This month, we highlight Debra Joester, Board Member of Delivering Good and a longstanding champion whose expertise and connections have helped provide essential resources to families in need. From Back-to-School initiatives to disaster relief, she has facilitated meaningful support across the licensing and children’s products industries. In this interview, Debra shares her experiences, insights on engaging donors, and her perspective on the lasting impact of Delivering Good’s work.

You’ve been a longtime champion of Delivering Good, and someone who always answers the call. Can you share a recent moment when one of your connections helped spark a ripple effect of generosity?

As a Board Member of Delivering Good, I have been able to successfully leverage my relationships with manufacturers in publishing, toys, and children’s apparel. Companies that develop children’s products find supporting families in need and providing children with key essentials very rewarding. Delivering Good’s recent Back-to-School initiative was an ideal opportunity to connect with licensing partners that produce backpacks and school supplies. It was important to act quickly to ensure product arrived in time for the new school year, and I was delighted with the quick response and donations of thousands of pens, pencils, and erasers, along with hundreds of great backpacks. An unexpected result of the effort was a very generous donation from one of our clients, who was impressed by Delivering Good’s mission.

You’ve played a critical role in securing Back-to-School donations over the years. What makes this time of year especially important for Delivering Good and the families we serve?

Emotionally engaging potential donors and showcasing our impact has been key to securing donations. Back-to-School and the holiday season are key periods for support. I also find that potential donors are motivated in the aftermath of a disaster. The tragic realities faced by survivors of disasters are widely broadcast across media channels, driving donors to seek ways to help—and Delivering Good provides a turnkey option to do so.

You’ve brought in some incredible support through your own connections—especially from the licensing world. Why do you think people in that community are so open to getting involved, and what has it meant to you to help spread Delivering Good’s mission in that space?

Over the years, I have found that sharing the impact made by donations to Delivering Good truly motivates people in the licensing industry and beyond. I am privileged to work with caring, engaged companies that continue to respond when asked.

What advice would you give to others—especially leaders in business—about how they can use their connections to create lasting social impact?

I find it is important to schedule time to contact potential donors, follow up with emails emphasizing the impact they can have and the need for donations, and always thank them for their generosity. Inviting potential donors to our events and cultivating those relationships with Delivering Good is another way to engage donors in our mission.

Looking ahead, what gives you hope about the future of Delivering Good and the role our partners can play in uplifting communities together?

I am confident Delivering Good will continue to succeed in its mission. The organization has great leadership, a terrific Board of Directors, and an inspiring Associate Council. The recent Women of Influence Summit, Basic Comfort Packs initiative, and Associate Council events are excellent examples of the organization’s ability to evolve and meet the moment. Sadly, the need to uplift communities and respond to their needs is an ongoing reality, but Delivering Good has demonstrated time and again that we can quickly step up to address those needs.