We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits

584. Collective Generosity + Gamifying Philanthropy Where Everyone Wins - Laura Beck, LottoLove

• We Are For Good • Season 10

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Meet Laura. She's the visionary behind LottoLove—the lottery where everyone wins. It’s a first-of-its-kind way to make giving more joyful and accessible through scratch-off tickets🍀 Join us as Laura dives into the power of collective giving and why she’s on a mission to make giving part of our everyday lives. Plus, she’s sharing how LottoLove has earned major media attention through authenticity and humanity. Tune in for an episode full of inspiration, innovation, and maybe a little luck.

💡 Learn

  • LottoLove's story and mission 
  • The ripple effect of collective generosity 
  • How authenticity and relationships fuel media outreach


Today’s Guest
Laura Beck, Founder, LottoLove

Episode Highlights

  • Laura’s story and journey to where she is today (3:05)
  • The history behind LottoLove + How it works (6:30)
  • The Impact of Gamifying Philanthropy (19:40)
  • Media scales impact (25:05)
  • A powerful moment of philanthropy in Laura’s life (30:00)
  • Laura’s One Good Thing: Put yourself in uncomfortable positions and situations. (33:15)
  • How to connect with Laura and LottoLove (35:10)

For more information + episode details visit: weareforgood.com/episode/584.

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Speaker 1:

Hey, I'm John.

Speaker 2:

And I'm Becky.

Speaker 1:

And this is the we Are For Good podcast.

Speaker 2:

Nonprofits are faced with more challenges to accomplish their missions and the growing pressure to do more, raise more and be more for the causes that improve our world.

Speaker 1:

We're here to learn with you from some of the best in the industry, bringing the most innovative ideas, inspirational stories, all to create an impact uprising.

Speaker 2:

So welcome to the good community. We're nonprofit professionals, philanthropists, world changers and rabid fans who are striving to bring a little more goodness into the world.

Speaker 1:

So let's get started. Becky, are you ready for something a little lighter today?

Speaker 2:

I was literally about to start singing Whole Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin Whole Lotta Love. We are going to talk about not just a whole lot of love, but about a lot of love. We're going to talk about joy. Do you remember last year when we talked about joy being a vibe, and joy is something that is contagious? So today, y'all, we are talking about collective generosity. We are talking about gamifying, philanthropy, where everybody wins, and we've got an incredible guest. Laura Beck is on the podcast today. She is the founder of Lotto. Love you guys. This is such a good story. What an incredible mission we're taking the fun of and putting it together with philanthropy. And they have done this at lot of love by gifting and giving back with charity. Scratch off tickets, john. Do you remember?

Speaker 1:

like how much fun.

Speaker 2:

Yes, like when your grandma would sing you a scratcher in your birthday card or something like that.

Speaker 1:

The joy, you would feel. Is this illegal right now to scratch?

Speaker 2:

yourself as a kid, you were probably thinking that and I was like give me more lotto tickets. But we're really excited. We can't wait to hear your story and the impact that you're making. Laura is such a great founder, mother of two. She's a lover of all things green and clean, but she has shared that before all those things, she just felt stuck, and I know all of us have felt that way too, so we're going to kick it to her to hear the whole story in a minute, but just for some tone setting.

Speaker 2:

You all know that we believe in the impact uprising. It's this notion that we are inspiring and activating more people to get involved in the power of philanthropy. And there is so much synchronicity with Lotto Love because they're on a mission to make charitable, giving a part of the everyday gifting world. It's all about spreading kindness, making an impact and connecting with loved ones in this really unique way, and we're so honored that she's here to share her story today. Laura, welcome to the we Are For Good podcast. We are so excited to hear your story today.

Speaker 3:

Thank you for having me. I mean, I'm honored to be here because I've heard amazing things about being a guest on this podcast and being able to chat with you too, so thank you for having me.

