Philanthropy Speaks
A podcast by the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, Philanthropy Speaks brings you candid conversations with leaders from the nonprofit sector and inspiring individuals who are making an impact in Flint and Genesee County, Michigan. Tune in as we explore the stories and initiatives driving positive change in our community.
Philanthropy Speaks
Brandon Carr and the Carr Cares Foundation
In this episode, we speak with Brandon Carr of the Baltimore Ravens and Troy Forte, Executive Director of the Carr Cares Foundation.
A graduate of Carman-Ainsworth High School and a product of Flint, MI, Brandon Carr always knew he wanted to give back. Together with Troy, they share their passion and commitment for Flint and how they use their platform to support education, entrepreneurship and cancer care.
If you want to learn more about the Carr Cares Foundation and support the great work they are doing, visit www.CarrCares.org.
For more information about the Community Foundation of Greater Flint and support the work happening in Flint & Genesee County visit www.cfgf.org.
Welcome to our philanthropy speaks podcast series with your host, Isaiah Oliver, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. Join us as we engage in candid conversations with leaders throughout the nonprofit world and inspiring individuals who are making a real difference in Flint and Genesee county, Michigan.
Speaker 2:All right, you got Isaiah. I'll are here. President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. Like to remind people at the beginning of the show, I lead an organization focused on engaging people in philanthropy, giving time and talent and treasure to making communities you love better places to live in and work in and contribute to. Today I'm joined by two people who are not shy to giving back and making the community a better place. Why? Mr. Brandon Carr of the, of the Baltimore Ravens and Mr Troy Forte, uh, executive director of the car carriers foundation. Thank you gentlemen for joining me today.
Speaker 3:Alright, well thank you. Good morning to you.
Speaker 2:All right. We're going to have a pretty casual conversation. They may get deep. I think I'm what? I want to understand better and I want what I hope I'm the folks on the podcast want to know a little better as why you do what you do. Um, we'll start by just talking a little bit about who you are. Brandon's you start in Detroit, if you can join right in.
Speaker 3:Um, well I am, uh, congratulate of Carman Ainsworth and just my story that's just to keep it short. Uh, you know, being in the community and being active and giving back sports education, that was my whole life. Um, from, from day one until now I purchased saying preach the same principles and foundation fundamentals to my kids as well. That was instilled in me by my parents. You know, just seeing my mom 33 years in the game, uh, teaching in the Flint School district. Um, you know, come home every day tired. I'm exhausted but still find a way to invest in her, her own as well. But just seeing, um, you know, those little glimmers of hope from, from day one to the last day of school with just hitting her conversations about certain students and then her dedication determination. Just to get that student to excel by the end of the school year. Um, so I've, I saw that from day one, her conversations with her and my two other aunts that lived in Flint as well. When I was growing up, it was all teachers. And then on the flip side, my dad became my coach, like at the age of nine basketball. But, um, you know, he's a product of a Flint as well. So just seeing his, uh, investment that he, you know, spending his time on him with his kids, but with my peers, my teammates, my friends, some of my rivals, I'm just trying to mentor and just influenced them to, you know, believe in yourself first and foremost, but to do great things when they become adults. And, um, you know, they always preached to me. You know, you find your niche in life, right? You stay in your lane, you find your lane. Um, but this, as far as like using the platform, uh, you know, just when you got one person looking up to you, a role model. So, you know, I got up, I was blessed to have opportunity to play, uh, you know, basketball. But football was where I, to him, he was my ticket out and uh, I felt like it was just easy to get back because just the foundation that was late. Um, when I got my opportunity to use my influence, uh, you know, home is this home. No matter where I go across this country, whatever team I play for, I get those communities as well. But there's nothing like coming back home and seeing, um, you know, people with positive attitudes and just coming back and just invest in my time here because I'm a product of my environment. I was here, I was once these kids are looking for a way to get out, just different resources, opportunities, and you know, why would I play this game and do all these great things, I'm not going to come back and return the favor. Just allow the next generation to have that same type of resource and influence to get to the next level.
