Portrait of a social entrepreneur: Lisa M. leone

Mar 30

Continuing our Women’s History Month series brings us to the discussion table with Volunteer Together founder, actress, and producer Lisa M. Leone.

1) Lisa, thank you for participating in our Women’s History Month Q&A series! Please tell us about yourself.

Hello, how we doin? Thanks for asking me to be a part of this Women’s Series. My name is Lisa, and I am an Actress, Content Creator, Producer, Children’s Book Author, Menstrual Product Activist, Founder of #VolunteerTogether, and known as L.A.’s #1 Best Nanny. Originally from Philadelphia, I made my way to Los Angeles after college. A social butterfly at heart, I thrive on creating movies, exploring the world, lending a helping hand, and spending quality time with friends and family. I recently achieved a personal milestone—I ran my first 10k in Disney World for the princess run! Now, I'm gearing up for my next challenge: training for a triathlon. I'm excited to continue challenging myself and embracing new adventures! I use social media platforms to share my journey, representing plus-size fit individuals. It's important to me to show that fitness and health come in all shapes and sizes, and I'm committed to fostering inclusivity in the wellness community.

2. What inspired you to create Volunteer Together?

#VolunteerTogether started in November 2019 after the success of a campaign I created called the Period Project.

Little back story: In February 2019, I watched the Oscar Award-winning documentary Period. End of Sentence, directed by Rayka Zehtabchi on Netflix and was really inspired, like super, super inspired. So inspired that 4 weeks later I was on my way to India with my former Boss and Mentor Charlotte and created a campaign called the #PeriodProject. This campaign focused on fundraising to collect and bring period products to the students at FFLV, an all-girl school in Vrindavan, India. Each student received a Days for Girl kit, which included 2 Shields, 8 Liners, 2 panties, 1 small soap, 1 washcloth, 1 menstrual chart & pictorial instruction, 2 gallon-size freezer bags, and 1 Drawstring Bag. Every student who received a kit also attended a 2-hour class to learn about periods and the importance of feminine hygiene. The 12th-grade students attended a leadership and women's empowerment course every day for 2 weeks. This class was invaluable because, once I left school, I needed to make sure there were student leaders to answer other students' questions about their periods. The student leaders were given identifying buttons for their uniforms so that other girls knew who to go to if they had questions or needed help.

The Period Project was a huge success and helped bring awareness to the existence of period poverty, which is something I learned through the documentary. Receiving tremendous support from my friends, family, and community and firsthand seeing our impact from this project made me realize that I had to start a nonprofit organization. I felt like I figured out the special formula: More People, More Impact. We are stronger together, and we can do so much more together. I create Volunteer Together to help lead volunteer events, shine a light on important social topics, and make it easier for people to get involved in their community. It's Free, It’s Fun, and It’s Fulfilling, and your help is impactful in so many ways.

3. Where do I see VT going in the next 5 years?

In the next five years, I envision Volunteer Together reaching new heights of impact and influence. Building on the remarkable growth of our volunteer community and the groundbreaking work accomplished over the past four years since the foundation began, the opportunities before us are truly boundless. Here are some of our 5-year goals:

Chapters in all 50 states—By persistently tapping into the enthusiasm and commitment of our volunteers and donors, I foresee Volunteer Together establishing chapters in every state, creating a network that spans the nation and beyond, and providing volunteer opportunities for all.

Menstrual Product Drive Advocacy: Building on the success of our annual menstrual product drive, we aim to advocate for policy changes in universities and public places. Our goal is to ensure free access to menstrual products for all and to provide products to those in need through donations from the menstrual product drives.

Team Growth: We plan to expand our team to sustain our growth and success as a volunteer group. More People, More Impact!

Our primary goal is to transform the perception of volunteering, making it not just a required assignment but a cool and compelling endeavor. We aim to integrate volunteering seamlessly into the fabric of society, connecting with students, schools, and communities to promote the idea that giving back is not only rewarding but essential for personal growth and societal well-being. What sets Volunteer Together apart from any other nonprofit is we don’t have one core focus. We collaborate with various nonprofit organizations, ensuring that volunteers have a wide range of opportunities to make a difference in areas that need it most and/or connect best with the volunteer. We are excited to collaborate with more nonprofit organizations, further leveraging our collective efforts to drive positive change and create a better world for all.

4. Aside from helping build communities, you’re also an actor, please tell us more about that.

Growing up, my hobbies were performing and volunteering, and now, 31 years later, those passions have become my career and life's work. I am both the founder of Volunteer Together and an Actress. From my early days in community theater to starring in every school show, I knew I had found my calling. Pursuing my dreams, I studied Acting and Directing at DeSales University before taking the leap to California to pursue acting professionally. With the hustle of the East Coast in my veins, I eagerly immersed myself in all aspects of the entertainment world, landing my first role as a casting assistant for a reality show and then a production assistant for a horror feature film. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to audition for exciting projects, perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and appear in numerous student films, short films, and independent films. Looking ahead, I am very excited about the future of my acting career! I LOVE being on set making movie magic. Imagine Tony Soprano's charisma and Lucille Ricardo's charm – that's me!

5. How can people get involved in your work?

I love connecting and creating with people soooooo reach out through my Instagram handles @LisaMLeone and @VolunteerTogether. You can also find more information about Volunteer Together on our website, www.Volunteer-Together.com

6. Anything else you’d like to share? :)

I am excited to share with all of you that this year's menstrual product drive, organized by @#VolunteerTogether, was bigger than ever. Initially, our goal was to provide period products to seven high schools based on our estimated fundraising capabilities. However, the response from schools after spreading the word exceeded our expectations, with almost double the number of schools reaching out for assistance. In response to this overwhelming need, we decided to expand our fundraising goal to collect 1000 period products within six weeks. Thanks to our community's incredible support, we donated to 12 high schools ( all the schools that asked for help) across Philadelphia. During discussions with school nurses as part of our outreach efforts, we were shocked to discover that some schools receive little to no funding for menstrual products. As a menstrual product activist, I am deeply committed to addressing this issue and advocating for systemic change. In addition to continuing our efforts to provide essential products to those in need, I am determined to work towards securing full funding for menstrual products in schools and advocating for free access to these products for all students. Together, we can make a significant impact and promote menstrual equity in our communities.

This summer marks the release of my first children's book in a series, and I couldn't be more thrilled! The journey to this moment began two years ago when I broke my ankle, providing me with the time and inspiration to work on this project. Collaborating closely with illustrator Julia, we've poured our hearts into creating something truly special. I eagerly anticipate sharing this book with everyone and spreading the joy of storytelling. What makes this project even more meaningful is that all proceeds from the book will go directly to the nonprofit Volunteer Together. These funds will support future volunteer events, allowing us to make a difference in communities and inspire others to join our cause. I can't wait to see the impact we can make together!