From Conversation to Connection: Introducing the “For Good, Forever” Podcast

April 27, 2026

By Chad Dull, Chief Executive Officer

Hello, friends. At La Crosse Area Community Foundation, our work has always been rooted in connection.

We connect people to causes they care about.
We connect generosity to opportunity.
And more often than not, we connect those things through stories.

Because stories are where the work becomes real.

They’re how we understand why someone gives, what a nonprofit is up against, or how a single idea turns into something that changes lives. They remind us that behind every grant, every fund, and every initiative, people are trying to do something that matters.

So it probably shouldn’t be a surprise that at some point, in the middle of a conversation about how we tell those stories, someone said:

“Maybe we should have a podcast.”

An idea that took off

What started as a passing idea quickly became something more.

Our engaged philanthropy fellow, Norah Miller, a senior at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, and she ran with it.

She didn’t just explore the idea. She built it.

From concept to production, Norah has created, directed, and produced our new podcast, “For Good, Forever”, bringing a fresh perspective and a clear sense of purpose to the project. She asked good questions, paid attention to the details, and pushed us to think a little differently about how we show up and tell our story.

Hosted by Lauren Journot and Chad Dull, the podcast is designed to open the door to conversations about philanthropy in our community.

We’re telling the story of why we do this work, how it happens, and the people who make it possible. It’s also a way for people who may be less familiar with the foundation to better understand what we’re about and how they might see themselves as partners in our work.

The heart of the work

Our first episode, “The Heart of the Foundation,” features Nick Padesky and Hannah Amann, two rising leaders in our community and strong partners in our work.

Hannah serves as a community member of our Impact Committee, and Nick is a fundholder who sponsors an annual scholarship at his alma mater, La Crosse Central High School.

We wanted to better understand why people like Nick and Hannah choose to engage so deeply in this community. They did not disappoint.

Early in the conversation, Nick shared something that stuck with us:

“You can’t teach someone to care — but you can show them how to care and what to care about.”

That idea captures something important: It’s not just about philanthropy; it’s about community.

At LACF, we connect passion and purpose, matching what people care about with what our community needs. When that happens, something powerful takes shape: a cycle in which people give, see the impact, and feel even more connected to the place they call home.

Why it matters

This work has never been only about large gifts or major initiatives.

Nick also reminded us:

“You don’t need to contribute a million dollars to make a difference.”

And as Hannah shared:

“We want La Crosse to be more than a place you live; we want you to belong here.”

That sense of belonging, and the relationships that create it, are at the core of everything we do.

Because when people feel connected, they invest differently.
They show up differently.
They stay.

A new way to tell the story

“For Good, Forever” is, at its core, just another way for us to do what we’ve always done:

Tell the story of this community through the people who care enough to shape it.

In upcoming episodes, we’ll explore questions like:

• How do people decide to give?
• What does meaningful community impact actually look like?
• How can more people find their way into this work?

We hope you will take time to listen, and we would love to continue the conversation.