August 13, 2025 • 41 mins
ENCORE - Seeds of Hope w/Laura and Pat Swisher!
Along with David, they share their mission of Providing Upward Mobility Through Education to Deserving Scholars in Our Community to an organization that Marlynn Chadwick founded.
Mentoring young folks who either have ambitions to attend college or trade school, a fantastic ministry!
https://www.seedsscholars.org/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the last Sunday of July. Here on the
David Chadwick Show. David is finishing his sabbatical, so let
us read air a show from a few weeks ago,
topic Seeds of Hope. Let's take a listen right here
on the David Chadwick Show.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hi everyone, I'm David Chadwick and this is News Talk eleven,
ten ninety nine to three WVT. Welcome to the show.
In case you don't know, this is a faith and
values program that I've been doing now for over twenty
five years here on WVT. It's been a pleasure doing
the show, trying to intersect faith and values with issues
that are going on locally and globally. Thank you again, listeners.
(00:41):
Thank you Perry's Fine Jewelry for your sponsorship of the show.
Without you, I could not do this on a weekly basis. Well,
today's show is one I've been looking forward to with
two very special friends who oversee an incredible ministry here
in the Charlotte area that has literally change the lives
(01:02):
of dozens upon dozens upon dozens of teenagers. Their names
are Pat and Laura Swisher. They have been friends for
a long time and I've watched their lives just grow
in the Lord, their children, their grandchildren, all the good
gifts that God has given them, and I appreciate their
friendship more than they'll ever know. So, Pat, Laura, welcome
(01:24):
to the show.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Pat glad to be here.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Laura, thank you so much. I're excited.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, I'm glad you're here because what you've done is
just really incredible. But first of all, Pat, people would
recognize your name a lot because you founded and became
the CEO of a very successful company here in Charlotte.
What is it.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Well, the original one was called Swisher, after my name.
The second company I found it was Enviromaster, which we've
focused on hygiene, restroom hygiene. You may have seen my
name on soap Dispenser's Handtau Dispenser.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
And let's stop there. Pat, when you go to the
bathroom you might see your But you were very successful
and it was a wonderful enterprise, and you and Laura
met and you fell in love and you're now married.
For how long have you been married?
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Twenty eight years?
Speaker 2 (02:15):
No, it can't be twenty eight years. Good. I remember
when we did your wedding and it was just a wonderful,
celebrative event. And we have now seen this company, now Environmentster,
just continue to grow and touch people. It's a national
even international company, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Yes, sir, it's an international company.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Oh wow. So I applaud your success and enjoy so
much seeing that growth happen. But something happened you decided
to retire. But one of my favorite statements is never retire,
just refire. And that's what I've done in my own
life at this age and stage of life. I've started
a new church because I just wanted to pastor. That's
(02:53):
what God helps me do well. And for you, you
have not retired with environment, You've refired, especially in a
direction of ministry. So my wife Marylyn helped found a
ministry long ago called Seeds of Hope. Its purpose was
to give scholarships to kids who were right at that
(03:14):
level of you know, B minus C plus maybe not
being able to go to college. And she discovered that
five thousand dollars per year, twenty thousand dollars over the
lifetime of a gift could literally help a kid go
to college who wouldn't have the chance otherwise. And you're
talking about life changing kind of stuff. But you know,
Marylyn also a mom grandmom, only had some capacity and
(03:38):
she began this ministry. It was successful. But then along
comes Pat and Laura Swisher who say, you know what,
we need to take this to a new level. Pat,
why did this touch your heart so deeply?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Well, there's two things that you can't be taken away
from from a person. One is faith and the other
is an education. And it's my belief that if you
really want to change the world, it's being done through
faith and education. We've seen how this works in the
Charlotte community. These very deserving children are given an opportunity
(04:15):
for the first time in their generation to go to college.
That's probably the first person that's ever been to college
in their family. And it's working miracles, David, it's working miracles.
So what do you think now?
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Laura added to that, if.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
You would please well, you know, David Marilynd's vision that
kicked this off was that God's put a dream in
everyone's heart, right and when they compare that with an
education and faith based mentoring, nothing can stop them. And
so we actually now look at the you would not
believe the students that come to us, and we can
(04:48):
talk about how they get to us, But we really
look at the whole picture, and we've got superstar grades
and then we've got people that their grades may not
be there, but you can see in the interview why
what's going on in their lives. They're having to work
or whatever it may be, and they they just come
(05:08):
to us in all different ways. And it's been a
blessing to come alongside students in all places as they're graduating.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
So a part of the two. The amazing thing is
it's just five thousand per year that often keeps these
kids from going to college. They get everything in order,
they get right to the edge, but the final five
thousand dollars per year is what stops them from being
able to go. And Pat we've discovered that that five
thousand dollars is what pushes them over the edge. Twenty
(05:35):
thousand dollars over four years.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
That's correct, David. It's the little things. But Seats of
Hope is a stop gap. It's to make things come
together to enable these kids to go to college. And
when they get an education, they come back, they give
to the community, and that's what we're looking for. They
stay out of trouble and sees a hope. It's not
just providing money, it's providing a community for these children.
(05:59):
We have. We have all kinds of community services, things
we do together that supports those kids and gets them
through college with what they need. Not just money, it's mentoring.
It's other things that they need as well.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
And the ones who have graduated from college who stay
local actually often become mentors to the next generation of
kids who get the scholarships.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Absolutely, we have two board members that are former students,
so yes, you're right.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
And Laura, you've seen the life change having you. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Their wisdom is invaluable from our alumni because they are
it's so funny. They are really floored by expecting just
to get their tuition sent and having the community that
we provide.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
The whole beauty of it is, though, listeners, we have
literally dozens upon dozens of kids in our community that
had no hope but now have hope through an organization
called Seeds of Hope that's giving them the chance to
go to college get the education hath that can ever
be taken away from them. I'm David Chadwick and we
will be right back.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
Christ Is my phone founda the rock sad everything round
me say.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
I'm never being.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
I put my faith in Jesus.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Because he's not.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Me.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
It's faithful to Janation.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
We are all building a foundation in our lives right now.
The question is what kind of foundation are we building?
And when it's on Jesus, it's secure and and eternal.
However you one. I'm David Shadwick and this is News
Talk eleven, ten ninety nine three WBT. Welcome back to
the show. My guest today Pat and Laura Swisher, longtime
Charlotte Teans married obviously with children, grandchildren, but they have
(09:15):
helped found an organization called Seeds of Hope. It is
a scholarship initiative for the purpose of giving kids who
might not have the chance to go to college a
five thousand dollars per year gift over four years obviously
twenty thousand dollars, which we've discovered over the years of
doing this that we have changed the lives of multiple
(09:36):
kids here. I remember going to receive a Brazil one
time years ago with Maryland and we talk with a
lady there by the name of rosalio Asis, and she'd
started a huge school there to take kids out of
the Flavella and give them an education and then give
them hope. She said to us, And I'll never forget this.
If you can just put Jesus in their hearts and
(09:57):
a good education in their minds, you will chan change
their lives forever. Well, that kind of statement has been
what has led Maryland to me to do different kinds
of things. This year, Maryland starts Seeds of Hope some
many years ago, and then Pat and Laura coming alongside
her and taking it now to a new level. Laura,
let me start here. How in the world do you
(10:19):
find these kids who are worthy of these Seeds of
Hope scholarships we actually call them Seeds scholars How does
that happen?