Speaker 4:Droid. Yeah. So I'm just to give a quick background, I, I got, I got started within the car cares foundation. So Brandon, I grew up together. His father was one of my first basketball coaches and he had a big influence on my life. And um, as we got older, we, we stayed in contact and I went away to school and tried to climb the corporate ladder. I was living in different areas, different states. And then I can remember like it was yesterday, it was Easter Sunday. I haven't to be home. Brandon was home from planning to fail. You asked me to come down to the family's house and he was like, I really want to give back and um, have a campus was six years ago. Um, can you help me put something together so I can get in front of some of these kids and we can kind of figure something out. So we, uh, hit the ground running. I had our first camp, so we're 300 kids and I was the only camps of community and I really enjoyed it cause, uh, am I my day job, I was doing a lot of events across the country, but the fulfillment wasn't quite there. But seeing the kids smiles and like how they looked up to Brandon and me being a part of that, I just really felt strong about it. And you know, Brandon continued to ask me to do different things and we kind of started to brainstorm on what the vision for the foundation would be. And from there we just been, you know, kind of learning as we go. We're trying to do them the most that we can in Flint in every community that he plays in, just to reach as many kids as we can.
Speaker 2:So it sounds like this has been this long standing commitment and balance of the community that you live in and work in and the community that you love. And is that your core? Um, how do you manage that balance? Strike the balance between, I mean, you went from Grand Valley to Dallas, Dallas to Baltimore, and you still maintain that love for Flint, but then you support and are well known in the community that you serve.
Speaker 3:Um, I mean, I'm just, I'm just grateful. I'm humble, but at the same time, I'm the same way. I feel in my game. Like I can never, never do enough. You know, it was always more work to do as always, uh, more key to try to influence the community to try to uplift in, uh, provide resources for. So I'm the minute I think that, you know, I'm, I'm good too good for the game of football. They may not be done in the same time, the minute I think that I've done, um, as far as it's giving back and helping, um, that I think that that'd be true before, not only myself, but just the communities. They actually need those type of influences to come in, you know, uh, provide those resources.
Speaker 2:That's the second time you've been nominated for Deloitte for the walls and pay man at a year. Huge shoes to feel. Everybody knows the person that he was in the communities third time. Like thank you
Speaker 5:sort of correct. There we go. Third Time nominating for the Walter Peyton man of the year.
Speaker 2:Um, this, that's an amazing honor to be nominated. What does that mean for you and then what does it mean for the communities that you, that you serve?
Speaker 3:Um, honestly I think the award is bigger than myself. It's just a testament to just the people in the background. I do, you know, the bulk of the work while I'm out there trying to play and, uh, become a better player. Uh, Troy and his crew are behind the scenes, uh, on a day to day basis, just trying to make things go, just trying to, uh, leave no stone unturned as far as what we can do for the only, for the community that support me. Now I'm planning, but ultimately bringing up the same type of programs and that blueprint back to the, to our own city to help you know, the next, the next generation as well. Uh, it was an honor, uh, this past season. It was, it was, uh, it was fun and I was able to just kind of sit back and, and uh, just take, take it all in. Just the experience in Atlanta being with the other 31 guys, I'm 30 guys that were nominated as well, just to hear their stories and just see that it's a lot of guys that have passion for the communities. Um, it may not be the same interest, but we all just have a, um, I want to say obligation, but guys just have it in their hearts, man, have big hearts and passions to get back to the communities and to help and whatever, uh, whatever way they can. So that was, that was uplifting and refreshing. Um, but you know, that, that honor, that award, I mean, I don't, I don't do it for those awards. I just do it because something has a little kid. I said I was going to do, when I got older, I got the opportunity, I thought it'd be an MBA. So, but this worked out even better. Um, I wanted to be a pediatrician growing up, so I've always had a love for, for kids and just, uh, trying to, trying to help kids growing up. Right. So, um, you know, it's this, it's this natural energy is a natural emotional, and I'm with the kids and, uh, you know, like I say, when I look at those kids, I just, I see myself, I'm from here, I'm with the same struggles, the same thing that's going on. Um, but they're all always as opportunity and that's what I'm just here to try to show everybody, you know?
