A Passion for Philanthropy: A Q&A With Joe Deal

New York Regional Manager and a strong advocate for Bohler’s charitable efforts, Joe Deal has a long history of giving back to the community. His passion for philanthropy has led him to get involved in many organizations over the years. It’s his current involvement with Kids for Kids, however, that has a special significance for him.

We caught up with Joe to find out where his charitable drive stems from, how he first got involved, and his latest philanthropic venture.

What motivates your charity involvement?

It started with my family. Many of my family members were very involved in different charities throughout Long Island and taught me the importance of giving back. I know that I’m ​fortunate in my situation, so I feel a responsibility and desire to give back to those who are less so. I’m working to teach my kids and encourage my staff to do the same.

Currently, you’re a Board Member for Kids for Kids. Can you talk about the organization and how you got involved with them?

The Kids for Kids Foundation hosts monthly events to raise money and awareness for organizations that support children and families struggling with medical challenges. The foundation chiefly benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

I first got involved about five years ago. I was looking for a new way to give back when mutual friends introduced me to the Kids for Kids founders. At the time, they were looking to expand beyond New York City into Long Island. It was a great fit because I had the Long Island connections and ability to aid their expansion efforts. I also really connected with their mission.

What drew you to their mission?

When I learned more about St. Jude and what they do for families and children, it really hit home for me because I had young kids at the time. In the first year of being involved, I had the opportunity to go to Memphis to visit St. Jude and meet some of the doctors and patients. That trip had a real impact on me. Ever since then, I’ve been focused on helping however I can, and am always looking for opportunities to support them.

St. Jude provides enormous support to families who are struggling, without any cost to them. Donations pay for all the treatments and patient stays, so it’s really important to continue raising money for them. On top of that, the research St. Jude has done for childhood cancer is unbelievable. I’m proud to support them.

What is your role, specifically, with Kids for Kids?

As part of the Board, I’ve committed time to raise awareness and money for the organization.

I helped create the Winter Ball, which is an annual event in November that, over the past few years, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for St. Jude. I’ve taken on the event planning role, picking out everything from the furniture to the band, and it’s gotten bigger and better every year. Sadly, it had to be canceled this year due to the pandemic.​​​​​​​

Fundraising events around the world have been impacted by COVID-19. How have you adapted to new ways of garnering support for Kids for Kids?

One of my fellow board members is a key player in the health and wellness industry, and we came up with the idea of a 30-day wellness challenge called Level Up. The challenge is to every day: Work out for 45 minutes, eat healthy, drink a gallon of water, read 10 pages of a book, and avoid alcohol. The idea is that it will benefit everyone’s mental and physical state in this stressful time, as well as raise much-needed funds for St. Jude.

I’m personally matching all donations and entry fees made by Bohler employees, so our support will go twice as far.

Bohler cares about giving back to our communities, empowering people, and changing lives for the better. Read more here.