Donate to Season 9 by clicking below!
Check: Please make checks out to “Live to Give Minnesota” and put contestant’s name as memo.
Mail to: Live to Give PO Box 172 Rogers, MN 55374
Meet the cast of Season 2:
Amanda Stoks
Playing for National MS Society:
I was diagnosed with MS six years ago after years of going to the doctor and being told that I just had anxiety. It was a fight to get a diagnosis and it has been a fight every day since. Over the years, enough research has been done that it is easier to live with the day to day, but there is no cure. The money that goes to finding a cure also funds education, support groups, and MS Navigators, people who are designated to walk someone through their diagnosis and treatment. My journey with this disease has been long and there is certainly no end in sight; I think it is vitally important to fund research, education, awareness, and support structures.
Anthony Kennedy
Playing for Opportunity Partners:
Opportunity Partners find ways to assist adults with disabilities find meaningful employment, residential, and enrichment opportunities. I represented this organization for 4 years. There was no better feeling than seeing the joy on the faces and the appreciation of the people we served when we were able to create opportunities for them to be successful.
Brian Falduto
Playing for GLAAD:
As an early example of queer representation in media, I value the mission of this organization. GLAAD works through entertainment, news, and digital media to share stories from the LGBTQ community that accelerate acceptance. I know first hand how impactful queer stories can be if represented properly & so I choose to champion this cause!
Chad Holloway
Playing for Beyond Blessed Pantry:
Growing up in small-town Wisconsin, local charities have a special place in my heart. I am playing for Beyond Blessed Pantry, which is based out of my hometown. Beyond Blessed is a food pantry that helps to provide for those in need without judgment. They treat every individual with dignity and respect while addressing the food scarcity issues at hand.
David “DJ” Jelinsky
Playing for Serving Our Kids:
Service Our Kids is an organization that serves kids in the school district meals during their weekends. This is special to me because my Grandma works for the school district as an elementary school counselor and are around these kids every day. Growing up, she spent her days not only taking care of myself and brother, but of all of her other children too. I’ve also been volunteering with them myself for the past two years and I’d really enjoy contributing a donation to them.
Ella Johnson
Playing for The Ronald McDonald House:
Ronald McDonald House Charities provide housing for families with sick children in the hospital. These children need long-term care which is expensive and puts a lot of stress on the families. In my childhood, my dad and I collected can tops for them, and when I had a chance to run the Service Corps at my high school last year, we raised over $900 for them. With about half of that money, we cooked two large brunches for them, making many families cry. They thanked us and hugged many of us, and seeing that momentary joy on their faces made me want to continue giving to that community. The other half of the money we raised went to continuing our work with them after I graduated with the hope of growing a legacy at my high school that will continue to aid RMHC for years to come. This opportunity would mean the world to both myself and those families in need.
Grace Botzo
Playing for The Cure Starts Now:
I work as a fundraiser at a heart disease nonprofit. Before that, I worked in cancer research and I’m very passionate about finding a cure for pediatric cancer. I especially love this charity because they’re taking on cancers that are rare / have a low survival rate. Oftentimes, these cancers are not researched because they’re risky to invest in. I’d like to think that by supporting research like this, we can move to a cure for ALL cancers
Hannah Spargur
Playing for Arrive Ministries:
Arrive Ministries is an organization that supports refugees and immigrants in their transition to life in Minnesota. They help families find a home while providing legal aid and education. Arrive also provides families with a friend to walk alongside them as they transition. Over the past year, my roommate has had the opportunity to tutor English to a mom (called Anne for the sake of narration) from Afghanistan. Anne has 8 children ranging from 1 to 16. It's difficult for Anne to leave the house since the children can't all fit in their car together. During the past year, we've had the chance to spend time with Anne's kids - baking, going to a park, or back to school shopping - to give Anne some rest and give the kids a chance to get out of the house. It's been one of the most life-giving experiences for me - I love this family so much, and they've taught me so much about hospitality, generosity, and perseverance. Now, I get to tutor one of the oldest boys in math and continue loving this family as they navigate American schools and post-high school opportunities. I want to give to Arrive so they can continue providing families with residences, legal assistance, and the education needed to settle into the US healthily.
