Beth Weinstock walked into that classroom carrying grief … but also a driving purpose. In 2021, her college-aged son Eli accidentally ingested fentanyl and died. Yet six months later, Beth and her daughter, Olivia, co-founded BirdieLight — a Good People Fund grantee — to honor Eli by spreading awareness about fentanyl in drugs to students, parents and educators.

“Stories of Hope” is a special series of Good People Talk, where the art of audio storytelling brings the impact of our Good People Fund grantees into bold relief and movement.

Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for more stories of inspiration, hope and impact:

Thank you to our narration team: Jamie Allen Black, Naomi Eisenberger, Julie Fisher, Shira Shapiro

Often their life experience includes being ostracized from family … being homeless … being a sex worker … being abused … being shunned. So at Trans House in Tel Aviv, trans women are embraced for who they are without judgment or whispers. Linor Abergel is CEO of the Israeli Transgender Association — a Good People Fund grantee advocating for rights and services for the trans community. “Here we are your family … we will support and be here for you as long as you want or need us. I didn’t have this, and I wish I did.”

“Stories of Hope” is a special series of Good People Talk, where the art of audio storytelling brings the impact of our Good People Fund grantees into bold relief and movement.

Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for more stories of inspiration, hope and impact:

Thank you to our narration team: Jamie Allen Black, Linor Abergel, Shoshi Margolin

Jereme is a Black pastor and salvage company manager. Aaron is a white, Orthodox Jewish human resources executive. A friendship seems unlikely … but a tight one formed from their participation in Rekindle—a Good People Fund grantee joining members of the Black and Jewish communities to rebuild their historic relationship and accelerate positive change. Their connection through Rekindle evolved into a collaboration establishing a satellite GED program in Jereme’s church. “Zero chance they’d have ever met if not for Rekindle,” says Matt Fieldman, Rekindle Co-Founder.

“Stories of Hope” is a special series of Good People Talk, where the art of audio storytelling brings the impact of our Good People Fund grantees into bold relief and movement.

Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for more stories of inspiration, hope and impact.

Thank you to our narration team: Jordan Rich of Chart Productions, Matt Fieldman, and Glenn Rosenkrantz

Samara, incarcerated and suffering from advanced lymphoma, received a compassionate release from prison, a move that arguably saved her life due to the intervention of Medical Justice Alliance — a Good People Fund grantee. MJA mobilizes volunteer clinicians as expert medical witnesses for advocates seeking care or outright release for clients facing often life-threatening illnesses, says Dr. Mark Fenig, MJA Founder and Executive Director.

“Stories of Hope” is a special series of Good People Talk, where the art of audio storytelling brings the impact of our Good People Fund grantees into bold relief and movement.

Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for more stories of inspiration, hope and impact.

Thank you to our narration team: Jordan Rich of Chart Productions, Naomi Eisenberger, and Glenn Rosenkrantz

At an oasis of calm and healing called Ruca’s Farm — a Good People Fund grantee — IDF veterans like Gideon are finding relief from trauma and a path toward light. Here, social visionary Nir Lahav, who grew up on a kibbutz in northern Israel, is combining his own love for the land with a deep commitment to the welfare of Israel’s veterans, giving them space for needed healing and growth.

“Stories of Hope” is a special series of Good People Talk, where the art of audio storytelling brings the impact of our Good People Fund grantees into bold relief and movement.

Read The Good People Fund 2024 Journal of Good for more stories of inspiration, hope and impact.

Thank you to our narration team: Jordan Rich of Chart Productions, Nir Lahav, and Gideon Boaz

Besides heading The Israel Lemonade Fund — a Good People Fund grantee — Shari Mendes serves on an Israel Defense Forces reserve unit dedicated to caring for the bodies of female IDF soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. In this episode — presented as we mark one year since October 7 — Shari describes her experiences and observations on and after that day … the imperative to honor and dignify those we lost … and the place of testimony and remembrance as legacy. She speaks with GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger.

Content Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of atrocities, including sexual violence, committed on October 7. Listener discretion is advised.

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