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Well, as you know, David, there's a lot of good
going on in our city, and Moments of Hope Church,
which you oversee, has found these partnerships with these nonprofits
that are working with students in a faith based way
and their families. So when they have a student they've
walked with that they've seen something in that has a
dream of going to college, they connect them with us
(10:52):
to interview and it is just unbelievable to see because
if that partner or a local teacher, we have a
Charlotte High School partnership as well, and some local high
school relationships we're building. But they see something in these students,
They know them, they believe in them. They bring them
to us with the hope of them going on. Well,
(11:13):
and it's also trade school. Now we've expanded and we're
trying to really expand on the trade route.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Well, that's obviously something our president is emphasizing right now.
Go to college, have a huge debt, you don't have
a job afterwards, And he's saying, wait, a second trade school,
less expensive, no debt, and you've got a job that
can probably give you maybe even one hundred thousand dollars
a year, like as a plumber, electrician, et cetera. So
that's something else I know you guys have expanded toward
(11:38):
and include now in that ministry. Had any thoughts from
you on that.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Oh, absolutely, try to go get something done at your house,
get a plumber, electrician, or any of that. So, yeah,
these kids can go to trade schools now. It's something
we've really been working on and it's really expanded what
we're doing as seats of hope to get these people
into the trades and get them licensed and we're starting
(12:05):
to look at and I think we were talking once before,
we can't expand too quickly to outgrow our ability to
support these kids.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Outpunt your coverage people. Pat played football at Appalachian State,
so I had to use a football analogy for you. Pat.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Yeah, OutKick your coverage, as they say. So we're really
starting to look towards corporate sponsorships to work with companies
to help feed technical people to them to help them
grow their business. But that's the way we're looking at it,
and I think it's this is they say in corporate world,
(12:43):
this is a scalable model, and it's really we can't
OutKick our coverage. But we're looking to expand really into
the trades and into the trade schools and to get
support from the community from people who run construction companies,
who people who have automobile dealerships. Those are the kind
of people that need plumbers, they need electricians, they need
(13:05):
automotive mechanics, and we can help them not only interview,
but get these people licensed, to get them through school
and build a relationship during that period of time with
the corporate sponsor and.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Get a job, which is so important to be able
to be successful and have upward mobility in life. And
Laura the City of Hope that we've helped form through
our church, Moments of Hope Church, and notice that theme
of hope. We want to give hope to people. Seven
different vulnerable communities have coalesced together. They formed a five
one C three together. They're now called City of Hope. Now,
(13:40):
anybody wants to give donations to that can and actually,
our annual money that we raise here to help either
kids or western North Carolina that we did last year
was through City of Hope. Those seven partners. Those different
partners help identify kids who may need a scholarship help
and then they come to you and to your committee
(14:01):
and then they actually interview these kids. Talk about that
process that next happens well.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
As Pat said, we're all volunteer. That's why we are
having to grow just word of mouth, and it's been
really beautiful in the community. We used to give three
to four scholarships, and by God's grace and the generosity
and word of mouth and people will believe in our
cause shining the light of Jesus on college campuses. We
gave twenty six scholarships this year.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Wow, just this year, just.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
In twenty twenty five, and that is just truly unbelievable.
So the City of Hope partners, they even have sat
in on interviews. They obviously don't interview students that they recommended,
but just to see that once their students get a
Seed of Hope scholarship and David, the majority graduate debt free.
(14:51):
If you're a Seeds of Hope scholar and you've gotten
you know, they get money other places because they're already
amazing leaders.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
I want to emphasize that again, please Lauren. Yes, they
graduate debt free. They don't have that looming debt hanging
over their heads as they enter into life.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
And we also have a ninety eight percent graduation rate.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Ninety eight percent, yes we do.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
And it's the community. They came from, a community. They've
still got the support of their nonprofit from City of Hope.
Then they come into the Seeds of Hope, so they've
got double support with us, and we still partner with
all of those partners. So they're really surrounded. Their parents
are in tears of gratitude. It is truly a family
that sticks together. As you said to, alumni are on
(15:36):
our board, so we stay with them. We give baby showers,
we give wedding showers. It is a lifelong when you're
following Jesus and you're in community together, you're not going
to part ways when you graduate college, right.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
And that's one of the pieces of the secret sauce
again that makes Seeds of Hope so successful is these
kids come together, they stay together. And one of the
things I love too is talk a second pat about
them mentors who come alongside the kids as well. You've
recruited people who walk with these kids during their four
years of college.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Yeah, we really don't have to recruit them. They volunteer, really,
and we have people that just their heart is to
support these kids and mentor these kids. So we start
when they're still in high school and we marry them
with a mentor to go all the way through college.
And it's wonderful to see these people work together, giving
(16:30):
these kids advice, keeping them on track, making sure they're focused.
And I think that's why we have a ninety eight
percent graduation way. It's the support in their own words,
in the student's own words. It's a community and they
really value the support we give them. Care packages as
(16:51):
we call it, We send it to them just like
you would your.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Own food and clothes, clothings.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Like bedding and all those kinds of things you need
in college, and it's really working. Wonders well.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
I think of my friend Brian Henderson, who walked with Dominique,
who was not able to go to college, but we
came alongside him, gave him the gift. He then went
to Liberty and had extraordinary success, and Brian just walked
with him every single year until his ultimate graduation, which
I just find so meaningful. And they keep that friendship
now even today, alive because of those four years. Laura
(17:25):
some thoughts on this as well, before we take another break.
Speaker 4 (17:29):
You know, I've been really so humbled by our City
of Hope leaders. We have an executive director of a
nonprofit in Charlotte, as busy as he is, he mentors
to males. We do a male mentor for a male female,
and he is running this amazing you would know it
across Charlotte organization. But he's yet saying I saw in
(17:52):
the interview the potential of these young men, and I
have something to offer in their lives. So that is
so humbling to us to see the way the mentorship
works out. They go to dinner when they're in Charlotte,
if they're away at college. So it's just really amazing
the way that mentorship is working.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Well.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
I want to talk when we come back from our
break about what are the qualities you look for in
a kid? What are the criteria for the awarding of
the scholarship. And I know my own son, David actually
was asked to be an interviewer, and he's a very
busy guy, a CEO of an entrepreneurial startup company, but
he was so moved by the first interview night he
(18:31):
actually came to you guys and said, I want to
do it again. Let's talk about that when we come back.
I'm David Shadwick. Will be back in a moment.
Speaker 5 (19:59):
KO need over, you're full in need clos.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Well show here surround me, You give me, God gives
us hope. It's what the theme of today's show is
all about. Y'all making me hi everyone, I'm David Chadwick
and this is News Talk eleven, ten ninety nine three WBT.
(20:30):
Welcome back to this show, a show about hope, talking
about Seeds of Hope scholarship program that's here, local folks,
you may not have heard about it, but we have
this year given twenty six scholarships to different kids all
throughout our community who were at that level, maybe wondering
if they could go to college or not, and this
is the boost they needed to go to college. Ninety
(20:51):
eight percent graduation rate over the last years of this
program's development, it's just been fun to watch. Laura and
Pat Swisher are studio with me today. Laura and Pat
have helped move this to a new level of success.
We're so thankful for you guys. Pat's the high visionary
at the top, trying to make sure everything works out well.
