've done spinal surgeries for them as well. These are all done free of charge to the families. We move kids around, we move doctors around.
00:49:32.120 --> 00:49:35.729 Chris Soto: And it's really amazing. And something we're super proud of.
00:49:36.550 --> 00:49:53.919 Tommy DiMisa: As you should be proud of it. I mean, literally saving lives. Not just that. Not just saying it, but so I there's I pulled up the website. Want to verify that? It's the right website before I share it out there. I'm gonna drop it in chat. Chris. Let me know if this is the right website before we, before I put it out.
00:49:53.920 --> 00:49:54.560 Chris Soto: Sure.
00:49:54.560 --> 00:50:02.030 Tommy DiMisa: But you know, what do you guys think is, you know, Mark Quat, what would you say for the future of our club? You know.
00:50:02.360 --> 00:50:12.460 Tommy DiMisa: What do you see? As far as a vision? I mean 86,000 meals, I think you said. I mean, that's that means we do 100,000 in no time, you know. How do we continue to grow, and what are some of your thoughts? There.
00:50:16.910 --> 00:50:18.835 Mark Kuat: No, it's it's again so
00:50:20.350 --> 00:50:27.459 Mark Kuat: As you said, as you mentioned already, a ripple effect. So when you do something good like you.
00:50:27.890 --> 00:50:41.420 Mark Kuat: you attract something some good to yourself as well, I mean as our club. We grow organically. So I believe it's not just because of this event, but this event I mean food packaging
00:50:41.530 --> 00:50:48.710 Mark Kuat: it. It's a great, I would say, opportunity to involve not just
00:50:48.860 --> 00:50:56.260 Mark Kuat: members, but families. So where you can introduce.
00:50:56.970 --> 00:51:04.800 Mark Kuat: like what you do and how you can help communities to and learn. Teach the young generation. I think
00:51:04.970 --> 00:51:05.814 Mark Kuat: so.
00:51:07.560 --> 00:51:16.300 Mark Kuat: And we as a club. As I said that, as Chris said, like we ask for new members if they have something in mind.
00:51:17.280 --> 00:51:26.439 Mark Kuat: Prashant, one of your like members as well. So great guy like Bollywood, actor, so.
00:51:26.440 --> 00:51:46.020 Tommy DiMisa: Prashant Gupta shout out to Prashant, He's over with my friend Jeff Mcqueen's Organization Mental Health Association. Nassau County Prashant is great, so passionate, right, and he's really focused on the words about you know my like, what I talk about ending the stigma, you know, breaking that stigma around, you know the conversations around mental health.
00:51:46.550 --> 00:51:59.670 Mark Kuat: And this is something new. Our club is like he brought it. And and, Tommy, you, we find find out that you're also very big on this. So and this is something our club
00:51:59.890 --> 00:52:03.429 Mark Kuat: glad to support as well. So, and now it seems.
00:52:03.800 --> 00:52:10.530 Mark Kuat: But our club will be also hosting some events, and we'll be helping out
00:52:10.720 --> 00:52:13.350 Mark Kuat: on extent. We can do that.
00:52:13.350 --> 00:52:33.509 Tommy DiMisa: I love that. We just keep moving it forward. We keep moving it forward. So I did. I got the website. Everybody. I'm going to share it real quick while we you know, while we're finishing up the show. But it's gift of life in giftoflife.in. I'll share it while we're speaking, Chris, your vision for the future of our club and and rotary in general.
00:52:34.230 --> 00:52:39.390 Chris Soto: Yeah, I think. It's it's a shared vision. It's 1 of the beautiful things about
00:52:39.510 --> 00:52:41.301 Chris Soto: getting together every week.
00:52:41.900 --> 00:53:03.207 Chris Soto: with with our club members is, is, we all really seem to have this this passion in common, and that's why fellowship is a big part of our club. Yes, this is absolutely our club in India that is Ravi Bupapour. Is the 1st name you see there, and he is one of our founding members of our club here and
00:53:03.650 --> 00:53:30.279 Chris Soto: He is also on the board of Rotary International, overseeing the 1.2 billion dollars that they use to to give out funds across the world, whether it's for eradicating polio or what have you? So our future? I see it as huge. I see our club future as very, very big, because more and more people who are looking to make change are getting involved.
00:53:30.360 --> 00:53:37.640 Chris Soto: And right now, we're part of District 7, 2, 5 5 on the island of about 1,500 members.
00:53:37.920 --> 00:53:49.800 Chris Soto: and our club is about 33 members right now, and I'm sure we're going to be 40 in no time, but I think we are the fastest growing club on Long Island at the moment. So it's really exciting.