Speaker 2:And that's, that's amazing. Let me tell you, you said you've spent some time with the other guys. They were nominated and, uh, you know, media can find ways to point to the negative stories as much as they can. The reality is you all, you are named 2018 media, good guy of the year. What is, what is,
Speaker 5:is that about, that's what I'm saying. I say good guy. Good. And football players are good guys. And football. I don't really go hand in hand, but I guess, I don't know the word
Speaker 3:is just basically, um, just always being available for media. Um, good attitude, good, good spirits when I talked to him and um, you know, sometimes I, you know, maybe a little bit too, too friendly with them, but I mean that, that's what, that, that's what they explained to war to me and just, uh, is being, uh, a pro as her members would say just to take care of his on the field, but also immediate obligations and just, uh, things around the community as well. So good word to have. I take it, I take it in stride.
Speaker 2:Hey Man, taking it in stride. The other award that you received this year just recently was the pop Warner little scholars inspiration to you, the word. And so congratulations on that. But then you all get telling me just a little bit about what that means to you personally. I know we know what it means across the nation, but what does it mean to you personally?
Speaker 3:Um, it didn't hit me until I actually got there and got back to Baltimore and, um, got into the banquet hall with the kids and just seeing just the energy. And once again, you know, that's where I got my start in fourth grade, play at a pop Warner league. Uh, and just, just to fast forward and I'm having opportunity to, uh, give an award out about football or anything I'm doing in the field, but just the passion and things that I saw growing up from my parents to transfer it into me knocking, uh, you know, transfer that same energy to my, my own communities. But, uh, it just, the honor means to be around those incredible kids. I mean, just as far as their, their accomplishments to get to that point. It'd be able to being able to balance sports education again. Um, but just to inspire people in general, maintenance, uh, nothing you can take for granted, you know, but at the same time it is, it motivates me to continue to try to do more. Yes, it was the GPA of the keys that have like a 90, 96% satisfaction. Great. So 96%, what you would A's, all A's, pretty solid, credible feet saying that throughout the years. And it was a big number of keys that were there to scholars and basis doing incredible work. So it was just great to see them.
Speaker 2:So. So what's new? What's next? I mean you're doing so many things. You did so much in Dallas. If you're doing so much right now in Baltimore. What's next for the car cares foundation and Brandon car?
Speaker 3:Uh, well this weekend is pretty big for us. Um, you know, we try to add and build, um, strategically each and every year to our camp. Um, last year we incorporated the a comedy show and we had a bowling event as well with dream chasers. Um, so that was, that was another piece we added. Um, so this year, um, because my, I'll tell you the truth. So my mom, like when I first started my foundation, she made it known like, I don't want you to just to be having camps and doing sports and stuff. Uh, so I was like, I got you. Right. Um, so and honor her legacy. I'm just trying to continue to incorporate other things for the weekend besides force. You know, we all can run and jump and catch a football and teach you that all the time. But using this in a way that, you know, society's changing Ashman newer ship is, is on the rise and everybody's looking for their way out of their company to become their own boss. Um, and just, just as I've grown throughout the, my career in the last 12 years, just being in the business meetings, good deals, bad deals, indifferent, I'm just learning the game. I ma, I said, man, that'd be a great opportunity if we could try to incorporate something with entrepreneurs and, and like a baby shark tank by kind of pitch, pitch your pitch, your idea type. Uh, but for before the youth, you know, something I could've, we could've benefited from, um, you know, as far as growing up, have competitions, you know, we had to the talent show, I did this stuff and now we have, um, just make your pitch type of, uh, entrepreneurial competition where we have six and intestines. Right? The ages are 12 to 15. When they have a few minutes to stand in front of a panel of judges and the guests, the crowd behind us and make their pitch as to why we should invest in their, uh, their company. So
Speaker 4:real investment and tell them about that, the dollar amounts here, Troy. So first place winner and have the opportunity to grind it out,$5,000 to kind of start their business and you know, really get it going and we'll keep in contact with them to really help them put it away along the way. And then we'll have other, you know, structures for, you know, second, third place and we'll see if we get some more prizes for uh, you know, the other three contestants. So we'll see what happens. Maybe Brandon might have a surprise that you can pull out his pocket. And this is when you're starting in Flint. This is the first time that you've done this one. This is the first time we've ever done a business pitch competitions. So we wanted to start in home town and really just pushing entrepreneurship and just, it's a lot of, you know, things going on in the city. I know it's becoming a big thing, so we just want to do our part and um, you know, get Brandon's some other influential people in front of these students and allow them to just, you know, shot without question. The city appreciates you. I think it's, um, interesting that you started this one in Flint. There were some that you started in Dallas. I heard a little bit about a project that you were doing around cancer and women with cancer in Dallas. If you could talk a little bit about that. I thought it was an amazing project.