Speaker 2:

Well, we have so many mutual friends already. We've been talking about Johnny Emmerman, we've been talking about Dana Snyder, and you are just another one of those heartwired individuals and we really want to get to know you. We want to get to know how you grew up and why you got this heart for generosity.

Speaker 3:

I really, you know, owe a lot of this to my parents. I grew up in a very small town in Northern Michigan and, as you can imagine, it was a little bubble, you know, not much diversity. We, you know, kind of all have the same story and it was really important for my parents to get us out and to see the world and to see beyond, like what we knew, and growing up with, like, teaching gratitude was something that my dad instilled in every like life lesson that he could. I remember being at you know, learning how to drive, and we'd be at a stoplight and I'm like a teenager that's like no, we're going to be late, we have to go. And he's like this is a moment to practice patience, let's take this moment and be great. It was just like every little thing.

Speaker 3:

But there were these bigger life experiences too, and so, ever since I can remember, he went on mission trips to Guatemala for years. He would go once a year at least, and when my siblings and I were older, we went as a family and I was in high school and we went to these remote villages in Guatemala and I remember the meetings leading up to these trips. They're helping you prepare. This is what you're going to experience, this is what you're going to see, this is what we're doing, but nothing really prepares you for the actual experience you know being on the ground, seeing how people live so differently than you. But one of the biggest things that I noticed and like even I feel like surprised that I was able to do this in like high school, when you're just like so caught up in like high school things was to understand how grateful they were. They didn't have anything. You were in these remote villages we had travel up in pickup trucks. Some of these people would never come down and be able to see a doctor and they were just so grateful for us just being there and for everything that they had. And I thought I was going there to help them and we did.

Speaker 3:

But they really changed my life and I would come back from these trips thinking like I'm going to make these changes and I'm going to appreciate all the small things, and I did. But then it was really hard. I couldn't figure out how to actually change my life, and so it was actually years later that I was able to do that and to figure out how to tie this all together, and then that's kind of, um, that I was able to do that and to figure out how to like tie this all together, um, and then that's kind of what I've been able to do with lot of love. So it took me a few years to figure it out, but it's just this experience and these memories are really what shaped my decisions as like an adult and career and how I want to spend my days. So, um, and that's then, you know, where a lot of love came into play.

Speaker 1:

I mean I can feel a lot of my story in as you share it. I mean the transformative effect of getting outside of the bubble is a really thing. So thank you for sharing that. I mean you gotta you gotta keep the story going, like connect the dots of what was next, like how did this all come together?

Speaker 1:

Cause we look at your site now and Becky was allowing you to stay humble, but it's like the partnerships that you've had, the attention that this idea has gotten has really sparked a bigger story about generosity, and so connect the dots. I mean, how did you start to chase that nudge in the next step?

Speaker 3:

I know it sounds so random, Like oh, we're talking about charity scratch off tickets, but you were in Guatemala, so it's another pivotal.

Speaker 2:

It doesn't make sense. I like you so much. Yes, it all connects.

Speaker 3:

I swear it is. And it's like this journey. I feel like I'm going to take you on a little path. My life is not like this straightforward thing, so it's like a little bit of like back and forth and time travel. But anyways, another critical moment in my childhood which was not as serious, critical moment in my childhood which was not as serious but as you guys mentioned in your intros your grandma's love of scratch-off tickets. So every holiday someone would gift my grandma scratch-off tickets. They would go into one of those plain letter envelopes, there'd be a stack of 10 of them or something, and we would just all gather around waiting for her to like play, even though it's like you're not winning, like you're never winning, but like we got excited every year. She got excited every year. She rarely won, but you know it really wasn't the point. It was more about the act and the gift and the shared moment of joy and possibility. And then we got to do it together, you know.

Speaker 3:

So you know when you're yeah, and you're also like opening up a gift. It's kind of this like solo moment and you're doing it on your own, but like lottery tickets, like it's like it involves everyone, community, baby, oh, I love this. And then also, too, it's like what do you, what do you get your grandma for? Who doesn't want more stuff? You know, it's just like scratch off tickets are like the easy thing. So, yeah, then fast forward and we're going to time travel.

