Father And Son Ministry Seek Grant For Nonprofit Organization
by Anthony Whisnant
(Lithonia, GA, USA)
Tom, left, Anthony, right
My name is Anthony Whisnant. Ever since I was born with Cerebral Palsy, my relationship with my parents has not been a healthy one.
I have never had any real relationship with my physical father. My relationship with my mother has always been rocky for a variety of reasons.
About eight years ago, when I was 16, I was introduced to a man by the name of Tom Sargeant. He became my one-on-one paraprofessional in the special education program at my high school.
We were only together for six weeks due to me leaving for another school, but Tom had a profound impact on my life.
I knew there was something different and special about him compared to everyone else, the moment I met him. After I left that high school Tom and I remained in contact and developed a very close friendship.
As I have gotten to know Tom over the years, I just naturally began looking at him as my father that I never had. Nobody has loved me as unconditionally as he has, nor have they spoken wisdom into my life as he has.
The biggest difference Tom’s influence on me has made is in my spirituality. Before I met Tom, I was FAR from God. Now that I have grown in my relationship with Tom, I have dramatically grown in my relationship with God. I STILL have a LONG way to go, but a lot has changed in my life over the years.
Since my and Tom’s relationship with God has grown over the years, we want to partner together to form a nonprofit organization that sells Christian gifts in order to support medical, ministry and social organizations of ALL kinds.
This will be good for me because I have always had an entrepreneurial mind about business, but have not had the opportunity until now to do something about it.
We need money to cover a variety of costs such as Web development, graphic design fees, legal fees, governmental fees and initial inventory.
Personally, I need the finances in order to have some independence when it comes to my living situation, as it relates to rent, food and personal care. This is what I intend to do with the money that I make from the business.
Since it takes money to make money, we need the support of grants because neither Tom nor I are not in a position to afford a loan.
Anthony Whisnant
Lithonia, GA
