Meet Jonelle Colabufalo

Jaclyn Strominger 0:22

Hello, everybody, and welcome to another amazing episode of the Unstoppable Success podcast. And today we get a great human. You know, on this podcast, we hear from great humans all about the tips or tricks or insights on being unstoppable and having unstoppable success and creating a great impact. And so today I get to introduce you to Jonello Colabufalo And let me tell you a little about her. And I might mess up the name of the foundation, so I apologize. But she is the co-founder and CEO of the Jared Dunscombe Foundation, a purpose-driven organization created in honor of her brother, Jared, such a great name, by the way. After experiencing profound personal loss, Jonelle turned grief into action, building a foundation rooted in community, generosity, and meaningful impact. And through fundraising events, strategic partnerships, she combines Jared's legacy of helping others by supporting young people, vulnerable families, and local communities. And she has this great program. And she's like, it's amazing. What she, if you check it out all on like LinkedIn, like what some of the things that she's doing with students, it's just awesome. So welcome to Unstoppable Success today.

Jonelle Colabufalo 1:36

Thanks for having me.

Jaclyn Strominger 1:38

Oh, it's so great to have you here. So you were sharing some of the things that you that

Turning Grief Into Purpose

Jaclyn Strominger 1:43

that you are you were doing. And I and you know, I'd love to share, you know, for you to share what, you know, obviously a loss. So what made you take that? Like that's you know, what made you go that leap and just say, you know, we need to make a like we need to make an impact.

Jonelle Colabufalo 2:01

When I think about my why, I guess it goes back to my brother and the type of human that he was. And he did a lot of charity work and giving, we actually lost him while he was doing a charity bike ride. And we sat, actually, my best friend, my husband, and I sat around the kitchen table as the lead up to the first anniversary of his loss, and we were saying it just feels like we should do something one year since losing him. And literally around that kitchen table, the Jared Dunscombe Foundation. was born, and our first event, The Walk to Remember. We started off thinking we'd just fund a little project and do something great in his memory. We had, you know, what we thought was an ambitious target at the time of raising $20,000. We thought it would take us at least 12 months. And on that first day, we had the walk to remember, and then we had a cocktail party that night, and we raised well over that on the first day of the foundation, and we just did that. Yeah. It was just amazing the support from people. I mean, it reflected the type of person he was that people wanted to remember him and they wanted to do something good in his name. But yeah, I guess that's like we're 12 years in now, and that's just been the whole process of the organization. It's just organically evolved. People look at it and they say, Wow, you're doing really different things, but it's just sort of what's come naturally to me, and it's all been, you know, driven from the heart and great people that we've got involved along the way. So it's sort of just we just keep growing and evolving and you know, making a real impact. And, you know, my brother obviously was the reason why it started, but now it's really about the community that we're building, and obviously it's his legacy, but it's a real focus on that community that we're building because I think that's something that's really lacking in our world these days is that connection and community and people coming together to do really great things.

Jaclyn Strominger 3:57

So yeah, so I before we go on to the community part, because I really want to touch on that, but but I also just want to touch you talked about the the you know what you're doing with students. Yeah. So I'd like for you to like talk a little bit about that, because you know, the the you know, not that we have

Preventing Youth Road Trauma

Jaclyn Strominger 4:14

not that the youth are forgotten, but I kind of feel that the youth are forgotten in some way. You know, like we we forget that that that we can make such a huge impact on them.

Jonelle Colabufalo 4:24

Yeah. So our whole foundation focuses on youth projects, so sort of under 25 is kind of where we try to aim. So every project that we fund is for youth experiencing some sort of disadvantage or something like that. But I now project manage a group called Teenagers Road Accident Group, TRAG, and my brother was actually a presenter with them. So we do road trauma presentations to students who are about at the age that they're about to get their licenses here. And so he, my brother was hit by a car at the age of seven and wasn't meant to survive that accident. And so he used to tell his story of the impact that that had on him. So a speeding car hit him and the impact that that had on his life, his family, all of that sort of thing. So he used to present with this group. And then obviously, unbelievably, when we lost him to road trauma 13 years ago now, after a couple of years, obviously, of going through the really raw grief, I joined the group to keep continue to tell his story. And I think the biggest impact on the kids that we present to is you think it won't happen to you, but it actually happened to one of our presenters, you know, like, you know, he survived his first road trauma incident and we lost him the second time. So yeah, we go and present to, you know, thousands of students each year. We have emergency services personnel, so police, fire, ambulance talk about the impact that, you know, going to those accidents with young teenagers in cars has on them. Then we have victims of road trauma, and then people like myself who've lost family members to road trauma talk about the impact that it just has on so many people if you're going to make a bad decision when you're getting in a car. And the group started because the area that we present in had the highest road toll of young people, 18 to 25 year olds at the time in Australia. And last year, that area had zero road toll for young people in the area. Yeah. So we've, you know, the police in the area are saying we're having an impact. Our message is getting through to the young people. You know, we teach them about making smart decisions when you're getting into a car, how to get out of a car if you feel unsafe, you know, tips and strategies and just the responsibility, you know, they all get excited that they've got their license, but it's actually a really big responsibility when you get behind the wheel of a car, or even if you're a passenger in the car to not distract the driver. So the work that we do. Yeah.