Speaker 3:Um, yes, that was a big one. Um, it was tough. It took, took a few years to finally get to that point. But, um, after my mom passed in 2014, I just, honestly, I didn't, I didn't want anything to do with, with, uh, you know, breast cancer and just facing that, uh, that ever see, I guess the obstacle. But, um, within this last year, I felt like it was time to, you know, kind of face it, right. Kind of not, not look at it as a negative, but it's the opportunity to go out there and educate women and educate people in general of just how to support and just the process in general though as far as checkups to if you're diagnosed to the right. Um, so I was able to link up with national breast cancer foundation and my first visit, uh, out in Baltimore had mixed emotions, didn't really know what I was going encounter, you know, going into the, to the hospital, uh, to, to meet the women that were waiting for treatment. Um, but when I walked in, I just felt like a sense of home. Like it was called, kind of reminded me, like, just call him the golden girls. But my honestly, my mind, there's the three women that were here and just hearing conversations, uh, and their stories, talking with them, just the energy that was in the room. It was, it was therapeutic. Um, but then like I said, I had flipped back switch back to my serious Gary and like we have got work to do. So, um, the opportunity just to meet those women kind of inspired him, pushing me to like in that area I want to do more as well with what can we do. So families like made and I have to go through the same process we went through where he can catch it early and it made it so many women that don't even does not aware of anything. I educated. So I feel like, okay, now we're with the kids trying to make reading fun. We're trying to get resources to excel in the classroom. Would literacy and education that we do sports? No, that's two checks off and out at the therapist is something that maybe I hadn't planned for it when I first got the foundation. But things happen in life and you roll with the punches and I'm like, this is a great opportunity to use resources used his platform to spread awareness for breast cancer. And uh, it's been, it's been a fun ride this far. And like we said, we still trying to figure out more ways to do more with the foundation and to spread awareness and to actually start helping women as well in the same way that we do for the kids in the classroom on the field for our camps. Uh, now it's time to take a, take a bigger piece and in a heading that direction. So Troy may have some more, some details for you. You don't have the background, but um, it's just been a great experience meeting those women and just a lot of stories you hear from teammates and other personnel around football and my family as well that just had the same type of stories to share. So it's always, uh, covering.
Speaker 4:Yeah. So just to kind of piggyback on what he said, we, we really a, we linked up with the national breast cancer foundation. I mean, ever been great and their whole thing is helping women now. I ain't providing hope. I like, they already have cancer, they're going through it. But how can we make that process better for them or comforting, you know, and really allowing them to continue to live their life the way they did before they found out. So, um, we were able to put a couple of projects together and we did some packing parties where we pack, you know, comfort, um, hope kids is what they're called. And we were able to deliver over 300 to the hospital in Baltimore. And then Brandon was able to visit, uh, we also did this in Dallas and delivered over 300 as well as we pack kid kids. So these are for children whose mothers are going through, um, treatment and you know, they're having a tough time as well. So they were like comfort items and books on the books was about, you know, kids mom, you know, being super hero and she's going through cancer. And um, you know, we, we had a great time, so we get a lot of our, our supporters and donors to kind of help out your hands on pack these boxes. And then we also did custom made wigs for 24 women, three markets, um, 24 being Brennan's Jersey number. And it was just something that they, the women really love and enjoy it and just met, made them feel, you know, beautiful again, as they're losing their hair and things like that. And we're actually going to do six more women on Sunday, um, you know, downtown Flint. So we look forward to doing that. So it is coming home. Yeah. And so, and speaking of coming home, um, as we talk about all of the things that you're doing to make your family proud, I'm sure, or just made your mom brought, um, water crisis hit a few years back and we're still moving from crisis, that recovery, but you were one of the first celebrities who were from home to come back home and commit yourself to making the community a better place through your platform or using your platform.