Speaker 3:

Now I'm in my adult life. Here I am. I feel like I'm checking all the right boxes, I'm doing like what I should be doing Graduate high school, I go to a great college, I work hard, I go back to school for advertising and design and you can probably tell them like what am I doing with my life situation? And I was realizing I was really unhappy. And even after starting my own design business and seeing my work on the streets of NYC, I still felt like something was missing, even though that should have been like a marker for success, right, like I've made it. But I kind of hit rock bottom after a failed business and I had a pretty terrible boss and I realized like I just can't go back to feeling purposeless and not doing work with meaning? Um, so you know, this is kind of where things start coming together. I'm like, when did I feel this sense of like, purpose and I'm actually making a difference, I'm helping people. I'm like I'm doing work that matters.

Speaker 3:

And that was, you know, these mission trips that I went on and I can't, if I can't physically be on the ground and be there helping and volunteer, you know, week every year, it's like, what can I do? And so I was driving back from New York with my then boyfriend, who's now my husband, and he equally loved scratch off tickets. And so every time we stopped at a gas station, he would come back into the car with scratch off tickets and he, like threw two into my lap. And I'm not kidding, I have the two ones that I had and they were both winners and I never cashed them in because those are the tickets that like helps to come up with this idea. So I'm playing in the car and it's this idea of winning for yourself like lottery tickets. You buy them because you want to win money for you and it's like what if we take this concept and totally flip the idea on its head? And now it's not about winning for yourself and now it's about winning for others.

Speaker 3:

And it seemed like a cool idea and I started writing down names and I remember, like you know, in the notepad, and like my background is in design and branding, so it's like I've done the naming exercise for so many clients. And so when I came up with Lotto Love, I was like you know, that's it. Like I remember we looked at each other and we're like, yeah, that's it. And quickly, it's like is the domain available?

Speaker 3:

Um always, that's step one, but now it's like the Instagram handle that you know, it's like so many other things, but you know that. So then that was like the first charitable scratch off ticket. So now, instead of winning money, you're winning prizes that are resources that support people all around the world. And now it felt like, you know, things kind of came full circle and I'm able to connect with those villages in Guatemala again, but like in a completely different way, in a way that I can do it again and again and again. You know, being able to go for weeks at a time now it's like it's more difficult, it's, you know, it's harder, and, um, this is a way for me and for everyone to be able to give back in a way that fits their lifestyle and to do it again and again.

Speaker 1:

Um, and yeah, that was the change that I, the change that I needed, that I couldn't figure out back in high school how to do it, and so it took a few years, but I mean, I just love your story and I think I picked up the war of art this morning, which is random because Becky gave me this book many moons ago and I only read it a couple years ago and I think there's a principle in there that he shares that you know, we get these whispers of visions that we need to bring into the world and it's like if you don't act on it, it may go to someone else, because these things just need to exist and I love that.

Speaker 1:

You had that nudge and you literally acted on it as ridiculous and audacious, as probably some people around you were saying. It was like you just chased it and we're looking at it now and it's playing into the themes we lift on the podcast all the time this idea of collective generosity, of gamifying philanthropy too and so I'm curious, you know, as we've watched, you know, generosity be reimagined in today's world obviously can look a lot of different ways. Talk to us about what you're seeing with collective generosity now that it's out there in the world, like how are people engaging with it?

Speaker 3:

Yeah. So I mean, like you mentioned, I think giving has changed from even what it was a few years ago and I feel like we always thought it's like we have to do these big grand things. You go on mission trips or like in-person events or you know activations that we have to be there. But, like you said, the world is changing and generosity just has to as well, and how we give back. So traditional donating in someone's honor and donating to a charity online is boring and it really is clunky and it's not enticing and it doesn't feel as good as it should.