Jaclyn Strominger 6:58

That is absolutely amazing. You know, and just it it's so important. Um, so so important with that. I mean, it's I think sometimes whether you're 16 or 18, anywhere in that the young age when you're getting your license. See, even when you're 50s and 60s, I think you forget. Like you need that constant reminder that that that yeah, when you get behind a wheel of a car, it's there's other people, like you your your decisions can impact so many people for the good or the bad. Absolutely. Yeah. Oh, and it just makes me so that's absolutely fantastic that you have made such an impact. So, do you have plans to to go more global? People ask that, and we have lots of people out there driving.

Jonelle Colabufalo 7:58

Yeah, we have so we present in one kind of area, and the accidents that we talk about are local accidents. So I think that has an impact as well. Like they know the roads, they've seen, you know, the flowers at the side of the road and things like that. And we do have schools that travel from quite a distance to come. And we have had people say, Would you come, you know, quite far away. But the the the toll that it takes on the presenters, like retelling the story, you know, it's quite draining. And so, you know, we're all we can have a really big impact in the area that we're presenting. We have helped in other areas for other groups to try and set up similar things, and I'm really obviously open to that. But it's because the stories are so personal, it's not something that we can just, you know, take on a road show. Right. But but it's something that can be replicated and grown elsewhere.

Jaclyn Strominger 8:56

Yeah. I think that's what I'm thinking more, like, how do you help other you know, and then sort of like let's talk about the community. How do we help other communities develop a community that's like this and so that they have additional stories to share? Because again, each local community can have such a huge impact on the local community. Yeah. So let's talk about the community because you said, you know, it's you know, share a little bit more about that impact that it's having, you know, and the this the community within the community that you're creating. Yeah.

Jonelle Colabufalo 9:31

So you mean like in terms of the Jared Dunscombe Foundation. Community? Yeah, yeah. So that's obviously just one element of that. But in

Collaboration Over Competition in Nonprofit Leadership

Jonelle Colabufalo 9:39

terms of what the Jared Dunskum Foundation is doing, it's funding. So it's this model that I guess I created about collaboration over competitions. So in the not-for-profit sector, you know, in Australia there's 66,000 charities, which for a small country that's a lot. And I just saw that there's a lot of people doing, you know, each of them start for a really great reason, but there's a lot of them doing the same thing. And so they're using up expenses in their organization, trying to, you know, build a community and that sort of thing. So we decided not to reinvent the wheel because there's all these amazing organizations doing amazing things. And we came to discover that each of them often has a wish list of projects that, you know, if they've struck gold and suddenly got all this money, they would love to do. And so we come in as sort of an extra fundraising and we bring our community in. And the reason why people support us is that they love that there's a different project each year, but they see a direct end result. So we we never just put money into an organization, we fund a specific project, and so they can see the need that was there at the start and then the end result of what we've achieved at the end. And so they feel like they're taken on part of that journey. And, you know, my focus has always been it's not just about the fundraising, it's about creating a community where people feel like our our events are fun and they feel like they really contribute to the projects as well. So we've had, you know, projects where we've gone and built new training facilities. Like I got a team of trades from our community, and we went and built some new training facilities for an organization that trains dogs for kids with diabetes, diabetes detection dogs, and also at-risk youth to get them in their training dogs instead of not going to school. And then I did a lot of work with an organization called Field of Magic, who do grief camps for kids who've lost a parent or a sibling. And so a lot of our volunteers we then trained in their program and to see them think, oh, could I really go and do that? And then, you know, now there's quite a lot from our community who are facilitating those programs at the camps and just to see the growth and the belief in them. And that's come through, you know, us wanting to develop our volunteers as well. Because a lot of organizations, you know, they volunteers come and they just want to give their time and and do something good for the community. But I just thought, why can't we develop our volunteers along the way and get and make sure that, you know, volunteers get a lot out of just giving, just giving back. But if we can develop them and teach them new skills and, you know, we've had people who've changed careers because they've come in and they've realized they want to be in, you know, that that that the job that they've been in forever doesn't really give them a lot of satisfaction. So, you know, they go and do further studies and things like that. So that's been a really important focus for me in this foundation that it's not just about fundraising, it's about building a community, making sure that our events are really fun and something that and and that's how they've grown because people come and then they go, well, you know, this walk that's on every year is such a fun event because we've turned it into a family day and we have activities for kids and you know, all of that sort of thing. So then the next year they bring friends and family and and that sort of thing. So it's grown from there. But I guess as a leader in the organization, yeah, that focus, it's not just about, you know, the projects and the fundraising. Let's, you know, give back to the people that are giving their time to us as well.

