Adopt a Scholar

How It Began:

Everyone has the potential to do something that matters—but too often, those with the biggest hearts and boldest ideas go without the support they need to get started or keep going. We’re on a mission to change that.

This program was first imagined during a defining moment in Neil’s health journey. Despite facing a life-changing diagnosis, Neil focused not on his own hardship, but on how he might help others. Through months of daily gratitude walks and conversations filled with purpose, Adopt a Scholar was born—a legacy rooted in compassion, service, and an unwavering belief in the power of community.

“Bringing improvement into the lives of others isn’t just about action – it’s about intention. It’s about doing the kind of work that matters, that lifts someone up, even in a small way.” – NJC

Who We Walk With – Supporting Every Stage of Impact:

The Adopt a Scholar initiative allows us to walk alongside people who are already doing stuff that matters. Whether they’re lifting others through health, education, mental wellness, or simple moments of joy, we offer encouragement, resources, and belief when it’s needed most.

We support two types of scholars:

Student Scholars—young people with bold dreams and a heart for impact, just beginning their journey.
Professional Scholars—adults who are already making a difference in their communities, often quietly, and need support to grow or sustain their work.

We believe in starting points. In raw potential. In messy progress. We believe in people like Vanessa Connolly, a dietitian using her own experience to help others navigate medical diagnoses. In families like Joe and Jamie Walker’s, reshaping their lives around healing and adoption. In leaders like Leah Williams, empowering women to step into their light. In people like Dina Blasek, quietly bringing joy to children in hospitals every Christmas for over a decade.

We believe in potential. In students like Cianne Davis, a Clemson University student who brings joy, grit, and compassion into every space she enters—and who’s learning to lead with both resilience and heart. And in James Govan, a student at Central Piedmont Community College whose journey through complex health challenges is shaping a future grounded in service and care. These Student Scholars remind us that when we invest in someone’s future, we’re not just changing their story—we’re helping write the stories of everyone they’ll go on to impact.

This is where community gathers around the Doers—the Builders, the Creators, the Helpers. We bring our hands, our hearts, and our resources to surround them as they step into the next chapter of their story.

Because when you support someone doing stuff that matters, the impact compounds.

Click here to learn more about our Professional and Student Scholars.

Join Us In Compounding Impact:

The Sandbox is the perfect place to invest in people with purpose—individuals using their experiences, skills, and vision to meet real needs in their communities. Whether they’re launching a project, learning a new skill, or stepping into leadership, every Award Recipient represents a ripple of impact—and you can help that ripple grow.

Here’s how: