As we close out the year, we want to pause and share something that matters deeply to the Smart Marketer team.
This community has always been about growth whether in business, in leadership, or in impact. And for us, that impact extends far beyond marketing.
Through two causes close to our team’s heart, Love Runneth Over and Fields of Freedom Dog Rescue, we’ve seen firsthand what’s possible when a community shows up consistently, generously, and with intention.
Love Runneth Over: Supporting Families When It Matters Most
Many of you are familiar with Love Runneth Over, a nonprofit founded by Smart Marketer’s founder, Ezra Firestone, and his family in honor of their daughter, Audra.
Love Runneth Over exists to support families navigating life inside the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), a space where medical complexity, financial strain, and emotional overwhelm often collide.
What the organization discovered early on is that many NICU families face impossible tradeoffs. Parents want to be present for their babies, but work obligations, travel costs, childcare for other children, and limited resources make that incredibly difficult.
And yet, presence matters.
Babies who receive consistent human connection, especially skin-to-skin contact, often experience dramatically better outcomes. Love Runneth Over works to remove the barriers that prevent parents from being there when their babies need them most.
The Impact This Year
Love Runneth Over is a 100% volunteer-run organization with zero administrative overhead, meaning every dollar donated goes directly to families and babies.
This year, those funds helped provide:
- Financial grants so parents could take time off work and stay by their baby’s bedside
- Transportation support for families traveling long distances to hospitals
- NICU care bags filled with essentials for parents arriving in crisis
- Car seats for families preparing to bring their babies home
- Support for milk banks serving premature infants during critical shortages
This work is only possible because of the generosity of this community: business owners, families, and partners who chose to give back in a meaningful way.
Fields of Freedom: Saving Dogs, One Life At A Time
In a different but equally powerful way, Fields of Freedom Dog Rescue, founded by Smart Marketer’s own Molly Pittman and her family, made an extraordinary impact this year.
Fields of Freedom focuses on rescuing dogs from high-risk situations, providing medical care, rehabilitation, and ultimately helping them find loving homes, often across state lines and even internationally.
What Was Accomplished This Year
The numbers alone tell a remarkable story:
- 80 dogs adopted into forever homes
- 35 dogs still currently in care
- 115 dogs rescued in total
- Dogs adopted into homes across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Missouri, and even Portugal!
- Over 20 different breeds saved, just about any breed you’re looking for can be found in a shelter or rescue
- 4,000+ pounds of dog food used to support rescues and fosters
Every dog that came through Fields of Freedom received comprehensive care: spay/neuter, vaccinations, 4Dx testing, microchipping, with roughly 10% requiring intensive veterinary treatment, including surgeries and heartworm care.
Financially, the impact was just as significant:
- $238,000 raised this year
- $75,000 spent on veterinary care alone
- Funds also supported a major facility remodel (upgraded kennels, bedding, and temperature control), staff support, supplies, and ongoing operations
The Stories Behind The Numbers
Some moments stand out more than any statistic.
A dog being adopted after a chance encounter at a Taco Bell drive-thru — a story that still lives on Molly’s Facebook page and ended with a forever home.
Dogs traveling across multiple states, and even internationally, to reach families who were waiting for them.
And moments of heartbreak, too.
Odin, a beloved foster, passed away after his cancer took a sudden turn. Though his time was shorter than hoped, he experienced love, stability, and family, something every rescue strives to give, even when the outcome isn’t adoption.
Odin’s story is a reminder of why this work matters. Every day of comfort, safety, and care counts.
Dogs Still Looking For Homes
As the year closes, several incredible dogs are still waiting for their forever families:
- Coco — a loving, loyal companion ready for her next chapter
- Krypto — resilient, playful, and full of personality. We found him with a chain embedded in his neck and severely underweight, now fully healed and a healthy weight
Why We’re Sharing This Now
As business owners approach year-end planning, many are also looking for intentional, values-aligned ways to give back, including tax-deductible contributions that make a real difference.
Both Love Runneth Over and Fields of Freedom are causes where impact is direct, measurable, and deeply human.
If you’re considering charitable giving before year-end, these organizations represent opportunities to support families and save lives literally.
To everyone who donated, volunteered, shared, or supported these causes this year, thank you! This impact belongs to all of us.
Here’s to closing the year with purpose, and carrying that momentum forward.