Jaclyn Strominger 13:18

So talk me through a little bit about this a bit more, because you know, this is there there's a whole leadership component in this, right? About helping people grow, which you can easily take into a business, right? So when you know, so you have your you have the the walk, right? And you and so you are raising money for that. So then is the money that you're raising for that helping then you do you you said you pick one project a year, yeah, that goes to X per X other charity. Yeah.

Jonelle Colabufalo 13:51

And so our very first project that we started that we, you know, hoped to raise $20,000 in in the first year, that was to bring it was through an organization called Romac, and it was to bring a little boy over from East Timor for life-saving heart surgery. That if he was born here, he would have had in the first, you know, weeks or months of his life. But he'd gotten to a stage where he couldn't go to school and he couldn't, you know, exert himself. And so his dad and him flew over here and they stayed with us and he had the surgery, and that was in 2014, the year that we first founded the organization. And then on our 10-year anniversary of the organization in 2024, we got an update on him, and he's a healthy, you know, 18-year-old boy. We got photos of him, and that's kind of how it started funding that project. But since then, we've done you know a multitude of things. As I said, we we built the training facilities for Righteous Pups. We've done a lot of work with Feel the Magic. We sort of bought their grief camps into Victoria, which is the state that I live in, and really built that up for them here. We supplied all of their resources, we funded a full camp. We've now funded three full camps here for about all together, probably 130 kids to come to those camps. Last year we funded a project for an organization called Limbs for All, who support children who've lost limbs in Cambodia to get them into school because otherwise, you know, they can't learn and then earn money to survive. And also to rebuild a spinal rehab center in Kathmandu in Nepal. So my elder son and I actually trekked the Himalayas last year as part of that.

Jaclyn Strominger 15:36

Oh, I'm a terrible.

Jonelle Colabufalo 15:38

Yeah, so we raised $50,000 for that project last year through events that we ran and that sort of thing for that. So we've done all, yeah, all sorts of different projects, all you kind of youth focused. We built a training center in Kenya for an organization called One One Heart who were using it to teach people skills that they could then start up their own business to break the poverty cycle over there. So we've got the Jared Dunskam Skills Training Center in Kenya. Um, and then we've done lots of local projects. At the moment, our new project we've just launched is there's an area down here that has a really big homeless problem. And a lot of them are young families who just can't afford the cost of living at the moment. And so we're funding a group who provides food for families who are really struggling, or single mothers that are fleeing domestic violence and that sort of thing. So they're providing them with food. So I actually went yesterday and helped pack some of the food bags yesterday morning and heard some of the stories of the people that we'll be supporting through that. So yeah, we do lots of different things, and that's why our supporters love being part of it because they go on that journey and they see, you know, we've been able to do this because of your support.

Jaclyn Strominger 16:55

That's that's really fantastic. So, you know, talk a little bit about me, because you know, you're you're working with students, and so people in the community see this. What do you think, you know, when people are, you know, as you said, it's like somebody even like had a you know a job change, right? I mean, you know, talk about the impact that it's having, you know, on on the people that are there. Cause that's again, it's a huge I look at it, you know, when you really are doing things that are rewarding, it gives you a different perspective onto onto why you do your other day-to-day. Absolutely.

