Ambassadors of Hope
Ambassadors of Hope celebrates local south Florida leaders who are making a difference in our community and region through Place of Hope. We will discuss our nonprofit's mission of providing a stable and loving environment for children, youth and families that are hurting by sharing inspiring stories of those who have crossed our path–our Ambassadors. They are people who have faced adversity and overcome challenges and community members dedicated to impacting lives for generations to come. With a goal to help end cycles of abuse, neglect, homelessness, poverty, and human trafficking for children and young adults, Ambassadors of Hope will do what Place of Hope’s Ambassadors do everyday: work to change our world one life and one child at a time.
Ambassadors of Hope
The Arscotts' Story of Hope: Charting a Course of Philanthropy and Intergenerational Generosity
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When John and Cherie Arscott first set foot in Africa to provide hearing aids to children, they never anticipated the ripple effect it would have on their lives. Their story, rich with compassion and the pursuit of community betterment, takes center stage as they join us on Ambassadors of Hope. We traverse the Arscotts' philanthropic journey, from the profound impact of their mission trips to their unwavering dedication to Place of Hope. Cherie opens up about the serendipitous events that led to their involvement and how the narrative of Jimmy Wayne propelled them further down the path of giving. Their advice for the philanthropically inclined and Cherie's insights into her role as Angel Mom president underscore the personal growth that accompanies acts of charity.
We engage in candid discussions about seeking out organizations that resonate with our core values. We confront the reality of loss and how it fuels our passion to extend support to children in need, shedding light on the transformative nature of philanthropy. The Arscotts and Lisa Inman McDulin, Southern Palm Beach County Director of Advancement and Campaigns reveal the intricacies of our work with Place of Hope, focusing on how true generosity not only benefits the recipient but also enriches the giver's life. It's a narrative about the journey of personal development as much as it is about the impact of our actions within the community.
Lastly, we transition to the indelible imprint philanthropy leaves on successive generations, as illustrated by the profound experiences of John and Cherie's son, Tyler. His interactions with children in need and the joy it brought to both parties exemplify how the values of giving are nurtured from a young age. We encourage families to incorporate charity into their lives, emphasizing the importance of leading by example and evaluating a charity's efficacy. Join us as we celebrate the beauty of selflessness and the legacy of generosity that John, Cherie, and their family aspire to leave behind.
Takeaways
- Giving back to the community instills critical values and leads to sustained happiness.
- True giving should be devoid of conditions or expectations.
- Choosing a charity that uses its resources wisely and involves the whole family can create a meaningful impact.
- The power of a supportive group can inspire and uplift individuals.
- Legacy and long-term sustainability are important considerations in philanthropy.
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Title Sponsor: Crypto Capital Venture | Follow Dan Gambardello's on Twitter (@cryptorecruitr)
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Producer: Maya Elias
Copyright of Place of Hope 2023.
Hello and thank you for tuning in to Ambassadors of Hope. I'm your host, Charles Bender. We're so excited that you've tuned in to hear from local South Florida leaders who are making a difference in our community and region through our charity Place of Hope.
Maya Elias:Hello, I'm your producer, Maya Elias, and in this conversation, John and Cherie Arscott share their journey in philanthropy and their involvement with Place of Hope. They discuss the power of giving and the lessons they learn from attempting to provide assistance to family. They highlight the importance of selfless giving and the impact of Place of Hope in their lives. They also discuss about their involvement in other philanthropic initiatives and the influence of their upbringing on the perspective. They offer advice for individuals and families looking to get involved in philanthropy and express their aspirations for the future. Lastly, cherie discusses the impact of being an angel mom. Please continue listening on for the rest of this episode.
Lisa McDulin:Welcome to Ambassadors of Hope.
Lisa McDulin:This is the podcast for Place of Hope, and this podcast is our opportunity to feature some of the many people in the community who have come alongside of us and who help us do what we do at Place of Hope, and today is no exception. We've got John and Cherie Arscott in the studio with us today and we're excited to have them here to share a little bit about themselves, their family, their son, Tyler, who could not be here with us today, and really this is just an opportunity for you all to inspire other people to engage and get involved in making a difference in the community that they live and work in. And if that's with Place of Hope, great, or maybe with another organization, that's also great. And we know that you all got your start in philanthropy a long time ago, doing some work with some other organizations, and we would just love for you to kind of introduce yourselves and Cherie I don't know if you want to take the lead on that and tell us more about how you got started in the world of philanthropy.