Laura's the more I'm gonna hug, yell a lot and
(21:12):
make sure this works well too. So Laura, let me
come back to you the interview process and we look
at the interviews that occur with these kids. What are
the kinds of things you're looking for in the kids
to help award a scholarship to them. And again, for
those just jumping on right now, we have a four
year program five thousand per year, twenty thousand dollars scholarship.
(21:33):
But what we've discovered is that five thousand per year
is often the impetus that allows these kids to go
to college. But what are you looking for in the kids?
Speaker 4 (21:42):
Well, honestly, David, it starts with who sends them to us,
because someone has believed in them to give them that
scholarship application. So someone saw something in them, knows about
seeds of hope, which that's important for today for people
to know about seeds of hope.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
And that's one of the reasons you guys are on
this show today to tell the community about this wonderful ministry.
Speaker 4 (22:02):
Yes, and I love it because we're starting to get
teachers now that are sending students and they know they're
with them every day. So it's been really beautiful. But
our application is pretty simple. It is a from the
heart essay. We ask them what dreamed in their heart?
What do they feel like they were made to do?
What's just it wasn't their life that they thought, Ooh,
(22:23):
I'm made to do this. We do ask about We say,
tell us about God, Who's God to you? You know
that we're faith based. We're very open about that, and
they don't have to have the perfect answer. They they're teenagers,
so were we. We're all figuring it out. But they're
on their path. They we talk about their grades and
(22:45):
and but it is the application process is literally the
essay there where they want to go to school, what
they expect their expenses to be, as well as their
financial need.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
And there's a dream Catcher award or what in the
world is that?
Speaker 4 (23:01):
Well, you know some kids may not be four year bound.
You know they may need to do you can take
technical classes. Charlotte offers a lot of things, especially in healthcare.
So we found that we have also a five thousand
dollars scholarship that's for twenty five hundred dollars a year
that CPC. They can get so much at CPCC and
(23:24):
some of the other local But the dream Catcher is
just someone that we say, look, we only have this
amount of money to give. We see something in you.
We want to encourage you with this one thousand dollars.
Everything goes straight to a school. We never write checks
two people, so we give when you are ready to
take a class, whatever that may be, we will send
(23:45):
this thousand dollars on your behalf.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Wow. So that then allows the kids not to have
to worry about getting the check, depositing the check, writing
the check to the school. They don't have to worry
about that it's all taken care of by you for
them and pad As you've watched this thing grow, what
would be your dream for the next level?
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Well, I think it was five years ago that Laura
and I started getting involved. And at time we got involved,
we had what twelve twelve students. This fall, we'll have
sixty three students.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
All together, all together. Wow.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
And my vision of it is it's a scalable model
that we can continue to grow as long as we
have the corporate support, the support of the community, and
the volunteers to keep up with it. And we are
changing Charlotte. We have sixty three college educated students coming
(24:46):
back to this community in the near future that are
God based oriented people.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Well, years ago, we had the Opportunity Task Force that
was formed to look at Charlotte and why there was
not much upward mobility in our city. One of the
things that was concluded is we had to find ways
to get kids a college education. There's a study think
tank out of Washington, DC that said, if you're going
to have upper mobility, you've got to graduate from high school.
(25:13):
You've got to then get married and then have children.
And that's the most knowable key to success for upper mobility. Well, Pat,
we talked about this just the other day. If you
then say, okay, graduate from high school and college, then
get married, then have children, you're talking about upper mobility
on steroids. You're talking about great success that can occur,
(25:33):
and that's what you guys are trying to do.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Absolutely, it's one of those things. It cannot be taken
away from you. Yeah, my son just graduated from college
and I tell him, Hey, this can never be taken
away from you, just like your faith. So we're just
real excited about what's going on. We're an all volunteer organization.
We can use donations, help anything you can give us
(25:57):
because we can continue to grow this and change our
city in a positive way through upward mobility.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
As you talk about, okay, let's talk about just the
practical things people could do. They're listeners right now going
that that's a cool ministry. You know, ed Billikhu's my producer,
is listening to this right now, going gosh, how can
I get involved? There are practical things people can do, Pat,
what are they?
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Then?
Speaker 2 (26:18):
War, I'm going to come to you and ask you
the same thing.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Mentorship. We love to marry our students with a mentor
that's going to walk with them through the remainder of
high school and college and once they get out, helping
them get a job. That's that's very important, and that's
forming that community that we talk about. Of course, donations,
(26:43):
you're a.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Five O, one C three people can make that donation.
It's not taxable in common.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
And we're one hundred percent volunteer. Uh so it goes
all to growing the students.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
May I emphasize that again one hundred percent of the
financial donations go to the ministry and not to administrative costs.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Well, we have some accounting costs and some overheads such
as websites and such, but there's nobody on salary.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Okay, good, and that's where most of the expenses occur
in any organization for sure.
Speaker 5 (27:12):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
So, Laura, as you think about this as well, you
have listeners out there, and from your standpoint of being
more hands on with the kids, actually, what more can
be done by those who might want to get involved?
Speaker 4 (27:24):
Well, thanks for asking. That's exciting. One beautiful thing this
year is we have someone offer a free financial course.
What does God say about your finances? Through Moments of
Hope Church, our scholars could jump on when we ask them.
We do a mentor Monday, so someone listening might have
something they want to share on mentor Monday. All the
scholars log on and we teach them. They ask about faith,
(27:46):
they choose the topic. They definitely always ask about finances,
so that financial class was really important. But you know,
we had a Casey Construction gave three scholarships full scholarships
because so believe in a student going into the electrical
or the construction field. You can you can sponsor a
student that's in your field. You may have college guidance,
(28:09):
advice or college connections. We are in twenty eight colleges
right now, so sixty three students are just this year
in school, but you know one hundred, you know, we've
had many graduate. So we had someone donate dorm betting
this year for every new student mood design. That was
huge for us. That was such a relief for them
(28:31):
and so exciting and it was beautiful stuff. So you
can't underestimate social capital. Of course, donations, it's seeds scholars
dot org.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
People can give online money seed scholars dot org. That's right.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
We take stock donations, you know, anything, But really internships
We love any hands on experience. We have a lot
of nursing students all kinds of hands on experience or
professional experience. If they want to share it doesn't have
to be in person. We can do zoom with them
(29:08):
being away. We do Tako Tuesday in the community for
our UNCC and CPCC students and our local students in
health care like Carolina's Health. So it's a community and
everyone has something to add our prayers. We have women
from that just write scripture and encourage them. And our
students will send me a picture of a thank you
(29:28):
note with just a Valentine's Day card that had encouragement
to them. When you're away from home and you get
mail and it's faith based, it's encouraging to them. They
love that. So anything and everything we are grateful for
and blown away already that this has truly been word
(29:49):
of mouth.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
Well, if anybody just wants to maybe talk to you
guys and have more information, Laura, how would they do that?
Speaker 4 (29:58):
Well, definitely the website. You can contact us. Yeah, and
I just want to be clear because it's too us
as its seeds scholars dot.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Org see d S scholars plural s c h O
l A R. S dot Org.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
Okay, can I want to say a special thank you
today to our teachers. We see you, we see your
love for your students, and thank you well.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
Teachers are essential and those who are involved in this
make it especially wonderful and beautiful, and we're just so
grateful for what you guys are doing. We have one
more segment that we have to talk about this ministry,
and greater depth that we will do, but I just
personally want to thank both of you for what you
have done, the hours you have spent, the lives you
have invested in, and the lives you have changed. I
(30:45):
have no doubt that in eternity you're going to hear
a well done, my good and faithful servant, from our
Lord who created you, who helped instill within you this
heart for these kids. I'm David Chadwick will be right back.