Jonelle Colabufalo 17:34

I always say, you know, if you're going through a really hard time, I actually think that one of the best things to do is to just go and give and give. And it might, you know, you might not have the money or whatever, you might be going through off time, but give your time to something because the the satisfaction and the boost that you'll get out of giving back to someone, whether it's, you know, just going and volunteering at a souped kitchen for two hours or you know, whatever it is, it can really give you a boost and just remind you. And even going yesterday morning to pack these bags, seeing all those people there at 7 a.m. yesterday morning, it was four degrees, they were in a shed packing these bags, but it just reminds you of the good that there is in

Why Giving and Human Connection Change Lives

Jonelle Colabufalo 18:15

the world. You know, sometimes we can get really caught up in all the terrible things that are happening in this world, and and just, you know, being part of something like that and going and giving back can really make a difference to people, and just and and it's about that connection. I just think this world is really lacking that connection piece, and I just think that human beings absolutely need that. Like I just think that's a vital, you know, there's sleep, food, all of that sort of thing. And I just think connection, because with it out at, you know, loneliness is a real problem. So if I can help build community and connection, then that's a big part of my why in doing all of this as well.

Jaclyn Strominger 18:54

That it no, it's huge. I mean, connection and and being in touch with people, human contact is so important for each and every one of us, it's a huge part of, you know, it's when you know, it's you can't stay great in solitary confinement.

Jonelle Colabufalo 19:13

Yeah, and I think it does translate obviously into business as well. You know, if an organization from the top down can have a real focus on, you know, obviously the employees are delivering the work, but what can we give to them? And that, you know, creates obviously all the things that we know about creates loyal employee loyalty and all of that sort of thing to the organization. But if you can develop them and, you know, organizations who do do charity giving days where the staff go and volunteer, I'm sure that's probably a thing in America as it is in Australia. But, you know, if you can look at continuing to develop your staff, and it might not be sending them training in exactly their job, it might be looking more broadly about what are some skills that we can develop in these people, you know, the softer skills and the more human skills and look at that, that sort of thing. I think that and that builds connection in the team as well when you're doing stuff like that.

Jaclyn Strominger 20:06

So I think that's really I think it's so important to have that type of connection and to because it gets people out of, you know, when a company does have a almost like you know, a give back day, a charity day where the whole where the whole company goes in and does something, you know, together and you're just you're out of your, you know, your your work mode, and it's not about somebody's position or title, it's just about you're all you're all equal. I mean, you're always all equal, but yeah, people don't always think of it that way. And when you're you know, digging or hitting a hammer get your fingers wet and dirty, whatever, you know.

Jonelle Colabufalo 20:46

And it's also like those staff might have never done something like that before, and they and you know, for someone to realize, oh my gosh, I did that today, like, you know, something that they normally wouldn't have done, just the the buzz that that gives to people is really positive as well.

Jaclyn Strominger 21:03

Yeah, no, that that is. So what is your, you know, what's the long-range plan that you have, you know, for the foundation? Like, where do you see it going?

Jonelle Colabufalo 21:13

Look, I hope that it just continues to go as it has. And I think the longer I go, the more focus I have on our community. Like I talk about the JDF community all the time. And I think that's how it will stay sustainable because we, you know, we started off with three of us around a table, and now we have sort of about 80 regular volunteers who we can call upon. I have, you know, it used to be my best friend and I organizing every event, literally like packing bags for the walk and trying to register people. And and now I have a team of people. I mean, now we have a board that helps to run it as well. But now I have a team of people. None of them, like there is no payroll in our organization. It is all voluntary. But, you know, we have an event coming up in a few weeks and I I have a group who are organizing all the finer details and then they just come back to us to say, what do you think about this? And so it's giving them ownership and they're getting event management experience and all of that sort of thing. So it's growing in terms of people who just want to help and be part of it as well. So yeah, it's it's not just about me and you know, a tiny team of us trying to continue this thing because that will eventually end up in burnout. Like I was really conscious of that. So now we're we're bringing people in and we can utilize the skills in our organization. You know, we have people with marketing skills who are helping with all of that. And yeah, so I yeah, hope that we'll continue to be able to build it and grow it and fund more projects because the wish list of organizations is is growing. And I guess we've kind of gone against the trend over the last five years or so where you know donor support, obviously, cost of living's gone up, donor support's come down, actually, volunteer rates fell quite dramatically. But for us, we've seen the opposite. So we must be doing something right.

Jaclyn Strominger 23:09

But you just something that I think is interesting. You don't have a payroll.

Jonelle Colabufalo 23:12

No.

Jaclyn Strominger 23:13

No.

Jonelle Colabufalo 23:14

This is often. I'm not sure. Like, obviously, eventually that may change, but I want to keep it that way as long as I can because a big issue that a lot of people have with not-for-profits is how much of my money is going to admin and employee expenses and all of that sort of thing. And we can say, you know, you're donating to us and we're not spending any of that on employee on employee costs. And I realize like charities can't run, most of them can't run the way that we've been able to. But yeah, as long as as long as I can, I'll hold off on that.

