Igniting Sparks
Lauren Kolodny: Recipient of the 2025 CoachArt Heart and Humanity Champion Award
“In my work, as a VC, I look for a spark in each of the entrepreneurs that I back. That deep sense of purpose around something greater than yourself. CoachArt ignites and nurtures sparks. In smaller, braver bodies… especially in need of that light.”
This month we celebrated our Co-Founder and Managing Partner Lauren Kolodny as she received the Heart and Humanity Award from CoachArt, a nonprofit that supports children facing serious illness through arts and athletics.
Lauren’s remarks reminded us that sparks of resilience and purpose take many forms: whether in children finding their light through art or entrepreneurs building to solve problems larger than themselves.
It was particularly powerful to hear Chris Britt, CEO & co-founder of Chime, introduce Lauren for this honor, sharing his reflections on the last decade of their partnership and why he believes Lauren is so aligned with this wonderful organization.
Congratulations to CoachArt for hosting an evening of inspiration and to all the young artists and athletes whose demonstrations of courage create light for us all.
Special thanks to Molly Dirr, Jason Rice, Colton Alexio, Chris Kwei, Jennifer Kuperman, Zander Lurie, and the entire Coachart team.
Chris Britt’s Full Intro
“I am so honored tonight to have the privilege to introduce my great friend, Lauren Kolodny. Lauren is one of the earliest investors in my company, Chime, while she was at Aspect Ventures and then later at Acrew, where she is a founding partner. I am forever grateful for the belief that she had in me and my team, and that leap of faith she made improved not only my life and the lives of all of the Chimers that work at our company, but also so many other people who have been impacted by our services over the years.
She played so many roles for us at Chime. She was the CEO advisor, she was a board member, and eventually transitioned to be a board observer. But as anyone who knows Lauren knows, she is anything but an observer. She’s someone who rolls up her sleeves, who engages, who helps with product strategy. There was a period of time where I’m pretty sure she was the head of recruiting for the company for a number of years. She’s always been a trusted voice, a truth teller, insightful, intelligent, but always leading with a huge heart.
A couple of years ago, I was so proud to read that Lauren was first welcomed into the coveted Forbes Midas List. This is sort of the who’s who of VC — for the nerdy VCs out there, this is like their Oscars — honoring the top investors who invested in the best companies. So I’m not saying her investment in Chime sealed the deal for her necessarily, but I’m not not taking some credit for that.
Now that Lauren is an incredibly well-respected investor, she still hasn’t lost sight of what matters most: the talented people behind the scenes who make all these great things happen, like this great team at CoachArt. She doesn’t just invest in companies — she invests in humans, in ideas, and in possibility. She focuses on people and purpose, and that’s something that runs very deeply within her family, who are all here tonight and whom I had the pleasure of meeting. It’s great to meet you all.
In fact, her mother, Martha, started a nonprofit in Peru to support female artisans and help them create sustainable businesses. Creating opportunities for others — this mix of heart and hustle — clearly runs deep in the Kolodny DNA. Lauren lives these values every day and has always stayed grounded. She’s part badass investor, part badass mom to two girls — Bayley, who is here tonight, and Sierra. She’s the mom of Bayley and Sierra, along with her extraordinarily extraordinary husband, Mitch, who I’ve also gotten to know very well over the years.
Somehow, she’s figured out this perfect algorithm — or maybe it’s an AI — that allows her to balance term sheets with toddler tantrums. But somehow, she’s figured it all out, the way we’re all working to figure it out. Along the way, she’s always found ways to give back. In fact, recently she had a number of CoachArt kids and families over to her house, and that’s really who Lauren is. She’s someone who shows up. She doesn’t just give money — she gives her time, her energy, and her spirit.
So tonight, we honor you, Lauren, with the CoachArt 2025 Heart and Humanity Champion Award. We are so grateful to have you, and so I’d love to welcome my good friend, Lauren, up to the stage.”
Lauren’s Speech
“Thank you, Chris. I’m going to start with a disclosure. When you and Chris Kwei told me about this honor, I was surprised. You’re giving the Heart and Humanity Award…to a venture capitalist? In 2025? Bold Move.
But then I remembered why I was compelled by CoachArt — when you first invited me here nine years ago, right after my investment in Chime. I’m drawn to those who see potential in others and help to bring it out.
In a way, that’s my job.
In my work, as a VC, I look for a spark in each of the entrepreneurs that I back — that deep sense of purpose around something greater than yourself
the resilience to keep you going when a rational person would stop
the energy that makes others take a leap alongside of you.
When I met Chris Britt, his spark was unmistakable. A drive to financially empower families like the one he grew up in. To build a bank that didn’t prey on people’s vulnerabilities, but helped them grow financially stronger
That was a bold idea — one that many people said couldn’t be a good business. But Chris’s spark kept burning, and I think it’s safe to say he’s proved them wrong.
Sparks come in many forms and they burn especially bright in service of others. I see that in Molly and the CoachArt team — and I learned it from my mom. For twenty years, my mom, Martha, has run a nonprofit supporting female artisans in the high Peruvian Andes — to build sustainable income and send their kids to school. Quietly. No spotlight. Remarkable impact. A purpose bigger than herself — and she’s exceptionally good at it.
Her work, like Chris’s, reminds me: sparks come in many forms
but they all share the same root: purpose.
That’s why CoachArt resonates. This organization ignites and nurtures sparks — in smaller, braver bodies, especially in need of that light.
Earlier this month, my husband Mitch, and our daughters Bayley and Sierra, and I hosted a backyard event with CoachArt. We spent the afternoon with kids who’ve endured more in a few years than most of us have in our lives. And yet the mood wasn’t heavy — it was joyful. Painting. Soccer. Decorating cupcakes. Kids and their passions aglow.
But what really struck me were “the Ethans.” Two boys from different families and backgrounds — with far more in common than a name. First, five-year-old Ethan Rodriguez, the same age as Bayley. He’s battled leukemia most of his life, and he wanted to talk to me about exactly one thing: drumming.
So Mitch built a trash-can drum set, and our backyard turned into a rock concert. Even if he’d been twice his age, his talent would have floored you.
Pure rhythm. Pure energy. Pure spark.
Then we met nine-year-old Ethan Battogtokh whom you just had the pleasure of hearing play for us here tonight. Can I get another round of applause for Ethan?
Ethan overcame brain cancer — years of surgeries and rehab — With a resilience that humbles me, supported by the love of his truly remarkable family. When Ethan sat at the keyboard, the yard was buzzing with kids;
the moment he began to play, everything focused. In his hands, our dinky starter keyboard became a Steinway at Carnegie Hall.
His spark is palpable.
My best evidence? That night, Bayley practiced piano on her own — more than she had ever before, in aggregate. Ethan’s spark inspired her. To me, the Ethans passions are the purest sparks something to grip when life is uncertain, energy when you’re depleted, a light in the dark.
As a mom, time with these families left me spinning — Feelings of humility, anger at the unfairness, deep inspiration. And then — wow — how lucky I am that my kids are healthy. If that weren’t true, how could anything else matter? And yet here were these families, laughing with Sierra over cupcake decorating gone awry. Seeing them reset my definition of strength.
And CoachArt — CoachArt gives kids like these, kids facing what no child should, the chance to discover or grow a spark — one that makes hard days survivable and good days radiant.
Tonight, as we celebrate their courage and CoachArt’s amazing work, join me in keeping that light burning — Show up for CoachArt so more kids who really need one can find a spark of their own. When we do, we all get to bask in its glow–just as we did with Ethan tonight. Thank you.”