Speaker 5 (31:46):
When life has got you going strong, hom then all
of a sudden things are wrong. We tend to stumble
day to day. He wanted to win, will be okay.
Times on. We have to just push through whom and
(32:07):
see the Latin ahead of you him. When we reach
the finish Hie, we will stand up been program.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
Pick me up with.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
That's my friend Parker Robinson who leads worship at Moments
of Hope Church and helps bring joy to so many
people's hearts with his music. Hi everyone, I'm David Chadwick
and this is News Talk eleven ten ninety nine three
WBT and if you'd like to hear this program in
its entirety with Pat and Laura Swisher talking about this
(32:42):
wonderful ministry they help oversee called Seeds of Hope, a
scholarship ministry. Sixty three kids have graduated and are now
in the community in the world because they were given
an education five thousand dollars per year over four years,
twenty thousand dollars has changed lives like you can't even
begin to know. Well, if you'd like to hear this
program in its entirety, scroll down to the weekend shows
(33:05):
look for the David Chadwick Show and you can hear
it from beginning to end in its entirety and hopefully
motivate you to get involved a bit, because this is
something that really is life changing. Pat Swisher, you know
you have a successful company. You helped found it here
in Charlotte Environmaster. It is a beautiful company, so successful.
Yet now at this stage of your life, in your
(33:25):
supposed retirement, you are refiring to give people life and hope.
What has this ministry done to your heart?
Speaker 3 (33:33):
Well? I kind of chuckle because people think I'm a
hardcore type business guy. I can't do the interviews because
I want to give everybody a scholarship.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
So this huge swiss Or heart.
Speaker 3 (33:46):
Yes, And I knew that coming into this. We were
looking for ways to give into the community. And it
was until we talked to you in Maryland and we said,
that's it. That is it. That's what's missing is getting
these very deserving children on education, something that can't be
(34:08):
taken away from them. That all of our scholars, I
will say probably ninety nine percent of our scholars they're
the first person in their family that's ever gone to college.
Speaker 5 (34:19):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
And breaking that cycle of breaking poverty and allowing upper
mobility to occur through education, correct.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
And that was the thing in my heart that was missing.
And when I talked to Maryland and saw what you
guys had started, it was just a natural thing I
gravitated to and wanted to be involved in. And I
happened to have the perfect wife here that is the
touchy feely type that has done a great job. She's
(34:49):
the one running this thing. I'm there for advice and
of course to mentor and do whatever I have to do.
But she's the one with the heart that really has
been driving this thing behind the scene.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Well, I know, Laura, you and my wife Marilyn are
great friends, and she admires and respects you so much.
Marilyn is a fire starter, if you will. She loves
to get things going. She is not as good as
keeping things going, which is like us CEO dreamer types, right, Pat,
and she then talked to you, excuse me, and you
were the one that came alongside her and said I'd
(35:21):
like to take over this thing and move it to
a different place. She was ready for that to happen,
and you stepped into that place.
Speaker 4 (35:27):
Well, it was funny. She had some amazing people in place,
because Marilyn, you know, she's everywhere. She's pulled in so
many good things that she's doing. So she had some
amazing ladies, but everyone had really big full time jobs.
So when Pat and I joined as volunteers and just
really over the years, got involved, one of her leaders
(35:48):
came to me and said, Laura, Jesus told me that
you are to take over in January twenty twenty three,
and I said, wait, he didn't tell me that I'm
going to go. But you know, Marylyn makes time. We
run by her as the founder a lot of things
for her wisdom at a high level. She doesn't really
get involved.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
In the days very wise.
Speaker 4 (36:07):
She is so wise, and we work to honor her
vision with seeds of hope and we always and that's
why it was such a blessing. Your son dB David
Banner was on the interview team this year. He said,
I have always been around it with my mom being
the founder, but I've never looked under the hood, and
I don't want to. I want to do this again
next year. I don't want to miss out. This is unbelievable,
(36:28):
which was encouragement to me, you know. So we've just
really worked to honor your wife's vision.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
Well.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
She has been so honored to work with you as well.
And let's end the program with a way that I
think is important. And if somebody wants to get involved,
they can give financially, they can give of their time,
they can help mentor these kids a lot of different possibilities.
If they want to get involved, they can contact you
through seedsscholars dot org, se DS Scholars, Oral S, C
(37:00):
H O, l A r S dot org and you
can find ways to get them to work, can't Laura, Yeah,
for sure.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
We have a little small Instagram. It's just fun. We
post things about scholars. I think it's Seeds of Hope
dot NC on Instagram. And we are grateful for anything
and everything that is going to strengthen the community for
students in college and walking with them, whether it's a
material blessing or a an expertise, a social capital and optunity,
(37:33):
an opportunity, you know, And I want to tell you
we think we're giving you will not believe. These students
are humbling me. Every day when I get on a
call with them, I am in tears of gratitude for
what they pour into me. So that's what I would
tell someone thinking about getting involved, is we are just
(37:54):
coming alongside, holding onto the coattails of a future. These
people are leaders. They just need the financial boost because
college is expensive, but they are on their way with
God's help and a little support.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Well, you find yourself in losing yourself in something greater
than yourself. People who tell me all the time, I'm
depressed and I'm discouraged, Well, go give your life away,
Go find somebody who needs help, and you'll find your
life when you give your life for something greater than
your own life. And that's what you guys are experiencing. Pat.
Let's not under emphasize the importance of money that this
(38:29):
helps kids go to college. And this year you've had
almost three hundred thousand dollars given for these scholarships. But
if people want to give money, let's not underestimate that importance.
Speaker 3 (38:41):
Absolutely, money is necessary to get them in college, and
it's what we need to scale and affect more kids' lives.
We can have all the desire in the world we want,
but that college needs tuition.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
And maybe there's a CEO right now, they're out listening
right now who says I want to be a corporate
sponsor and they can do so, can't they?
Speaker 3 (39:04):
Absolutely contact us. We will work with you and design
if you need people coming into your organization like mechanics
or carpenters or electricians, we can design a program so
that you're getting these people coming to you that you're funding, but.
Speaker 2 (39:24):
You'll take the funding. If that's a loan that's given,
you'll accept that right absolutely. Whether this do you need
money to keep things moving forward? Laura, I think Pastor.
Speaker 4 (39:34):
Ken Gilliard from a Better World said that this is
a movement to shine light on our college campuses, which
we believe is needed. You're not only given education, you
are placing a student that loves Jesus. And we've had
them hold their own Bible studies on their dorm floors
and lead others to Christ. So it is a whole
picture of Christ followers shining light on college.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
Campuses, and the desire is a movement that will expand
and grow to capacity scalable, but something that will impact
hundreds upon hundreds of students in the years to come.
Pat Swisher, Laura Swisher, thank you so much for being
on the show today. God bless you, bless your ministry,
and may He expand and grow your heart for helping
other people for Jesus glory. Thanks a lot, guys, Thank you, David, everyone,
(40:20):
thank you for listening today. And could you do this
for me? Love God with all your heart's soul, mind
and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. If you
do those two things you have a lifetime's worth of
work to do. I'm David Chadwick. This is News Talk eleven,
ten ninety nine to three WBT, trying to help this
community be all that it can be. To God alone
(40:40):
belongs all of the glory. Thank you for listening today
and I will look forward to talking with you all
next week where
Welcome to the last Sunday of July. Here on the
David Chadwick Show. David is finishing his sabbatical, so let
us read air a show from a few weeks ago,
topic Seeds of Hope. Let's take a listen right here
on the David Chadwick Show.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hi everyone, I'm David Chadwick and this is News Talk eleven,
ten ninety nine to three WVT. Welcome to the show.