Speaker 3:

And you're doing this amazing thing but the delivery of it's completely impersonal and I'm sure people listening and you you've all been on charities websites and you're making a donation and you receive an email that says, hey, Laura donated $50 in your name, and then the experience just You're like stops.

Speaker 3:

So that's what we're really trying to change and by gamifying that entire experience, we're able to extend that even further. And what I really want to focus on here, too, is that we're focusing on the experience of the recipient and that's where we really kind of see this awareness and momentum and this collective giving happening is because we're creating this really fun experience for the person to receive and to play. So you know, we've got these scratch off tickets that are fun, they're interactive and, you know, unlike other regular lottery tickets where everyone loses, you know, here everyone wins. And I like to say that lotto love is the lottery where everyone wins. So the donor wins because you're giving back, you're making donation, the recipient wins because they're actually playing the game and winning, and then it's the beneficiary, all the people that the charities are helping. So really everyone is winning and I feel like I need to that's so good, baby, that's so good yes.

Speaker 3:

And I feel like I probably should explain a little bit how it actually works. Yes, and I feel like I probably should explain a little bit how it actually works. Yes, walk us through.

Speaker 2:

how does somebody get it? How do they participate, how do they gift it? I want to know the whole thing. Christmas is coming up, yeah.

Speaker 3:

Because we all think like, oh, scratch up tickets, it makes sense, but when we have this charitable element, it's like how does this work, so know? So the whole idea is that this is a gifting item. This is something you're meant to give to someone else. You could buy these for yourself you can but they're meant to give to someone else because that is, you know, creating the awareness and spreading the word. And so you go onto our website and you purchase a ticket, you gift it and then the person reveals, they play the game and they reveal what you donated in their honor.

Speaker 3:

So we have our paper tickets, which is like the physical paper product, and then we have our digital tickets, and when I launched Lotta Love, we had our basic needs line. So we partnered with four different charities and we're delivering clean water, solar energy, literacy supplies, meals, and then, when my daughter was born, obviously there was a lot of going on in the social and political landscape and I wanted to create this line that is supporting women and girls. So we came up with our Win for Women line, and that is four additional charities that we've partnered with that are helping get girls education in Kenya, mentorship to girls, training girls to run for office and win, which obviously is so appropriate right now. And so then you can go onto our site and you can choose if you want to give basic needs or if you want to support, win for women, but then the actual prize is still a surprise. So you're really not knowing if you're giving months of education, you don't know if you're giving clean water until the recipient plays the game. So there's that surprise element, the excitement.

Speaker 3:

But with our digital tickets, the model is changing and it's different. So now we are giving the donor the power to choose their impact, and so I'm really excited for these, because it's making giving more accessible than ever. So you can go to our website, you choose one of our charities from our charity catalog and then you look at their curated prize menu and you can select the impact. So you could, for $10, you can fill a library with books, or maybe for $50, you're supporting an artisan in Kenya. You can choose your impact. So choose your adventure, based on what matters to you or what matters to the recipient, and then you can personalize the gift.

Speaker 3:

So here is where we're adding this other layer to traditional charitable giving.

Speaker 3:

We're adding this more personal layer.

Speaker 3:

So you choose a greeting card, a digital greeting card, you write a message and then you get to choose if you're sending this via email or SMS, and you can schedule it ahead of time or you can send it right away, and then the person receives that email or the SMS and then they click the link and they get to play on their phone with their finger or with their mouse on their computer and reveal what you donated in their honor. So now you know, lotto love isn't just about raising money, it's about creating this whole culture of generosity. You know, anyone can be a part of it, anytime, anywhere, and the accessibility, I think, is what makes the integration into your everyday life so important. You know we're not asking you to change much about what you're doing already, but, you know, just rethinking about how you're giving and how you're giving back and how you're celebrating, like those everyday life moments, because those are all opportunities to you know, make a change and give back. And now that it's fun. You know people want to do it again and again, and again.