00:53:49.800 --> 00:54:07.380 Tommy DiMisa: Well, I'll tell you something, just as a shout out to you guys. A couple weeks ago I was invited by a friend of mine, John Amarati, to come out and speak at the Rotary Club of the Ronkons, and John is on the board of directors for blessings in a backpack, and what they do. They've been on the show him and Trisha Ewald, who's the executive director.
00:54:07.970 --> 00:54:32.170 Tommy DiMisa: They make sure that children who are food insecure go home with food for the weekend. So this food is packaged up, and and these young people very discreetly are given the food, you know, not to, you know, point anything out that might make folks uncomfortable like, you know. No shame, no, nothing right. But John asked me to come out and speak at that rotary, and you know, before they asked me to come up and speak, they're all talking about. We were working in the
00:54:32.170 --> 00:54:56.689 Tommy DiMisa: Soup kitchen last night at the Mental Health Association of Long Island, and we were doing this. And we're doing that. I go. I look over, John, I go. What do you want me to talk about. What am I going to teach these people about philanthropy and things like that? I mean, these are the folks who were doing the work, and and they had such great things to say about both of you guys. Honestly, some of the folks out there were like, Oh, my God! That you're in that club, Chris and Mark and everybody over there, and Jay, we love Jay and the whole thing. So it's like.
00:54:56.860 --> 00:55:00.280 Tommy DiMisa: you know, it's all about community, and
00:55:00.280 --> 00:55:07.500 Tommy DiMisa: everybody loves Jay. I gotta say sorry you gotta come to the breakfast to meet Jay. He is a legend, and you'll have a good time. Sorry.
00:55:08.370 --> 00:55:18.679 Chris Soto: Don't be sorry at all. I had a couple one on one zoom calls with Jay last week, and what a great story he's got. It's funny how people don't realize how cool their stories are people, what I did. And I'm like.
00:55:18.730 --> 00:55:33.190 Tommy DiMisa: Dude. That's really great stuff. I mean, he's lived all around the world. Jay, you got to come on Long Island change makers. Get you in the studio to tell that story. So it's not just shared for me. I think it's funny how people don't realize like what they do in the world is so important. And you know humility.
00:55:33.190 --> 00:55:56.300 Tommy DiMisa: Okay, but you know what it's good to shine a light on yourself from time to time. All right. Listen. We're going to have to leave it there, Mark, I appreciate you being here. I appreciate your friendship, Chris. I appreciate you being here. I appreciate your friendship guys. I want to do whatever I can to help us grow this club and and lean in and bring my network to the club, because if it's like. Last night, for instance.
00:55:56.310 --> 00:56:09.460 Tommy DiMisa: it was 50 people that came to this event to help see these puppies. By the way, forget about it. We didn't really talk about the puppies, but forget about it, gang. You'll see the pictures later on, but unbelievable. What a turnout it was! Everybody's like with the puppies and stuff. But
00:56:09.720 --> 00:56:25.590 Tommy DiMisa: all those people should be connected to the work we're doing, and if they don't live in our community, maybe they need to join a club somewhere else on the island, or in the city, or whatever. But the point is, they should be plugged into this work. So we're going to continue to grow. I'm going to continue to do what I can. Yes, Chris, one thing, before we go.
00:56:25.980 --> 00:56:36.120 Chris Soto: I want to say one thing we had a great time. Thank you very much for what you do, and we're looking forward to continuing what we do, just even more so. But know this.
00:56:36.290 --> 00:56:39.540 Chris Soto: if something is truthful, fair.
00:56:39.880 --> 00:56:46.799 Chris Soto: beneficial, and promotes goodwill, that's all about us, and we're all about that. So thank you.
00:56:46.800 --> 00:56:48.870 Tommy DiMisa: Thank you, mark anything before we go.
00:56:49.620 --> 00:56:50.300 Mark Kuat: Oh, cool!
00:56:50.970 --> 00:57:15.190 Mark Kuat: Thank you. Thank you for having us, and thank you for letting the world know about our club and about rotary. What is more important, because, like, we are everywhere so. But many people just don't know what. There is a rotary clubs, and there's opportunity to do some community service. So thank you, Tammy, for what you're doing. Thank you for having us, and it was a great show.
00:57:15.390 --> 00:57:15.950 Tommy DiMisa: You're welcome.
00:57:15.950 --> 00:57:25.189 Chris Soto: That is, that is the ethical guide for rotary. By the way, it has to pass that test for everything we do. Is it truthful, fair, beneficial, or promote goodwill. So it's a 4 way test.
00:57:25.190 --> 00:57:42.769 Tommy DiMisa: That is a good test gang. We do a couple things on the show. I help nonprofit leaders tell their story and amplify their message, and that's my mission. To continue to do that. I appreciate you all. I will be here next Friday morning, and we'll do it again. We'll have another important conversation. Make it a great day. Make it a great weekend. I'll see you all later. Bye.
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