Jackie Fursman
Playing for The Jeremiah Program:
The Jeremiah Program's mission is to disrupt the cycle of poverty two generations at a time. They provide meaningful and impactful support for Single Mothers, through Access to higher education, affordable housing and child care. My passion for this mission comes from my own journey. I know what it's like to face the challenges of raising a child as a young adult while also trying to pursue higher education. It takes real resilience to keep pushing forward when everything feels stacked against you, and that same resilience is what has gotten me to where I am today. I also believe that there’s always a better way—something that could make the path a little easier. Though I wasn’t a recipient of the Jeremiah Project’s services, I’m so grateful that it exists. Knowing that there’s an organization out there that offers the support and resources that young mothers need is incredibly powerful. Being able to support this mission now means the world to me. It’s an opportunity to give back and help others who, like I once did, just need a little extra support to thrive. The Jeremiah Project was founded right here in Minnesota, and over the last 25 years, it’s made a real impact. Thousands of mothers have been given the grace and encouragement to continue their education at a time in their lives when they needed someone to say, "I see you, I believe in you, and I’ll help you." That’s the kind of support that can change everything, and it’s why this mission resonates so deeply with me. It’s a lifeline for those who need it most.
Joey Leveille
Playing for United Cerebral Palsy of Minnesota:
My sister grew up with cerebral palsy. My life has been surrounded by complications related to this. My sister's life has reflected how I want to be as a person and how I want her life to shine through me. It has always been my dream to raise money and help families who have been involved with CP. My sister passed when I was 16 as she was 18 years old and has been a tremendous part of my life.
Josh Rudes
Playing for Dallas Hearing Foundation:
DHF provides hearing devices and services to underprivileged children and adults so that they can improve their quality of life. I’m a person that is severely hard of hearing and relied on a similar foundation to get my first set of hearing aids when I was 5 years old. As an audiologist, giving those with hearing impairments access to technology is so important to me, and I started this career so that I could help others like me! Providing access to this technology improves peoples ability to function daily, socialize, hear their family and friends, get a job and be successful in school. DHF does a great job providing underprivileged communities with what they need.
Lauren Sporleder
Playing for Project Heal:
As someone who has struggled with an eating disorder, I have seen firsthand how difficult the process is to receive a diagnosis and receive proper treatment because of stigmatization, accessibility, and cost. That is why I am proud to be playing for Project Heal, and organization that works to break the stigma around eating disorders, specifically emphasizing the idea that eating disorders do not discriminate on gender or age, and that individuals of all shapes and sizes are affected. Project Heal works to coordinate affordable treatment options, since many people who are diagnosed with eating disorders are unable to afford the treatment that they need.
Nathan Lett
Playing for Ann Arbor Academy:
Ann Arbor Academy is an independent, gender inclusive day school for students with learning differences and disabilities in grades K-13. As a 501 (3)(c) school serving such a niche a large portion of the funding comes from donations and fundraising in order to provide the resources for the students to learn and grow both academically, socially and emotionally, as well as providing financial aid and scholarships for families who may need them. I am a graduate of Ann Arbor Academy, and to say it changed and quite possibly saved my life would be the understatement of the century. I am on the autism spectrum as well as having severe anxiety and depression. Following the pandemic, not having resources in my local community that could help me learn to manage my challenges contributed to things getting much worse. My struggles prompted me to move across the entire state to seek the help and community that Ann Arbor Academy offers. What I gained while attending Ann Arbor Academy has made it possible for me to pursue my passion for playing Survivor while giving back to the community that made it possible.
Nikki Pierson
Playing for Catatonia Foundation:
The Catatonia Foundation is a nonprofit which spreads awareness and offers resources for Catatonia. This neuropsychiatric disorder can affect anyone and is often not diagnosed for months or longer. After a series of surgeries, my son developed Catatonia which caused him to be immobile, mute, and eventually stop eating and drinking. He has been in the hospital multiple times this year for treatment and for months we kept telling doctors something was wrong. Finally, doctors at the U of MN helped with diagnosis and treatment. The Catatonia foundation offered support and resources to help navigate this very difficult disease.