Speaker 2:

I have so many thoughts and emotions about this. Tell me all of them.

Speaker 3:

This is for Becky and Nakat, let's be. I have so many thoughts and emotions about this, as I know you Tell me all of them. For Becky and Nakat, let's be clear.

Speaker 2:

This is probably my way of just greasing the skids to go. Here comes Becky walking into her pulpit One. We have a trend this year that's activate the one and it's ignite the movement, and I think this one-to-one personalization, it is of the moment. People want to feel seen, they want to feel known, they want to know that they are making a difference, they want to know that Laura reached out to Becky specifically on her birthday or for Mother's Day or because we know she's having a bad day or whatever, and wants to give this little gift that we all benefit from. And I mean, when you said charity catalog, john, I went. My Gen Z mind sorry, gen X mind, I'm definitely Gen X Went back to the Sears catalog. Do you remember that? From like the 80s and 90s, where you would like it would show up the holiday catalog, like I'm obsessed, thinking that I could go shopping for my charities.

Speaker 2:

But this concept of gamification is such a fun way to engage, it's playful, it's trending. John, I feel like you and I. I have this really bad habit of Starbucks. I go to Starbucks every morning. I love my baristas, I love my specific coffee. It's holiday time. Guess what came up today? Red cups are back and guess what? There's a gamification. Every day, my kids literally gather around my computer and click the button to shake the virtual snow globe to see what we can win. And again to your point, we all gather around this idea. So I want to talk more about this gamification, because I think that you are really onto something. Talk about the joy that you're witnessing through gamifying philanthropy. Talk about what missions can learn and leverage in their own communities to kind of ignite this collective generosity as you continue to adapt.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, Like you said, you know it's creating this experience or this game. Like games are just inherently social. Like everyone, you know what game are you kind of playing by yourself, Is there?

Speaker 2:

one Solitaire, yeah, solitaire.

Speaker 1:

Apple crossword.

Speaker 2:

Yes, that's it.

Speaker 3:

Okay, other than Solitaire, you know games. It's inherently social. We all want to interact and it's creating conversation. So this gamification is just creating conversations around these causes and getting people excited about it, which then just like, spreads more awareness and more awareness, and you have this like beautiful ripple effect. And you know, one thing I want to touch on too this is not just for everyday consumers, because corporations spend $26 billion in donations a year and we do a lot of corporate gifting and this is, you know, really a good opportunity for companies to show, you know, where they align and, you know, get, align and engage their employees and clients, and to do this in a very collective way. So it's now collective generosity is becoming contagious, and by adding this fun giving element and I see this all the time with Lotto Love people get so excited and when they receive this ticket, they smile and they're like, oh, I get to play the game. But then when they reveal that they gave clean water or a meal to someone, it's like the joy on their face.

Speaker 2:

And I don't always yeah.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, it's like this aha moment. Obviously there's this just level of newness because it's not this mainstream way to give but also just that overwhelming feeling of I'm I helped someone and I think it's easy to forget why that feels so good, because you're doing good, and it's like we were humans and we want to feel that and we just don't, and like our everyday life is just like we're. You know, it's easy to get caught up in other things, but I don't always get to see our customers reactions, but they definitely reach out to me and I get a lot of notes and, like our orders or I. You know they're sending me emails after the fact and about how people have replaced their traditions with lotto love. Now you know they're out with the old, they're in with the new and how unique it is and how memorable it is, and they always tell me how much the recipient enjoyed this experience.

Speaker 3:

Another thing that people tell me is that they use this as a tool for teaching their kids about giving back and gratitude and just sharing a glimpse outside of your bubble, and to do this in a fun way that engages kids, because you know, kids love to shake a snow globe and they love to play a game. And you know, there's one customer that sent me a note and she was talking about her Mexican grandmother, who grew up in a village. She had nothing but she was always wanting to give to people who had less than her, and so she was giving a lot of love to her grandma. And it's just that becomes this personal moment, and I think that's really important, because tribute giving traditionally is very transactional You're filling out the form, feels you hit, donate and it's done. But now it becomes more personal and more meaningful and it's creating that. But now it becomes more personal and more meaningful and it's creating that human connection that we all need and want, and doing it in a fun way.

