One Sandwich Sparked a Movement—And a Life Meant For More

One Small Act of Kindness Can Change Everything: A Conversation with Karen Olson

What if one small act of kindness could change the course of your life—and ultimately impact millions of others?

On this episode of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast, host Jodi Hope Grinwald sits down with Karen Olson, founder and CEO emeritus of Family Promise, for an inspiring conversation about kindness, compassion, purpose, and the extraordinary impact one person can create.

Karen’s desire to help others began early in life. After losing her mother as a child, she experienced a depth of hurt that made her want to protect others from feeling the same kind of pain. Although she once dreamed of becoming a nurse, her life took her in a different direction, and she built a successful career as a marketing executive at Warner-Lambert.

Then, one encounter outside Grand Central Station changed everything. On her way to a business meeting, Karen stopped to help an unhoused woman named Millie. She offered her a sandwich and orange juice—and, even more importantly, took the time to sit with her, listen, and learn her story.

That single decision opened Karen’s eyes and heart in a new way. It led her to begin volunteering, learn more about family homelessness, and bring communities together to create meaningful solutions.

Karen eventually founded what would become Family Promise, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping families experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity achieve lasting independence. Through the power of compassion, community, and human connection, she rallied more than one million volunteers and helped build a movement that has served more than one million children and adults.

In this deeply personal conversation, Karen opens up about childhood loss, depression, unexpected roadblocks, her transition from corporate leadership to nonprofit service, and the life-altering health crisis she later faced. She also shares how volunteerism transformed her own life and why compassion has the power to heal both the person receiving kindness and the person offering it.

Karen’s journey reminds us that purpose does not always arrive through one grand plan. Sometimes, it begins by noticing the person in front of us, listening to our hearts, and choosing to take one small step.

Karen’s memoir, Meant for More: Following Your Heart and Finding Your Purpose, chronicles her journey from personal tragedy to a life of compassion, service, and national impact. The book is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org.

Learn more about Karen at KarenOlsonAuthor.com and about Family Promise at FamilyPromise.org.

About the Host

Jodi Hope Grinwald is a Leadership & Connection Strategist, author, collaborative publishing strategist, and host of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast. She partners with companies, nonprofits, leaders, and professionals through leadership and team development, career transition coaching, nonprofit fundraising strategy, and organizational consulting.

Through her Connection Is the Work™ methodology, Jodi helps companies and nonprofits turn meaningful human connection into measurable organizational outcomes—including stronger leadership, more effective teams, improved workplace culture, greater employee and client engagement, increased retention, sustainable fundraising, and long-term growth.

Jodi is also the creator and lead author of Today is the Day. LIVE IT!—Edge of Comfort to Center of Impact, featuring the stories and insights of 31 changemakers. She is currently curating the second collaborative book in the series, Today is the Day. OWN IT!, scheduled for release in Spring 2027.

Today is the Day. LIVE IT! is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target, and other major online booksellers.

Learn more about Jodi’s consulting, coaching, speaking, podcast, and books at TodayIsTheDayLiveIt.com.

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