Cherie Arscott:Okay, hi, I'm Cherie Arscott and I'm here with my husband, John, and we got involved when my son was in fourth grade. We left our comfortable home, our beautiful life, and embarked on a philanthropic mission trip to provide hearing aids to children in Africa. On a philanthropic mission trip to provide hearing aids to children in Africa, little did we know that that would become an extraordinary journey, one that would change him and change our lives forever. So, as a parent, just watching my son immerse himself in the mission was a source of just profound joy. He and his fellow workers worked long, hard hours, overcoming obstacles, dedicating their time, energy and love to bring the gift of hearing to children who had been deprived of this basic human need for so long. And then I just remember the moments that were etched in our hearts forever. The joy that radiated from those young faces as they heard their mother speak for the very first time was nothing short of miraculous, and it was a testament to the power of compassion, the power of giving and the power of a yet profound, simple device a hearing aid.
Cherie Arscott:Then I started to wonder, you know, if we really needed to travel all the way to third world countries and make an impact in the world. I imagine that there were children in our own community that really needed our help and I was really searching for a charity that I could make a positive impact. My husband and I were invited to a wedding and luckily Bonnie Boroian was sitting right next to me. She told me all the wonderful things at Place of Hope. She invited me to an event sponsored by the Place of Hope and there I heard this compelling story of a man named Jimmy Wayne and how his sister and he were in and out of foster care, living on the streets, and he was invited by an elderly couple to move into their home after mowing their yard. It was the support of someone who cared. He was able to finish college, move to Nashville and pursue a musical career there. He released an album that became country's number one music hit, and those are the stories that really inspire you to get involved.
Lisa McDulin:That's a great story and I remember meeting you at that event.
Lisa McDulin:I remember that well, you chaired an event for Place of Hope a couple of months ago in October really sweet fashion show, and it was there that actually Tyler got up and kind of took the mic from his mom and you know, said you know, let me speak, let me let me share kind of my, my story and why this is important. Because that whole event was not only an opportunity to raise support for place of hope but it was to set an example to younger kids and because it was a family friendly event. Moms and dads were there with their children for a tea party and a fashion show which you completely orchestrated from all over creation last summer, which was pretty remarkable in and of itself. But I think that what was so inspiring to me, as somebody that was there and as I watched your son get up there and take the microphone, is just like wow, just the impact that you and John have made on Tyler and that's going to, that's going to go on for the rest of his life and like he is going to make an incredible difference in this world. And that's because of the example that you have set.
Lisa McDulin:But then when you have an event like that and you stand up there, you're inspiring other parents to do the same thing. That is one of the reasons why I thought, gosh, this would be a great thing for us to share on the podcast, because you know people step in and they're like, well, what can I do? How can I get involved? How can I make a difference? And, sheree, you're one of the most creative people that I know. You're always coming up with great ideas and ways to bring people together and build community and raise support and make friendships and deepen friendships. You're really good at that, and when this recording comes out, people will know that you're our new Angel Mom president, so we're pretty excited about that.
Cherie Arscott:Well, it's just an honor to be chosen to that position.
Lisa McDulin:Well, we're thrilled Maybe you can address this, as we're talking about family and how have you instilled those values? I've seen it in Tyler, just in what he has shared, but what are some of the ways, beyond the missions trip, that you've instilled values of philanthropy, service and caring for others less fortunate in your home?
Cherie Arscott:Well, as I reflect upon the hard-earned money and the success John had worked so hard to create and our desire to make a positive impact on others, personal experience comes to mind, one that taught me a profound lesson and involves my attempt to support my cousin. She was a mother of five small children and she was navigating the challenges of a very difficult family situation, and her husband had abandoned her and, after several failed attempts to secure a job, he was physically abusing the children on his visitation schedule. My husband really had no way to support herself or the girls. She had no education or a career. She was living on welfare and she didn't have any family close to support her, and it just broke our heart. We just felt this heartfelt concern for her and their children's well-being and I spoke to John and I asked him his thoughts on relocating them to Florida where we might be able to help them. We aim to provide them opportunities. They might otherwise elude them given their circumstances, but our intention was to help my cousin secure a stable life, insisting her to find a job, a home, a new car, a career and safe housing for the children. Our efforts really seemed to bear fruit. My cousin flourished in her new career and the family found stability in their new surroundings. Career and the family found stability in their new surroundings. However, over time it became apparent that our good intentions were unfortunately met with resentment. The expectations we set were designed to create a supportive environment became burdensome to my cousin, leaving her to breach the agreements we established. This led us to really ponder the nature of assistance and the expectations that sometimes accompany it. We really had the desire and compassion to help her.
