Inspiring Living with Mark Candelaria
Welcome to Inspiring Living with Mark Candelaria, hosted by architect, blogger, traveler, chef, father, husband, and founding partner of Candelaria Design Associates. Mark has designed timeless homes across the country for forty years, while hosting tours to Italy, Spain, and beyond. Throughout the course of his journey, Mark has met wonderful people who truly inspire him and this podcast is about them and the opportunities that are all around us to Inspire Living! While we talk about architecture and design on this podcast, Mark also introduces you to a wide gamut of guests and industries, and ventures into all sorts of topics that will teach you, motivate you and inspire living your best life.
Inspiring Living with Mark Candelaria
The Life of a Baller with Frank DeBlasi
Our featured guest on this episode is Frank DeBlasi, Founder of The Baller Dream Foundation, a non-profit organization that lifts the spirits of children and young adults affected by cancer. In our Podcast's First Season Frank shared how his battle with cancer led him to create this incredible nonprofit to raise the spirits of kids with cancer through amazing personalized gifts, such as college funds, trips and once in a lifetime experiences. Since founding The Baller Dream Foundation in 2013, Frank has provided gifts of hope to 70 young cancer warriors or "ballers" and has grown the organization to seven states: AZ, NV, CA, AL, MS, NY, NJ! Listen to his first episode here: candelariadesign.com/podcast-content/2020/2/24/with-frank-deblasi
Mark and Frank talk about the incredible fundraising event held last month at a private home in PV where Mark and his daughters cooked and served Paella to the nearly 200 guests in attendance. At the end of each event, in each of the seven states, Frank gives each "baller" their time in the spotlight to talk about themselves and their hobbies, wishes, etc. before they are surprised with one of their big wishes being granted!! The look on the children's faces and their parents when these wishes are granted is incredibly heartwarming and it's no wonder Frank has dedicated the past 9 years of his life to keep this foundation flourishing. . . even despite a year-long pandemic!
To learn more about this great foundation and see photos of the AZ Baller Event last month and all our other podcast episodes, visit our Podcast Page: candelariadesign.com/inspiring-living-podcast