Finish Line Moments: The Heartbeat of the Race - Fundraising, Volunteers & Finish Line Moments with Staci Brown

In this episode of Finish Line Moments, Gretchen sits down with Staci Brown, endurance fundraising powerhouse, volunteer champion, and one of the most enthusiastic supporters the race industry has ever known. With more than 25 years shaping the people and partnerships behind iconic endurance events, Staci has helped scale charity programs at Team In Training, Crohn’s & Colitis, the American Cancer Society, Rock ’n’ Roll, and right here in Sonoma County with Napa to Sonoma. She lived the early boom of charity running, the evolution of ambassador programs, and the COVID-era pivot that reshaped the entire industry.This fast-paced, joyful conversation is packed with mic-drop moments, including:Why volunteers are the heartbeat of every race and how loving on them elevates the entire eventHow half marathons and accessible entry points open the endurance world to more peopleWhat really makes fundraising successful (hint: it’s not just money)Why showing up with enthusiasm is part of the job in the race industryHow all of this work - fundraising, volunteering, community-building is ultimately in service of something biggerThis episode isn’t just for runners. It’s for anyone who’s ever volunteered, donated, cheered from the sidelines, or wondered how events actually come to life. Because finish line moments don’t happen by accident, they’re built by people who care deeply, serve generously, and believe that when you take care of the community, everything else rises.You’ll laugh, you’ll nod along, and you’ll walk away seeing races - and service - in a whole new way