Cherie Arscott:It's critical also to realize that true grieving should be devoid of conditions or expectations. Realize that true giving should be devoid of conditions or expectations. The challenge lies in ensuring that our contributions whether it's time, energy, money really do make a generally a positive difference. What comes to mind is, you know, a verse in the Bible Matthew 6:3-4, advises us to give in secret. Emphasizing the left hand should never know what the right hand is doing. This profound insight is the essence of selfless giving, where the act of giving itself becomes its own reward, and I feel like at Place of Hope that principle is put into practice. At the Place of Hope, giving is discreet to the receiver and it's an organization that establishes rules and boundaries. They establish the rules and boundaries that ensure the assistant is directly directed to those who are genuinely seeking positive change. By adhering this approach, we can be confident that our contributions are not in vain and that our support goes to those who truly desire and appreciate the help.
Lisa McDulin:That's a great story. I mean, you shared that with me a couple weeks ago. You had sent me that and I was like, wow, that's profound. We're dealing with kids at Place of Hope For whatever reason. They're down on their luck. They may have come through the foster care system. They may be otherwise homeless for some other unknown reason. Whatever the reason is, you know we're there to give them a hand up and not a handout, and to teach them how to become successful, independent young adults with clear expectations and boundaries that are set in place. That's part of the program. That's part of what we do. You're giving without the expectation of really anything in return and you're you're trusting us and there's a level of trust there which we are so grateful for. You look like you want to say something.
John Arscott:You know, I think there's kind of an evolution of of this work as, as a donor, you know, as you started in life, you need to take care of your family, you need to have enough income, you need to have that buffer, and then, as you start to give, anybody can give to the guy or girl standing at the traffic light, but we all know that really doesn't change much.
John Arscott:You know that's their next hit and people, I think, want to get involved and they want to find the vehicle to make a difference and it's really hard to kind of understand that and sometimes it's helping relatives, as Cherie and I have done. That didn't prove to be as fruitful as we wanted it to be it to be. So finding this vehicle that you can give freely to and feel comfortable that it's not a handout on the other end and that we're actually lifting people up and helping them evolve their lives and get somewhere, is the real value that we receive. So the gift of giving is certainly to me, I feel, more of a reward than actually the recipient by watching somebody rise up. So but it takes that evolution of going through the process and understanding what kind of giving works for you and what you want to do.
Lisa McDulin:That's, that's an interesting concept.
Lisa McDulin:And I remember the day I met you, you brought John to campus and we were having a enrichment activity for the kids and you were standing there in the hot sun flipping hamburgers at that grill and if you remember that we were having a conversation, smokes blown everywhere and you were with Tyler inside doing something in the kitchen and and I remember John, you said to me you know, I know that's when you were really involved with the hearing aids and you said, you know, I, really it's important to find a place where Cherie can serve and kind of find her own place.
Lisa McDulin:And I remember you sharing that with me. And then you told me kind of about your background and kind of where you came from and and you know I didn't know anything about you that day, like not a thing, and you know other than you were standing there in the hot sun. You know I didn't know anything about you that day, like not a thing, and you know other than you were standing there in the hot sun flipping burgers and I felt really bad that there was no umbrella or tent over your head. But maybe you want to share a little bit about kind of tacking onto this evolution, as you say kind of like well, where that came from in you as you say kind of like where that came from in you?
John Arscott:Well, you know. So both Sheree and I had. You know, Cherie's father passed away at a very young age. My father left when I was three years old and never saw him again.
John Arscott:So we have appreciation for the network that a child needs, and so most of our work is kind of focused in that because of our experience. Now, fortunately, the other parent in our life was strong enough to sustain us and and we had good nieces or uncles and aunts and grandparents around us to help us to get to the other side, so that that kind of resonates with us in the place of hope. But to go to that, is it really? I didn't come from anything in order to trade, you know. So we, we both evolved and and created our, our net worth. But once you get to a point you realize that more money in your bank accounts is pretty hollow and, uh, there's another meaning to life and, and part of that is spending time lifting other people up and helping where possible. But it can be discouraging if, if, if it it gets taken advantage of and and we, that's why we, we feel so the, the place of hope, is such a powerful vehicle to make sure that doesn't happen, and so great.
Lisa McDulin:And we appreciate that and that kind of answers ahead of you know the other question I had about you know why place of hope and why you're involved and why you're committed. You guys are part of our campaign that we announced this past year and I know maybe you're prepared with answers so you can tell us, Cherie, a little bit about why Place of Hope, why you guys have chosen to continue to be involved and are committed to what we do.