In case you don't know, this is a faith and
values program that I've been doing now for over twenty
five years here on WVT. It's been a pleasure doing
the show, trying to intersect faith and values with issues
that are going on locally and globally. Thank you again, listeners.
(00:41):
Thank you Perry's Fine Jewelry for your sponsorship of the show.
Without you, I could not do this on a weekly basis. Well,
today's show is one I've been looking forward to with
two very special friends who oversee an incredible ministry here
in the Charlotte area that has literally change the lives
(01:02):
of dozens upon dozens upon dozens of teenagers. Their names
are Pat and Laura Swisher. They have been friends for
a long time and I've watched their lives just grow
in the Lord, their children, their grandchildren, all the good
gifts that God has given them, and I appreciate their
friendship more than they'll ever know. So, Pat, Laura, welcome
(01:24):
to the show.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Pat glad to be here.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Laura, thank you so much. I're excited.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, I'm glad you're here because what you've done is
just really incredible. But first of all, Pat, people would
recognize your name a lot because you founded and became
the CEO of a very successful company here in Charlotte.
What is it.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Well, the original one was called Swisher, after my name.
The second company I found it was Enviromaster, which we've
focused on hygiene, restroom hygiene. You may have seen my
name on soap Dispenser's Handtau Dispenser.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
And let's stop there. Pat, when you go to the
bathroom you might see your But you were very successful
and it was a wonderful enterprise, and you and Laura
met and you fell in love and you're now married.
For how long have you been married?
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Twenty eight years?
Speaker 2 (02:15):
No, it can't be twenty eight years. Good. I remember
when we did your wedding and it was just a wonderful,
celebrative event. And we have now seen this company, now Environmentster,
just continue to grow and touch people. It's a national
even international company, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Yes, sir, it's an international company.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Oh wow. So I applaud your success and enjoy so
much seeing that growth happen. But something happened you decided
to retire. But one of my favorite statements is never retire,
just refire. And that's what I've done in my own
life at this age and stage of life. I've started
a new church because I just wanted to pastor. That's
(02:53):
what God helps me do well. And for you, you
have not retired with environment, You've refired, especially in a
direction of ministry. So my wife Marylyn helped found a
ministry long ago called Seeds of Hope. Its purpose was
to give scholarships to kids who were right at that
(03:14):
level of you know, B minus C plus maybe not
being able to go to college. And she discovered that
five thousand dollars per year, twenty thousand dollars over the
lifetime of a gift could literally help a kid go
to college who wouldn't have the chance otherwise. And you're
talking about life changing kind of stuff. But you know,
Marylyn also a mom grandmom, only had some capacity and
(03:38):
she began this ministry. It was successful. But then along
comes Pat and Laura Swisher who say, you know what,
we need to take this to a new level. Pat,
why did this touch your heart so deeply?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Well, there's two things that you can't be taken away
from from a person. One is faith and the other
is an education. And it's my belief that if you
really want to change the world, it's being done through
faith and education. We've seen how this works in the
Charlotte community. These very deserving children are given an opportunity
(04:15):
for the first time in their generation to go to college.
That's probably the first person that's ever been to college
in their family. And it's working miracles, David, it's working miracles.
So what do you think now?
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Laura added to that, if.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
You would please well, you know, David Marilynd's vision that
kicked this off was that God's put a dream in
everyone's heart, right and when they compare that with an
education and faith based mentoring, nothing can stop them. And
so we actually now look at the you would not
believe the students that come to us, and we can
(04:48):
talk about how they get to us, But we really
look at the whole picture, and we've got superstar grades
and then we've got people that their grades may not
be there, but you can see in the interview why
what's going on in their lives. They're having to work
or whatever it may be, and they they just come
(05:08):
to us in all different ways. And it's been a
blessing to come alongside students in all places as they're graduating.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
So a part of the two. The amazing thing is
it's just five thousand per year that often keeps these
kids from going to college. They get everything in order,
they get right to the edge, but the final five
thousand dollars per year is what stops them from being
able to go. And Pat we've discovered that that five
thousand dollars is what pushes them over the edge. Twenty
(05:35):
thousand dollars over four years.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
That's correct, David. It's the little things. But Seats of
Hope is a stop gap. It's to make things come
together to enable these kids to go to college. And
when they get an education, they come back, they give
to the community, and that's what we're looking for. They
stay out of trouble and sees a hope. It's not
just providing money, it's providing a community for these children.
(05:59):
We have. We have all kinds of community services, things
we do together that supports those kids and gets them
through college with what they need. Not just money, it's mentoring.
It's other things that they need as well.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
And the ones who have graduated from college who stay
local actually often become mentors to the next generation of
kids who get the scholarships.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Absolutely, we have two board members that are former students,
so yes, you're right.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
And Laura, you've seen the life change having you. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Their wisdom is invaluable from our alumni because they are
it's so funny. They are really floored by expecting just
to get their tuition sent and having the community that
we provide.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
The whole beauty of it is, though, listeners, we have
literally dozens upon dozens of kids in our community that
had no hope but now have hope through an organization
called Seeds of Hope that's giving them the chance to
go to college get the education hath that can ever
be taken away from them. I'm David Chadwick and we
will be right back.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
Christ Is my phone founda the rock sad everything round
me say.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
I'm never being.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
I put my faith in Jesus.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Because he's not.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Me.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
It's faithful to Janation.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
We are all building a foundation in our lives right now.
The question is what kind of foundation are we building?
And when it's on Jesus, it's secure and and eternal.
However you one. I'm David Shadwick and this is News
Talk eleven, ten ninety nine three WBT. Welcome back to
the show. My guest today Pat and Laura Swisher, longtime
Charlotte Teans married obviously with children, grandchildren, but they have
(09:15):
helped found an organization called Seeds of Hope. It is
a scholarship initiative for the purpose of giving kids who
might not have the chance to go to college a
five thousand dollars per year gift over four years obviously
twenty thousand dollars, which we've discovered over the years of
doing this that we have changed the lives of multiple
(09:36):
kids here. I remember going to receive a Brazil one
time years ago with Maryland and we talk with a
lady there by the name of rosalio Asis, and she'd
started a huge school there to take kids out of
the Flavella and give them an education and then give
them hope. She said to us, And I'll never forget this.
If you can just put Jesus in their hearts and
(09:57):
a good education in their minds, you will chan change
their lives forever. Well, that kind of statement has been
what has led Maryland to me to do different kinds
of things. This year, Maryland starts Seeds of Hope some
many years ago, and then Pat and Laura coming alongside
her and taking it now to a new level. Laura,
let me start here. How in the world do you
(10:19):
find these kids who are worthy of these Seeds of
Hope scholarships we actually call them Seeds scholars How does
that happen?