Noah Jordan
Playing for Mile in My Shoes:
This charity has meant so much to me since moving to Minnesota eight years ago. It was here I learned the true meaning of community through shared goals. MiMS opened my eyes to the struggles people go through in an attempt to get sober or just rejoin society post-incarceration. It also showed me how much a sport I love so much, running, can be completely inequitable for people with low income. It’s not just about owning shoes, it’s so much more. MiMS works hard to build lifetime runners through community and shared goals. I’ve witnessed it first hand, and will always be a supporter!.
Nora Harapat
Playing for Girls on the Run:
Girls on the Run provides opportunities for young girls to develop confidence with friends and get active. I participated in this program when I was in fourth grade and it helped me start to find passion in athletics and build really tight friendships with my running buddies. This is important to be because through sports I have made some of my best friends and it has really helped give me confidence growing up. I want to support this cause so I can help give more little kids opportunities like I had growing up.
Sam Schill
Playing for Coco’s Heart Dog Rescue:
Coco’s Heart Dog Rescue is a foster-based rescue organization. They incur over $1,000,000 in costs every year to save dogs and find them loving homes. My dog, Joby, was rescued by Coco’s Heart in 2018 and has been part of my family ever since. We adopted Joby when I was suffering from an injury that didn’t allow me to attend my freshman year of college. Although some would say that we saved her, in many ways Joby saved me. She really is an extension of my personality - everyone who knows me, knows Joby. I would love to raise money to help Coco’s Heart save more dogs, so they can save their humans.
Noah Johnson
Samuel Schminski
Playing for Movember Foundation:
The Movember Foundation does important work addressing men's health issues, including work with mental health problems and prostate/testicular cancer. I grew up as a youth in an era where men's mental health truly took a back seat and I and the men around me were told to just "tough it out". This issue is hardly discussed even with the large percentage of suicides being done by men. By creating awareness and funding programs that encourage men to open up, get checked, and seek help, Movember saves lives and improves the quality of life for lots of men. I believe every man deserves the support, knowledge, and encouragement to lead a healthier, longer life.
Sarika Uppaluri
Playing for Big Brother Big Sister, Twin Cities:
I have been a volunteer with them through their free arts program for a few years. They are a fantastic organization which is committed to helping the lives of local Minneapolis children who many not have a lot of access, helping pair them with mentors who inspire them so they can learn about the world. I volunteered for their Free Arts program providing after school arts education to kids across a variety of other organizations including domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, and rehab facilities where kids may not otherwise get the chance to interact with adults who can spark their curiosity for the world!
Sasha Martinez
Playing for Covenant House:
Covenant House California is a non-profit youth shelter that provides sanctuary and support for youth experiencing homelessness and sex trafficking. Their doors are open to youth regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. I've volunteered several times with them in the past and love their mission.
Stephany Luithly
Playing for William’s Wardrobe:
My husband and I founded William’s Wardrobe in honor of our son William who died in June of 2023 at three months old from the congenital heart defects he was born with. We support the heart community at M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital - pediatric heart patients and their families, the staff, and we contribute to pediatric CHD research through the University of Minnesota. We bring infant bath robes and socks (wardrobes) to heart babies in the CVICU because they can't wear much of anything else - especially after open heart surgery. For the older kids, we bring an educational activity and for the families we provide practical care packages for stuff that was helpful for us when we were there with our son. We also sponsor what’s called the “Butterfly Cart” for patients and families heading into end-of-life care. This cart has personal care items, religious/spiritual items, and memory making items for the last days of a heart warrior’s life. For staff, we do different things depending on the time of year, but we mostly make monthly contributions to a fund we set up that they can use for anything they need (cont. education, wellness services, team building, pizza or coffee...) And for research we make a monthly contribution to a fund through the U of M. We are obviously SO passionate about this because we were in those shoes for three months straight with our William. The staff deserves the love for all of the love they give out, the families are in one of the most isolating situations there is and we want them to feel seen, and 1/100 babies is born with CHD and there is no cure for it. We knew when we left the hospital that we had to bring comfort to the heart community and we knew we needed to keep William's legacy of strength alive. So, that's what we've done in the past year and half since he's been gone. I'm so excited to represent and help raise awareness and money for the heart community!