Turn Grief Into Purpose and Build Lasting Impact | Jonelle Colabufalo

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How can profound loss become a force for hope, connection, and change?
Jonelle Colabufalo, Co-Founder and CEO of the Jared Dunscombe Foundation, joins Jaclyn Strominger to share how she turned grief after the loss of her brother Jared into a purpose-driven movement supporting young people, vulnerable families, and communities.
Jonelle reveals how the foundation grew from three people around a kitchen table into a volunteer-powered community. She explains its “collaboration over competition” approach: partnering with existing charities, funding specific projects, and showing supporters a clear, tangible result.
This conversation explores youth road-safety education, transparent charitable giving, volunteer development, heart-led leadership, and why service can reconnect us with the good in the world during difficult times.
In this episode:
- Turning grief into purposeful action
- Building a legacy through community
- Teaching young people safer road decisions
- Collaborating with charities instead of duplicating their work
- Creating meaningful experiences for volunteers
- Using giving and human connection to move through hard seasons
- Building a sustainable, mission-driven organization without losing its heart
Connect with Jonelle: https://jonelle.com.au/
Learn about or support the Jared Dunscombe Foundation: https://jdf.org.au/
Listen to more episodes: https://jaclynstrominger.com/podcast/#listen
**Listener question:** What is one way you can give your time, skills, or support to a cause that matters to you?
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