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Well, as you know, David, there's a lot of good
going on in our city, and Moments of Hope Church,
which you oversee, has found these partnerships with these nonprofits
that are working with students in a faith based way
and their families. So when they have a student they've
walked with that they've seen something in that has a
dream of going to college, they connect them with us
(10:52):
to interview and it is just unbelievable to see because
if that partner or a local teacher, we have a
Charlotte High School partnership as well, and some local high
school relationships we're building. But they see something in these students,
They know them, they believe in them. They bring them
to us with the hope of them going on. Well,
(11:13):
and it's also trade school. Now we've expanded and we're
trying to really expand on the trade route.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Well, that's obviously something our president is emphasizing right now.
Go to college, have a huge debt, you don't have
a job afterwards, And he's saying, wait, a second trade school,
less expensive, no debt, and you've got a job that
can probably give you maybe even one hundred thousand dollars
a year, like as a plumber, electrician, et cetera. So
that's something else I know you guys have expanded toward
(11:38):
and include now in that ministry. Had any thoughts from
you on that.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Oh, absolutely, try to go get something done at your house,
get a plumber, electrician, or any of that. So, yeah,
these kids can go to trade schools now. It's something
we've really been working on and it's really expanded what
we're doing as seats of hope to get these people
into the trades and get them licensed and we're starting
(12:05):
to look at and I think we were talking once before,
we can't expand too quickly to outgrow our ability to
support these kids.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Outpunt your coverage people. Pat played football at Appalachian State,
so I had to use a football analogy for you. Pat.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
Yeah, OutKick your coverage, as they say. So we're really
starting to look towards corporate sponsorships to work with companies
to help feed technical people to them to help them
grow their business. But that's the way we're looking at it,
and I think it's this is they say in corporate world,
(12:43):
this is a scalable model, and it's really we can't
OutKick our coverage. But we're looking to expand really into
the trades and into the trade schools and to get
support from the community from people who run construction companies,
who people who have automobile dealerships. Those are the kind
of people that need plumbers, they need electricians, they need
(13:05):
automotive mechanics, and we can help them not only interview,
but get these people licensed, to get them through school
and build a relationship during that period of time with
the corporate sponsor and.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Get a job, which is so important to be able
to be successful and have upward mobility in life. And
Laura the City of Hope that we've helped form through
our church, Moments of Hope Church, and notice that theme
of hope. We want to give hope to people. Seven
different vulnerable communities have coalesced together. They formed a five
one C three together. They're now called City of Hope. Now,
(13:40):
anybody wants to give donations to that can and actually,
our annual money that we raise here to help either
kids or western North Carolina that we did last year
was through City of Hope. Those seven partners. Those different
partners help identify kids who may need a scholarship help
and then they come to you and to your committee
(14:01):
and then they actually interview these kids. Talk about that
process that next happens well.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
As Pat said, we're all volunteer. That's why we are
having to grow just word of mouth, and it's been
really beautiful in the community. We used to give three
to four scholarships, and by God's grace and the generosity
and word of mouth and people will believe in our
cause shining the light of Jesus on college campuses. We
gave twenty six scholarships this year.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Wow, just this year, just.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
In twenty twenty five, and that is just truly unbelievable.
So the City of Hope partners, they even have sat
in on interviews. They obviously don't interview students that they recommended,
but just to see that once their students get a
Seed of Hope scholarship and David, the majority graduate debt free.
(14:51):
If you're a Seeds of Hope scholar and you've gotten
you know, they get money other places because they're already
amazing leaders.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
I want to emphasize that again, please Lauren. Yes, they
graduate debt free. They don't have that looming debt hanging
over their heads as they enter into life.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
And we also have a ninety eight percent graduation rate.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Ninety eight percent, yes we do.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
And it's the community. They came from, a community. They've
still got the support of their nonprofit from City of Hope.
Then they come into the Seeds of Hope, so they've
got double support with us, and we still partner with
all of those partners. So they're really surrounded. Their parents
are in tears of gratitude. It is truly a family
that sticks together. As you said to, alumni are on
(15:36):
our board, so we stay with them. We give baby showers,
we give wedding showers. It is a lifelong when you're
following Jesus and you're in community together, you're not going
to part ways when you graduate college, right.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
And that's one of the pieces of the secret sauce
again that makes Seeds of Hope so successful is these
kids come together, they stay together. And one of the
things I love too is talk a second pat about
them mentors who come alongside the kids as well. You've
recruited people who walk with these kids during their four
years of college.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Yeah, we really don't have to recruit them. They volunteer, really,
and we have people that just their heart is to
support these kids and mentor these kids. So we start
when they're still in high school and we marry them
with a mentor to go all the way through college.
And it's wonderful to see these people work together, giving
(16:30):
these kids advice, keeping them on track, making sure they're focused.
And I think that's why we have a ninety eight
percent graduation way. It's the support in their own words,
in the student's own words. It's a community and they
really value the support we give them. Care packages as
(16:51):
we call it, We send it to them just like
you would your.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Own food and clothes, clothings.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Like bedding and all those kinds of things you need
in college, and it's really working. Wonders well.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
I think of my friend Brian Henderson, who walked with Dominique,
who was not able to go to college, but we
came alongside him, gave him the gift. He then went
to Liberty and had extraordinary success, and Brian just walked
with him every single year until his ultimate graduation, which
I just find so meaningful. And they keep that friendship
now even today, alive because of those four years. Laura
(17:25):
some thoughts on this as well, before we take another break.
Speaker 4 (17:29):
You know, I've been really so humbled by our City
of Hope leaders. We have an executive director of a
nonprofit in Charlotte, as busy as he is, he mentors
to males. We do a male mentor for a male female,
and he is running this amazing you would know it
across Charlotte organization. But he's yet saying I saw in
(17:52):
the interview the potential of these young men, and I
have something to offer in their lives. So that is
so humbling to us to see the way the mentorship
works out. They go to dinner when they're in Charlotte,
if they're away at college. So it's just really amazing
the way that mentorship is working.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Well.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
I want to talk when we come back from our
break about what are the qualities you look for in
a kid? What are the criteria for the awarding of
the scholarship. And I know my own son, David actually
was asked to be an interviewer, and he's a very
busy guy, a CEO of an entrepreneurial startup company, but
he was so moved by the first interview night he
(18:31):
actually came to you guys and said, I want to
do it again. Let's talk about that when we come back.
I'm David Shadwick. Will be back in a moment.
Speaker 5 (19:59):
KO need over, you're full in need clos.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Well show here surround me, You give me, God gives
us hope. It's what the theme of today's show is
all about. Y'all making me hi everyone, I'm David Chadwick
and this is News Talk eleven, ten ninety nine three WBT.
(20:30):
Welcome back to this show, a show about hope, talking
about Seeds of Hope scholarship program that's here, local folks,
you may not have heard about it, but we have
this year given twenty six scholarships to different kids all
throughout our community who were at that level, maybe wondering
if they could go to college or not, and this
is the boost they needed to go to college. Ninety
(20:51):
eight percent graduation rate over the last years of this
program's development, it's just been fun to watch. Laura and
Pat Swisher are studio with me today. Laura and Pat
have helped move this to a new level of success.
We're so thankful for you guys. Pat's the high visionary
at the top, trying to make sure everything works out well.
Laura's the more I'm gonna hug, yell a lot and
(21:12):
make sure this works well too. So Laura, let me
come back to you the interview process and we look
at the interviews that occur with these kids. What are
the kinds of things you're looking for in the kids
to help award a scholarship to them. And again, for
those just jumping on right now, we have a four
year program five thousand per year, twenty thousand dollars scholarship.