Cherie Arscott:Well, I think what resonated with me with A Place of Hope was their willingness to listen and being open to suggestions. They seemed eager and, Lisa, you were very open to my ideas and you seemed genuinely interested in my input and, being a wife, a mother and having a full-time career, I wondered how much time I really had to invest, but I found the place of hope. They were supportive of my life outside of the charity and respectful of my time. But you always seem to find ways to challenge me to grow personally. You're kind of like that too.
John Arscott:You guys keep turning each other's treadmill up.
Lisa McDulin:Yeah, she's rooted to her mind up real high. I love it. So, beyond Place of Hope, have you been involved in other service projects or initiatives that are aimed at helping those that are less fortunate? I know you briefly touched on some of the work that you did and, if so, could you share some of the details about those?
Cherie Arscott:experiences.
Cherie Arscott:I was involved in the Big Brother, big Sister program in Maryland, also the Starkey Hearing Foundation, the Cambodia's Children's Fund and Impact 100. So the Starkey Hearing Foundation just to give you a little background information on that, that you know they provide the Kifta hearing to children in third world countries. Like I said before, we were able to participate with my son, tyler, and several of the mission trips and I can just recall one instance when my son was about 10 years old, you know we were doing the fittings and I looked over at him and he brought out his soccer ball and started playing soccer with the kids and I'm like, what is he doing? And then it dawned on me what he was really doing is all of those kids that were waiting in line to get their hearing aids Not all the hearing aids fit and they work and all those kids were sitting there anxiously waiting their turn and were scared that they would be the one that the hearing aid would not work and they would never be able to hear.
Cherie Arscott:And Tyler had the foresight at 10 to grab that ball and just start playing soccer with the kids and, you know, put the kids at ease and that was just a really proud moment to watch him. You know just that instinctively came out of him. You know like, hey, I'm going to, I can do my part here, I can help these kids and put them at ease and just with a common soccer ball and playing and having fun. And it was.
Lisa McDulin:It was especially down on their level for sure that's so neat. Let's talk about your son. How do you think that him growing up in the environment that he has in your household and with both of you as his parents, as far as your focus on philanthropy and giving back, how do you think that shaped his perspective as a young man? I know he's getting ready to graduate from college and go into the business world and how do you think that that's impacted his aspirations, if you will, to kind of continue with that legacy of giving back in the future of continue with that legacy of giving back in the future.
Cherie Arscott:Well, although Tyler can't be here today, he did want to add this little note and tell you his experience. Okay, he said you know, being involved and giving back into community at a young age instills the critical values that ultimately lead to the indescribable and sustained happiness. There is a deep satisfaction that cannot be found anywhere but in the aid of others. The purest form of love is giving your time and help. There's no shame or judgment in asking for it. Being involved in charity organizations also display a clear marker for how fortunate my life situation was. Being grateful for God for everything, no matter how insignificant, is a key to being fulfilled. Without my experience, given around the world, my view of life would be radically different. It is this way by giving to others, you receive so much more. What a great kid. I'm a huge Tyler Arscott fan. We didn't think so, Arscott fan. We didn't think so.
John Arscott:So when Tyler was very young, so he would be fitting children with hearing aids, with lice growing through their hair or crawling through their hair, and they would. Their flip-flops were actually a tire that was cut and strapped to the bottom of their foot, and the sweaters that they would wear were were so old that they 75 of them were shreds. Um. So he, he learned that there really is a difference. Um, and he, he watched those children have fun and play. Um. So you know when, when he would say, hey, dad, I need, I'd look at him and he'd go, okay, I don't need, I want. And so he.
John Arscott:There was that differential there that that knowing that children that needed were still having fun, we're still playing, we're still laughing, and you know he, he saw that, but it gave him that that basis that what we need as human beings versus what we have as human beings um is is a completely different thing what a valuable lesson yeah and that personal connection to their friends and laughing and and doing when they were all, uh, coming out of a, a school of the deaf that had been abandoned by all their parents.
Lisa McDulin:And he'll take that with him the rest of his life and he'll pass that down to his kids. That's the legacy you hope that he will continue to leave for his children.
John Arscott:He gets it now.
Lisa McDulin:Yeah, no, he's exceptional. I'm a huge fan. I love Tyler, he's great. I'm a huge fan. I love Tyler, he's great, you know, and I think too it's it. Hopefully this inspires other parents to recognize the importance of letting your kids see you do things for others and and whether that's volunteering in soup kitchen or flipping burgers or serving on committee and putting together a fundraiser or doing whatever it is doing something for other people who are less fortunate I think it's such a huge lesson for other families. I always tell ladies I have the opportunity to talk to a lot of women and the ones with little kids and I say to them listen, your children are watching you, they listen to what you say, they're watching what you do and they will never, ever stop doing that and the lessons that you teach them they're going to take with them the rest of their life. They will always remember you doing for others, and that's certainly something that I know.