Speaker 3:

So you know people, I think it gets people to stop thinking about giving as like a heavy obligation, like oh, I need to do this, and to start making it something that people want to do, do this, and to start making it something that people want to do. So I think for missions and nonprofits there are some really practical takeaways and I think the first, obviously, is to make it fun, and I know that it's hard when you're talking about serious causes, to feel like, how can I make this fun for people, because people are suffering. But I think there's a way to do to do both. Both can exist, because giving back should feel good and you should have fun doing it, because it's such an amazing thing for people. Um, and so I think you know, don't fear away from trying to incorporate fun into it, because we all need that. Like don't people say laughter is the best medicine? Yeah, and they, and they mean it, you know, it's true. Like don't people say laughter is the best medicine.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and they, and they mean it. You know, it's true. Like I mean, becky, you started this by bringing up like joy as a vibe, like we lifted it as a trend. It's like this is going to forever be a trend, Like this is something that's transcendent, you know, in the moment, and I think I love about your story because we're just over here beaming, just smiling at the joy you, because we're just over here beaming, just smiling at the joy of just that.

Speaker 1:

this is stirring up within us. But you've also leaned into another trend that we want to share, and that's media scales impact, because we started the year to just be like y'all joy is a vibe. How can we bring these stories, these things that make you feel more connected with each other? And generosity just intrinsically does that. You've been able to break through with the noise, with joy, with some of the you know partnerships and some of the mainstream media attention you've gotten so.

Speaker 1:

I mean, you know, name drop like yeah, today's show, buzzfeed Forbes, the weird for good podcast.

Speaker 3:

I mean so many of these places, all the biggies we have. A good podcast is number one.

Speaker 2:

now Sure sure Us and Ellen Forbes.

Speaker 1:

But I mean break it down for us. Talk about the process. What would you share about listeners as you leverage joy to break through the noise?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, well, I feel like I just want to say off, like, right off the bat, is that media placements should not be paid. And I think when people think of like media coverage and this is just like a really important thing to think about it's like there's so many free media placement opportunities that you should not be paying for them. And now you know I'll share my next tip as to why I think you can get these free media placements and you know, it's funny because Ellen and the Today Show people might think, oh, she probably has a big PR company behind her. I don't, I've never had that and it's me writing the emails and writing the pitches. I think PR can just feel like media can just feel so daunting too, because it can feel expensive and that you need this whole team behind you. But I think if you really start with your why and you're leading with authenticity, you can break through the noise and people want stories that bring them joy, that are bringing light and love to the world. But people also want to connect on that personal level, like what you, becky and John, are saying. It's like you want to know the story behind these things and that is really what the media want to know too. They want to know your story, um, and so, you know, with a lot of love, we're not just talking about charitable giving. We're talking about my grandma and like these mission trips that I've gone on, and people instantly connect with that personal element, and so I don't think it's any different with media. I don't think you need to don't be who you're not you know, share your story and show up authentic and be human.

Speaker 3:

Another, I think, really critical piece of this, too, is that media is all about building relationships, and I think we forget that editors and journalists, they're human, there's people behind these emails, and to treat it like every other relationship in your life and not just see it as like, oh, I need them for an opportunity, I need them, they're going to give me something good, and I've spent a long time building these relationships and a lot of my editors and journalists that I know are actually a lot of love customers and it just really shows you know this like being human, I think is so important and you're you know, we're not just, you're not just pitching them, but, I think, really understanding what are they covering, like if someone covers sports, you know, and you're a charity that is helping with, you know, girls' education.