(21:33):
But what we've discovered is that five thousand per year
is often the impetus that allows these kids to go
to college. But what are you looking for in the kids?
Speaker 4 (21:42):
Well, honestly, David, it starts with who sends them to us,
because someone has believed in them to give them that
scholarship application. So someone saw something in them, knows about
seeds of hope, which that's important for today for people
to know about seeds of hope.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
And that's one of the reasons you guys are on
this show today to tell the community about this wonderful ministry.
Speaker 4 (22:02):
Yes, and I love it because we're starting to get
teachers now that are sending students and they know they're
with them every day. So it's been really beautiful. But
our application is pretty simple. It is a from the
heart essay. We ask them what dreamed in their heart?
What do they feel like they were made to do?
What's just it wasn't their life that they thought, Ooh,
(22:23):
I'm made to do this. We do ask about We say,
tell us about God, Who's God to you? You know
that we're faith based. We're very open about that, and
they don't have to have the perfect answer. They they're teenagers,
so were we. We're all figuring it out. But they're
on their path. They we talk about their grades and
(22:45):
and but it is the application process is literally the
essay there where they want to go to school, what
they expect their expenses to be, as well as their
financial need.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
And there's a dream Catcher award or what in the
world is that?
Speaker 4 (23:01):
Well, you know some kids may not be four year bound.
You know they may need to do you can take
technical classes. Charlotte offers a lot of things, especially in healthcare.
So we found that we have also a five thousand
dollars scholarship that's for twenty five hundred dollars a year
that CPC. They can get so much at CPCC and
(23:24):
some of the other local But the dream Catcher is
just someone that we say, look, we only have this
amount of money to give. We see something in you.
We want to encourage you with this one thousand dollars.
Everything goes straight to a school. We never write checks
two people, so we give when you are ready to
take a class, whatever that may be, we will send
(23:45):
this thousand dollars on your behalf.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Wow. So that then allows the kids not to have
to worry about getting the check, depositing the check, writing
the check to the school. They don't have to worry
about that it's all taken care of by you for
them and pad As you've watched this thing grow, what
would be your dream for the next level?
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Well, I think it was five years ago that Laura
and I started getting involved. And at time we got involved,
we had what twelve twelve students. This fall, we'll have
sixty three students.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
All together, all together. Wow.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
And my vision of it is it's a scalable model
that we can continue to grow as long as we
have the corporate support, the support of the community, and
the volunteers to keep up with it. And we are
changing Charlotte. We have sixty three college educated students coming
(24:46):
back to this community in the near future that are
God based oriented people.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Well, years ago, we had the Opportunity Task Force that
was formed to look at Charlotte and why there was
not much upward mobility in our city. One of the
things that was concluded is we had to find ways
to get kids a college education. There's a study think
tank out of Washington, DC that said, if you're going
to have upper mobility, you've got to graduate from high school.
(25:13):
You've got to then get married and then have children.
And that's the most knowable key to success for upper mobility. Well, Pat,
we talked about this just the other day. If you
then say, okay, graduate from high school and college, then
get married, then have children, you're talking about upper mobility
on steroids. You're talking about great success that can occur,
(25:33):
and that's what you guys are trying to do.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Absolutely, it's one of those things. It cannot be taken
away from you. Yeah, my son just graduated from college
and I tell him, Hey, this can never be taken
away from you, just like your faith. So we're just
real excited about what's going on. We're an all volunteer organization.
We can use donations, help anything you can give us
(25:57):
because we can continue to grow this and change our
city in a positive way through upward mobility.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
As you talk about, okay, let's talk about just the
practical things people could do. They're listeners right now going
that that's a cool ministry. You know, ed Billikhu's my producer,
is listening to this right now, going gosh, how can
I get involved? There are practical things people can do, Pat,
what are they?
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Then?
Speaker 2 (26:18):
War, I'm going to come to you and ask you
the same thing.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Mentorship. We love to marry our students with a mentor
that's going to walk with them through the remainder of
high school and college and once they get out, helping
them get a job. That's that's very important, and that's
forming that community that we talk about. Of course, donations,
(26:43):
you're a.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Five O, one C three people can make that donation.
It's not taxable in common.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
And we're one hundred percent volunteer. Uh so it goes
all to growing the students.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
May I emphasize that again one hundred percent of the
financial donations go to the ministry and not to administrative costs.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Well, we have some accounting costs and some overheads such
as websites and such, but there's nobody on salary.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
Okay, good, and that's where most of the expenses occur
in any organization for sure.
Speaker 5 (27:12):
Correct.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
So, Laura, as you think about this as well, you
have listeners out there, and from your standpoint of being
more hands on with the kids, actually, what more can
be done by those who might want to get involved?
Speaker 4 (27:24):
Well, thanks for asking. That's exciting. One beautiful thing this
year is we have someone offer a free financial course.
What does God say about your finances? Through Moments of
Hope Church, our scholars could jump on when we ask them.
We do a mentor Monday, so someone listening might have
something they want to share on mentor Monday. All the
scholars log on and we teach them. They ask about faith,
(27:46):
they choose the topic. They definitely always ask about finances,
so that financial class was really important. But you know,
we had a Casey Construction gave three scholarships full scholarships
because so believe in a student going into the electrical
or the construction field. You can you can sponsor a
student that's in your field. You may have college guidance,
(28:09):
advice or college connections. We are in twenty eight colleges
right now, so sixty three students are just this year
in school, but you know one hundred, you know, we've
had many graduate. So we had someone donate dorm betting
this year for every new student mood design. That was
huge for us. That was such a relief for them
(28:31):
and so exciting and it was beautiful stuff. So you
can't underestimate social capital. Of course, donations, it's seeds scholars
dot org.
Speaker 2 (28:42):
People can give online money seed scholars dot org. That's right.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
We take stock donations, you know, anything, But really internships
We love any hands on experience. We have a lot
of nursing students all kinds of hands on experience or
professional experience. If they want to share it doesn't have
to be in person. We can do zoom with them
(29:08):
being away. We do Tako Tuesday in the community for
our UNCC and CPCC students and our local students in
health care like Carolina's Health. So it's a community and
everyone has something to add our prayers. We have women
from that just write scripture and encourage them. And our
students will send me a picture of a thank you
(29:28):
note with just a Valentine's Day card that had encouragement
to them. When you're away from home and you get
mail and it's faith based, it's encouraging to them. They
love that. So anything and everything we are grateful for
and blown away already that this has truly been word
(29:49):
of mouth.
Speaker 2 (29:50):
Well, if anybody just wants to maybe talk to you
guys and have more information, Laura, how would they do that?
Speaker 4 (29:58):
Well, definitely the website. You can contact us. Yeah, and
I just want to be clear because it's too us
as its seeds scholars dot.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Org see d S scholars plural s c h O
l A R. S dot Org.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
Okay, can I want to say a special thank you
today to our teachers. We see you, we see your
love for your students, and thank you well.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
Teachers are essential and those who are involved in this
make it especially wonderful and beautiful, and we're just so
grateful for what you guys are doing. We have one
more segment that we have to talk about this ministry,
and greater depth that we will do, but I just
personally want to thank both of you for what you
have done, the hours you have spent, the lives you
have invested in, and the lives you have changed. I
(30:45):
have no doubt that in eternity you're going to hear
a well done, my good and faithful servant, from our
Lord who created you, who helped instill within you this
heart for these kids. I'm David Chadwick will be right back.