Speaker 3:Um, you know, honestly, you know, it was tough. Just watched it from afar and you know, I try to think before we move and we just tried to take our time. Like, what's the best, best possible way that we could give back and help the community, um, but also spread awareness and make sure that this issue doesn't get swept under the rug. Yeah, I mean it happens all the time across America is one big crises and then you hear about it for a couple of days, a couple of minutes weeks and then onto the next one. Uh, so I felt like just coming back with the camera crew and just kind of getting a DOK documentation of, you know, I didn't, I didn't understand everything that's going on. So it was enlightening and new to me as well. But just to get those types of things on camera here to the real life stories of our citizens, um, would also just, just to show like the grit and the blue collar mentality that we have around here that we are always going to be resilient in and bounce back from whatever you know, situation occurs or, or, or crises. But you know, this, this situation was just a, I don't know if I want to touch it because I'm like, it may be political. Maybe some things that I really don't want to dive into, but at the same time it's, you know, it was like, what are you going to stay in for this, this your home town. And, uh, you know, a lot of people wanting to come and get back with the water and do all the other stuff. And I'm like, let's do some that's genuine. Something that we can, uh, continue to, uh, this, this use as in kind of document as we climb out of the situation again. Um, so we felt like it was best to just get some documentation and like you said, use, he was a platform. He was able to get NFL, uh, if a films to come in and, and, and it, um, but it was a, it was a good weekend. I'm just hearing the stories but just also seeing that the hope the same, same glimmer wise that I think I had the kid, like I see it in everybody was talking to just that positive things will come from this. And, um, but you know, this one was to use our platform anyway and we're still not done with it. Um, there's still, I mean from that, I think great things were happening as far as the things we can do with the, with the kids and educating them, um, creating, um, just more resources. So, um, you know, it was very unfortunate situation and you're like you said, we still climbing out of it. Um, but hopefully we can continue just to excel and you know, check, check off those boxes to get to the next level.
Speaker 2:So this is Troy you talked a little bit about, cause I think what the magic here is this partnership between you working and partnering with the person who was, so I'm inspired by what can happen in our community and then you've gotta find a way to put feet to ground and make things happen. How does that partnership work?
Speaker 4:Um, I think it works really well just because, you know, we know each other pretty well, so I kind of know what he's thinking at the time. And, you know, we were able to just, you know, bounce ideas off of each other like all the time whenever, which is, you know, just hanging out. And I just kinda like put it, put it to paper and go out and see what kind of resources I can pull together, whether it's people within the city and guys like yourself who can kind of help me put the programs together. And it's just been a, it's been a good ride. I didn't know a whole lot about, you know, nonprofit work. No, before we kind of linked up with this and now I've just been learning along the way and it's truly inspiring and be able to help so many people and to be able to, you know, put together the type of programs that we started off on, you know, Pencil and paper and be, and become, you know, nationally recognized thing. So, you know, I just enjoy being able to do this with somebody that, you know, I'm close with so that we can really make a difference in a city that we grew up in.
Speaker 2:Future is bright for Brandon car and for the car cares foundation. If people are inspired by the work that you do and want to connect with you, what's the best way to make that
Speaker 4:all come visit us on our website. My email is on there. I'm pretty pretty easy to get in contact with, but a car cares.org cause where they can find this and find out what we were up to and I'm just really no link with us and send us emails or calls, whatever they need to do. But you know, we're here and we were ready to help as much as possible.
Speaker 2:Yeah. On behalf of our community, I appreciate your commitment of time and talent and treasure to making Flint and Genesee county a better place to live and work in and contributes to. Thanks for joining me today. Thank you.
Speaker 6:Thank you for having us. Appreciate it and best wishes.