Speaker 3:

You probably shouldn't be reaching out to them, so it's like you know there is like some strategy behind like media, but I think it comes down to you know your why, um, and sharing stories that inspire and energize, because that you can, you don't ever get sick of it and there's always, there's always, space for it, Um, so I think people at media, they're always looking for those stories that bring light and that will cut through the noise.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, a hundred percent. And I want to say something before. I know John's going to jump in here, but we want you to call in your believers on these stories. Like media is not just what we create, but it is what the community creates, what it interprets. And the reason I love this story so much is because the mission you've created is the smallest part of this. It's the experience, it's the connection, it's the joy, and I want to just encourage everyone who's thinking about how do I get in front of the media. It's not just about what you can do. Lift what your community is doing. I think Thoughtful Human is another great organization and social enterprise that they created, something that people want to talk about online.

Speaker 2:

This is unique Lotto. Love is the same. Look what I just got. Isn't this interesting, isn't this joyful? And Bravo, you didn't just flip the script on scratch off tickets. You literally flipped the script on us sending scratch offs back to grandma, you know, back with that story, like the fact that you could give this back to her and is such a beautiful thing. So, john, get in here.

Speaker 1:

I mean, I'm going to give a two second rant about pitch because, since we're in the position of being pitched with the podcast, we did an episode on this.

Speaker 1:

but the human element, the coming to of, like, how can you be of service to the audience? That's like a different angle, like you know, because you're so tired, of course everybody wants to be showcased or on the show, but like, come at it from a place of service, a partnership, a friendship, and like you just go so much further. So we'll link up an episode where we did a whole talk about that. But, my friend, I mean you are a master storyteller.

Speaker 3:

I'll just say we've been on the edge of our seat and smiling the whole time but I want to ask you about a personal moment of philanthropy, you know we believe in these moments that shift us, but when have you seen generosity or philanthropy really in front of you?

Speaker 3:

that's really stuck with you over the years corny way but has are these mission trips to Guatemala. And you know, I don't know if I painted the picture exactly right, but you know we would fill up pickup trucks with duffel bags. You know, we're bringing toys, we're bringing medicine, we're bringing coloring books, we're bringing clothes, like you know, I don't know if we're not really bringing food, but loading up pickup trucks and we're going up these windy roads up in the mountains. And I, you know, there was this. These mission trips are kind of like twofold there was some like faith element and then there was just this element of like being with the kids and you know this medical element as well.

Speaker 3:

And I was helping um distribute some medicines. We would, you know, bring Pepto-Bismol, advil, prenatal vitamins, um, tums, and you and I'm filling up all these bags and I am working on getting better at Spanish, but at that point my Spanish was a lot better, and so I was handing out these medicines and I was communicating to them what they need to take and how often, based on what the doctor had told me. And I remember handing a little bag of these pills and vitamins and I'm like what's going to happen when they run out, Like you know, when we leave and I didn't really know what to do. I couldn't find, I didn't have the answer, and it was like that moment just stuck with me and like I'm doing good, but it's like how it's like not enough. Like you know, I'm here helping. How it's like not enough. Like you know, I'm here helping but it's not good enough.

Speaker 3:

And so that's one of the reasons why, with Lotto Love, I'm focusing on partnering with organizations that are really creating sustainable, long-term impact, because these mission trips are beautiful and important and there's a time and there's a place for them, and I think I would love to go again. But they taught me that real change isn't just about one-time giving and we know this from charity aspect too. It's like charities can't operate from everyone just giving once, and it's about creating these systems that keep on giving. And so that moment really now has changed my view on philanthropy today and really trying to help build sustainable, long-term change where communities aren't just surviving but they're thriving on their own because of, you know, education and resources that they were given, and they can do this on their own, and then we can go. And we can go focus on the next you know area that we need to, so that you know, really stuck with me. It was like now I'm stuck, I'm helping, but it ends.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, what a powerful story. And I just think, john, we've had this limited podcast series that Julie so beautifully produced, called Gather at the Well with Lindsay Fuller, and it's all about microdosing wellness. And I'm sitting here listening to you and I'm like you're literally microdosing generosity and you've made it fun, and you and I'm like you're literally micro dosing generosity and this is, and you've made it fun and you've made it joyful and you've made it for every single age group and it's all about community and I just I'm so glad to know you, laura Beck.