Speaker 5 (31:46):
When life has got you going strong, hom then all
of a sudden things are wrong. We tend to stumble
day to day. He wanted to win, will be okay.
Times on. We have to just push through whom and
(32:07):
see the Latin ahead of you him. When we reach
the finish Hie, we will stand up been program.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
Pick me up with.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
That's my friend Parker Robinson who leads worship at Moments
of Hope Church and helps bring joy to so many
people's hearts with his music. Hi everyone, I'm David Chadwick
and this is News Talk eleven ten ninety nine three
WBT and if you'd like to hear this program in
its entirety with Pat and Laura Swisher talking about this
(32:42):
wonderful ministry they help oversee called Seeds of Hope, a
scholarship ministry. Sixty three kids have graduated and are now
in the community in the world because they were given
an education five thousand dollars per year over four years,
twenty thousand dollars has changed lives like you can't even
begin to know. Well, if you'd like to hear this
program in its entirety, scroll down to the weekend shows
(33:05):
look for the David Chadwick Show and you can hear
it from beginning to end in its entirety and hopefully
motivate you to get involved a bit, because this is
something that really is life changing. Pat Swisher, you know
you have a successful company. You helped found it here
in Charlotte Environmaster. It is a beautiful company, so successful.
Yet now at this stage of your life, in your
(33:25):
supposed retirement, you are refiring to give people life and hope.
What has this ministry done to your heart?
Speaker 3 (33:33):
Well? I kind of chuckle because people think I'm a
hardcore type business guy. I can't do the interviews because
I want to give everybody a scholarship.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
So this huge swiss Or heart.
Speaker 3 (33:46):
Yes, And I knew that coming into this. We were
looking for ways to give into the community. And it
was until we talked to you in Maryland and we said,
that's it. That is it. That's what's missing is getting
these very deserving children on education, something that can't be
(34:08):
taken away from them. That all of our scholars, I
will say probably ninety nine percent of our scholars they're
the first person in their family that's ever gone to college.
Speaker 5 (34:19):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (34:20):
And breaking that cycle of breaking poverty and allowing upper
mobility to occur through education, correct.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
And that was the thing in my heart that was missing.
And when I talked to Maryland and saw what you
guys had started, it was just a natural thing I
gravitated to and wanted to be involved in. And I
happened to have the perfect wife here that is the
touchy feely type that has done a great job. She's
(34:49):
the one running this thing. I'm there for advice and
of course to mentor and do whatever I have to do.
But she's the one with the heart that really has
been driving this thing behind the scene.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Well, I know, Laura, you and my wife Marilyn are
great friends, and she admires and respects you so much.
Marilyn is a fire starter, if you will. She loves
to get things going. She is not as good as
keeping things going, which is like us CEO dreamer types, right, Pat,
and she then talked to you, excuse me, and you
were the one that came alongside her and said I'd
(35:21):
like to take over this thing and move it to
a different place. She was ready for that to happen,
and you stepped into that place.
Speaker 4 (35:27):
Well, it was funny. She had some amazing people in place,
because Marilyn, you know, she's everywhere. She's pulled in so
many good things that she's doing. So she had some
amazing ladies, but everyone had really big full time jobs.
So when Pat and I joined as volunteers and just
really over the years, got involved, one of her leaders
(35:48):
came to me and said, Laura, Jesus told me that
you are to take over in January twenty twenty three,
and I said, wait, he didn't tell me that I'm
going to go. But you know, Marylyn makes time. We
run by her as the founder a lot of things
for her wisdom at a high level. She doesn't really
get involved.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
In the days very wise.
Speaker 4 (36:07):
She is so wise, and we work to honor her
vision with seeds of hope and we always and that's
why it was such a blessing. Your son dB David
Banner was on the interview team this year. He said,
I have always been around it with my mom being
the founder, but I've never looked under the hood, and
I don't want to. I want to do this again
next year. I don't want to miss out. This is unbelievable,
(36:28):
which was encouragement to me, you know. So we've just
really worked to honor your wife's vision.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
Well.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
She has been so honored to work with you as well.
And let's end the program with a way that I
think is important. And if somebody wants to get involved,
they can give financially, they can give of their time,
they can help mentor these kids a lot of different possibilities.
If they want to get involved, they can contact you
through seedsscholars dot org, se DS Scholars, Oral S, C
(37:00):
H O, l A r S dot org and you
can find ways to get them to work, can't Laura, Yeah,
for sure.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
We have a little small Instagram. It's just fun. We
post things about scholars. I think it's Seeds of Hope
dot NC on Instagram. And we are grateful for anything
and everything that is going to strengthen the community for
students in college and walking with them, whether it's a
material blessing or a an expertise, a social capital and optunity,
(37:33):
an opportunity, you know, And I want to tell you
we think we're giving you will not believe. These students
are humbling me. Every day when I get on a
call with them, I am in tears of gratitude for
what they pour into me. So that's what I would
tell someone thinking about getting involved, is we are just
(37:54):
coming alongside, holding onto the coattails of a future. These
people are leaders. They just need the financial boost because
college is expensive, but they are on their way with
God's help and a little support.
Speaker 2 (38:08):
Well, you find yourself in losing yourself in something greater
than yourself. People who tell me all the time, I'm
depressed and I'm discouraged, Well, go give your life away,
Go find somebody who needs help, and you'll find your
life when you give your life for something greater than
your own life. And that's what you guys are experiencing. Pat.
Let's not under emphasize the importance of money that this
(38:29):
helps kids go to college. And this year you've had
almost three hundred thousand dollars given for these scholarships. But
if people want to give money, let's not underestimate that importance.
Speaker 3 (38:41):
Absolutely, money is necessary to get them in college, and
it's what we need to scale and affect more kids' lives.
We can have all the desire in the world we want,
but that college needs tuition.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
And maybe there's a CEO right now, they're out listening
right now who says I want to be a corporate
sponsor and they can do so, can't they?
Speaker 3 (39:04):
Absolutely contact us. We will work with you and design
if you need people coming into your organization like mechanics
or carpenters or electricians, we can design a program so
that you're getting these people coming to you that you're funding, but.
Speaker 2 (39:24):
You'll take the funding. If that's a loan that's given,
you'll accept that right absolutely. Whether this do you need
money to keep things moving forward? Laura, I think Pastor.
Speaker 4 (39:34):
Ken Gilliard from a Better World said that this is
a movement to shine light on our college campuses, which
we believe is needed. You're not only given education, you
are placing a student that loves Jesus. And we've had
them hold their own Bible studies on their dorm floors
and lead others to Christ. So it is a whole
picture of Christ followers shining light on college.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
Campuses, and the desire is a movement that will expand
and grow to capacity scalable, but something that will impact
hundreds upon hundreds of students in the years to come.
Pat Swisher, Laura Swisher, thank you so much for being
on the show today. God bless you, bless your ministry,
and may He expand and grow your heart for helping
other people for Jesus glory. Thanks a lot, guys, Thank you, David, everyone,
(40:20):
thank you for listening today. And could you do this
for me? Love God with all your heart's soul, mind
and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. If you
do those two things you have a lifetime's worth of
work to do. I'm David Chadwick. This is News Talk eleven,
ten ninety nine to three WBT, trying to help this
community be all that it can be. To God alone
(40:40):
belongs all of the glory. Thank you for listening today
and I will look forward to talking with you all
next week where
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