Jaclyn Strominger 23:50

Right. No, but that's huge. I mean, it's a huge, you know, you always look at that number. You always want to see like what percentage of my donation is either going to the charity that I'm trying to support or the organization. I mean, I can tell you stories, but whatever.

Jonelle Colabufalo 24:08

Yes, there's plenty of them. Um, yeah, yeah. But I just yeah, want to keep that, yeah, that focus on as long as we can. And I guess it's because we're very heartled. So people want to give and they want to give their time and and that sort of thing to help us continue the good work that we're doing.

Jaclyn Strominger 24:28

So but that also becomes sort of part of the mission, which is, you know, and for lack of a better word, like the selling point of it, which is, you know, help help us keep it payroll-free in a sense, right? You know, your your your contribution volunteering is going to help us, you know, and people can volunteer, you know, can donate some of the the goods. Like, you know, they might donate, you might get a company to donate the paper that whatever you need to have to print something on, like all of that being donation taking, you know, you can sort of check the box of all the things that you need for a donation that money would normally pay for, but if you're getting it as in kind, absolutely huge.

Jonelle Colabufalo 25:13

Yeah, yeah. And we have a supporter that's been pretty much here from the start who covers all those types of, you know, stationery and and those sort of expenses that, you know, still need to be paid for. But so they just kind of cover that so that all of our other donors are directly contributing to the projects that we're funding. Yeah.

Jaclyn Strominger 25:34

That is really fantastic. Oh my god, I think it's absolutely I think what you're doing is truly remarkable. And it's it's so beautiful that you took, you know, something that's sad. I mean, and and and you know, the condolences through the loss of your brother, because that's huge, but you've turned something into something great. And it's not just a legacy for him, it's a legacy for you and your family.

Jonelle Colabufalo 25:59

Oh, absolutely. And I love I like I have four children. My second was 11 days old when I lost my brother, and my eldest was two. So obviously they don't remember him physically, but he's such a big part of our family and our daily life, and it's because of things like the foundation. Like they love to get involved now. You know, my eldest is 15 now, so they're at that age where they can help with things and events and and they can invite their friend, you know, we've got the next generation coming to events and things now, because they've got all of their friends coming and getting involved. So they can talk about their uncle through all of this and have a really positive relationship with him through the foundation, which is amazing. Yeah.

Jaclyn Strominger 26:43

That is truly, truly remarkable. So, listeners, there is so much good that you can do. You just have to put, you know, it's it's all about, you know, what Jonelle is saying is you're putting your heart behind something, and your mission has to be, it's not really about it's, I mean, it is about the why, but it's purpose-driven mission as to what you're doing. So, and that's helping you have unstoppable success, which is true with your foundation, which is like kudos to you. I think it's absolutely great, absolutely fantastic. So tell our listeners how they can connect with you, maybe even make a donation to the foundation to contribute to what what you're doing, because it is you are you are making a difference and a great impact on the world.

Jonelle Colabufalo 27:26

Yeah. So if they just look up the Jared Dunscombe Foundation. our website is www.jdf.org.au. We're on social media and that sort of thing. So yeah. And if any of the listeners are in Victoria, Australia, they can come and come to our event support.

Jaclyn Strominger 27:43

We do have listeners that are down in Victoria. We have we do have them. So, listeners, please do me a favor, connect with you now. I'm gonna put the links into the show notes, but do connect with her because this, you know, really what she is doing, it's you know, it is creating a lasting legacy, but it's also creating an impact and helping other people understand, you know, the impact that one decision and one choice can make, like what the impact that it has, a good, bad, a good one or a bad one. So please do me a favor and reach out and connect with her. Um, and listeners, do me the other favor. If you haven't already hit subscribe, make sure you are hitting subscribe. And then also please, in the show notes, we have a brand new. It is all about building your, as I love to call it, relationship capital, making sure that you are going into the right rooms to connect and make connections to help you grow personally and professionally. It is a, as I call it, the relationship capital ROI seven-day challenge. It's completely free. Go in, hit the link, go and take it. We want to help you grow personally and professionally. And thank you so much for listening. This is the unstoppable success podcast. I'm your host, Jacly Strominger, and we help you leap to your greatest success.

Speaker 2 29:02

Thank you.

Jaclyn Strominger 29:09

Here's to your unstoppable success. You've been listening to the unstoppable success podcast with Jaclyn Strominger. Subscribe, share, and keep building your unstoppable life. See you at the top.