Speaker 2:

You are a phenomenal, creative and and we're so grateful to have you in this work. We're sort of winding down. We end with a one good thing on this podcast and I wonder what your one good thing would be that you'd offer up to the community today.

Speaker 3:

So I feel like kind of sometimes changes depending on the phase of business or life that I'm in, but I think what's really appropriate for me right now is to put yourself in uncomfortable positions and situations and because I believe that growth happens when you're scared, when you're uncertain and when you're feeling totally out of your depth, you know that's when you have like a breakthrough in your life and it comes from doing something uncomfortable. So you know, so quitting my job and having a failed partnership, moving to New York, like all of these things were so scary, but they were these steps into the next thing. I signed up for this national stationery show when I had just the idea of Lotto Love. I was not prepared, I did not belong there and I signed up and I put myself out there and it was so scary and so uncomfortable. You know, being on a podcast terrifying, but you do it Just kidding.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, but thing you saw was in my house shoes and it was much better right. Very, very humanizing.

Speaker 3:

But I've just learned that you know, in that discomfort that's a good sign, because that's when you're really pushing boundaries and creating change inside of you. And so I feel like that's kind of been my 2024 is like do the things that make you uncomfortable because there is great change in there, and like being it allows you to show up every day to do the work.

Speaker 1:

My gosh, what a beautiful way to wrap this up, because you know we just launched, or helped to launch, stacey Houston, who's a weird for good, tried and true, not just friend, but she's been on the podcast. She just launched a Ted talk. It's talking about, like, stepping into the discomfort when we can spread goodness.

Speaker 1:

And I'm just like gosh, like I think these things are stacking Like we need to hear these together. So thank you for coming into our space today. I know so many people listening are just going to want to connect with you as a human, but also this beautiful mission that you built. How do people connect with you? Follow a lot of love, all the things, all the places.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, so give lot of lovecom is our website. My email is Laura at give lot of love and connect. Connect with us on Instagram at lot of love. L O T T O L O V? E. I feel like I should specify because sometimes it gets confused with a lot of love.

Speaker 2:

And then saying that song. So sorry, listen to Laura, not me.

Speaker 3:

There is a lot of love, though, and then also Laura for good is my more personal kind of like. I know behind the scenes. We're like cousins, so should be a cousins, yeah, so any of those spaces are great to connect. I mean, I'm just thinking about the holidays coming up Like what is a good cutoff if somebody wants to great to connect.

Speaker 1:

I mean, I'm just thinking about the holidays coming up. What is a good cutoff If somebody wants to buy these tickets? I mean, we're talking about the paper ones, but also the digital. What does that look like?

Speaker 3:

Yes, I would say paper tickets sooner than later. Obviously there's a lot of other factors that go into mailing and you just want to avoid any delays that could happen with shipping carriers, things getting lost and I know so many of us are kind of like last minute. But I would say sooner than later for paper digital, anytime, anywhere, any place. You can schedule ahead of time, you can order it and, if you want, on Christmas day and send it immediately.

Speaker 2:

Laura, I like you so much and I want to thank you for coming on. Thanks for coming to Impact Up so we could know about your incredible mission, and I also want to thank you for coming on. Thanks for coming to Impact Up so we could know about your incredible mission, and I also want to thank your dad for inspiring these seeds of generosity and purposing you that we're all getting to benefit from in so many missions. Keep going, we are absolutely rooting for you.

Speaker 3:

Thanks, john and Becky, and for creating just this community for people to be a part of and, just you know, be together in this like, do good, make the world a better place, and having you two as the leaders of that it's like, it's very inspiring. So we need each other. Thank you, friend.