The Power of Unrestricted Giving: How Melanie Lundquist Has Supported Homeboy for Over a Decade

Years ago, Homeboy Industries was experiencing financial hardship. In order to make payroll, Melanie and her husband Richard Lundquist received a call from a Homeboy Board member that resulted in a check with no strings attached. No restrictions. Just trust.In this episode, Tom Vozzo sits down with 2026 Lo Maximo KINSHIP Honoree Melanie Lundquist, longtime Homeboy Industries supporter, to uncover the story behind that trust.Melanie&#39;s father was raised in Boyle Heights, and she remains true to her roots, retaining her lifelong love of service to others.Melanie and her husband, Richard are Giving Pledge (https://www.givingpledge.org/) signatories, and for them, impact is not about perfect numbers. It is about walking with the most vulnerable, and investing in replicable models like Homeboy Industries, that create systemic changeKey TakeawaysCherishing each other is a shared responsibility.If we had enough cherishing, there would be no need for Homeboy. Melanie subscribes to Warren Buffett&#39;s theory: money belongs to society; we&#39;re just temporary stewards.Systemic change requires replicable models.We live in a deeply broken system across education, justice, and healthcare. True success is not short term help. It is creating models that can replicate and drive change from the bottom up. Homeboy is a replicable model; dollars invested here reach far beyond LA.Homies belong at the tableWhen people ask if Melanie has had &quot;clients&quot; at her dining room, she corrects them: &quot;They&#39;re homies.&quot; She&#39;s proud to have them there. Your dollars build a model that helps people in Chicago, New York, and beyond.Kindness costs nothing but changes everythingYet we struggle to give it. As a philanthropist, Melanie says, &quot;It&#39;s the biggest, most joyful journey of my life. I wouldn&#39;t trade it for anything.&quot;In This Episode:00:00 – Introduction00:41 – Why Melanie became a supporter of Homeboy05:53 – Why philanthropy gives life meaning07:50 – Defining impact and systemic change10:12 – Why donors should engage beyond money12:10 – Gratitude and the deeper meaning of giving14:02 – Why she chose to invest in Homeboy16:20 – Balancing different causes and priorities19:21 – Five-year forecast: the future of philanthropy21:00 – Why long-term commitment matters25:07 – Politics vs. philanthropy26:45 – Elected officials prioritizing the poor and disenfranchised27:51 – The freedom and limits of philanthropy31:47 – Why Homeboy’s model works34:07 – Can philanthropy save democracy?37:00 – The power of kindness and empathy38:03 – The redwood metaphorNotable Quotes“ If we had enough cherishing, there would be no need for Homeboy - Melanie [02:19]“Philanthropy is the rent we pay for the air we breathe.” - Melanie [03:43]“Philanthropy is the meaning of life and what gives our life meaning.” - Melanie [06:00]“What does it cost people to be kind? It costs nothing.” - Melanie [37:00]Resources and LinksHomeboy Industrieshttps://homeboyindustries.org/https://www.youtube.com/@HomeboyIndustries_LA/videosDonate: https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/Homeboy Media https://homeboyindustries.org/social-enterprises/homeboy-media/Melanie  Lundquisthttps://www.givingpledge.org/Thomas Vozzohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasvozzoThe Homeboy Way: A Radical Approach to Business and Life: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Homeboy-Way-Radical-Approach-Business/dp/08294545