John Arscott:Right and it's hard. It's hard to weave it in as a parent because you know you've got the swim team, the soccer, the gymnastics and you're chasing all those things. So it is and it's hard to weave it in because you don't really know where the vehicle is to show your children how to be charitable, how to give of their time. But it's worth the effort. It's definitely worth the effort.
Lisa McDulin:You know it's and it's tough to like, at least with the age group that we serve at the Boca campus are over 18. Most of them are over 18. And so there's not as many hands-on opportunities for people to actually volunteer. Um, it's hard to dictate to a young adult Well, you're going to have a mentor and this is going to be that person. It's better to have more of an organic type situation kind of develop over time.
Lisa McDulin:But it's been really neat to see are some of the creative ways, like you, sheree, that women are coming up with, ways that their small children can be involved.
Lisa McDulin:We had a group not long ago take their kids shopping for items to put a meal together in a paper bag that they would decorate and put a recipe on there with a little public gift card so that they could go buy the fresh ingredients and the all the non perishables were in the grocery bag and that was a gift that they there was an activity they could do with their moms on the campus and they were able to give that to a young adult who you know these kids, you know their idea of a meal is, you know, getting on the door, dash and and ordering a pizza or you know they didn't grow up in a home where there was a mom or a dad.
Lisa McDulin:Maybe you know going to the grocery store and planning the meals and cooking on a regular basis. So there always is a creative way to serve and we're thankful for families who look for ways to to be able to serve and to volunteer. But what advice would you have for families or individuals that are looking to get involved in philanthropy in general and make a positive impact in their community?
Cherie Arscott:I would ask yourself what legacy we really want to leave this world. Do you want to be a consumer or do you want to do something that's really impactful and meaningful? And if you're looking to get involved in a charity, I would say how do their charities use their money wisely? So you can utilize Charity Navigator to kind of do a little investigative work. Will your gifts and your talents be appreciated? And does the charity leave something that nourishes your soul? And is it a charity that you know really engages the family and involving the members of your family and your children, because that really gives them a sense of responsibility and educates them on the future generations about the importance of giving back?
Lisa McDulin:So, as you reflect on your journey with Place of Hope, what would you say? Your aspirations for the future, both for your family's continued involvement and the broader impact on the causes that you support, would be.
Cherie Arscott:Well, we believe that giving to that annual fund commitment creates long-term sustainability for the Place of Hope. So they continue growing and meet the demands of the community and we appreciate it.
Lisa McDulin:We cannot do it without your support. We're so grateful for that. I'm going to ask you one question how has being an angel mom changed your life, Cherie?
Cherie Arscott:Witnessing the other angel moms spread their wings, build confidence, and just seeing them thrive really is encouraging and gives you the confidence to explore different possibilities in your own life. You know, I just believe that the power of the group of the women that we bond together and that the type of women that you know you can count on if you're having a bad day or things aren't going quite right, or they can also be happy for your successes and be there to celebrate that, and that has been just a beautiful blessing and I'm so happy and thrilled to be a part of this group.
Lisa McDulin:We're thrilled to have you as a part of that group, and your wish came true, when you were flipping hamburgers, that your wife found a place to serve and use her talents.
John Arscott:Yeah, and I've watched it. She has really enjoyed the connection with the other women in the Angel Moms and it's lifted her up, you know. So the sum of the pieces is far bigger than just Cherie and she's really enjoyed it and she's been inspired by it and it's been fulfilling for her. So it's been really rewarding to watch that happen as well.
Lisa McDulin:That's great. Well, I love to hear that support from your husband, that's so super. We appreciate you guys, everything that you do. We love you and we're so excited to continue to work together and see the impact that we can make on these kids for years to come.
Cherie Arscott:Thanks, Lisa.
Lisa McDulin:Thank you.
Charles Bender:Thank you for listening. Please be sure to subscribe and share with your friends so you don't even miss a thing, and if you really gained value today, please be sure to give us a five-star review so, of course, we can be put in front of more listeners. For details and show notes about today's podcast and how you can connect with and support our guests, please go to placeofhopecom, forward slash podcast and please don't forget to email us at pohpodcast, at placeofhopecom, and, for sure, follow us on social media. Ambassadors of Hope placing hope in a child's future.
