He Knows What Poverty Feels Like; Now He's Fighting It | Steve Ware, Game Changers

What if changing a child's life starts with one person simply deciding to help? Steve Ware knows firsthand how powerful that decision can be. After spending much of his childhood moving through various foster homes, shelters, and juvenile facilities, Steve's life changed when someone finally stepped in and gave him an opportunity for a different future. Years later, Steve couldn't shake one question: What would have happened to him if that person had never helped? That question eventually led him to create Game Changers at River's Edge Retreat, a Columbia, South Carolina nonprofit dedicated to helping children overcome the challenges of poverty, build character, and discover their potential. In this episode of As Told By You, Steve joins us to share his remarkable journey from a childhood filled with instability to creating a place where children can find encouragement, mentorship, and opportunities they might not otherwise have. But Steve's mission goes beyond addressing financial poverty. He believes children can experience emotional and spiritual poverty regardless of their economic circumstances. Through summer camps, after-school programs, academics, sports, creative activities, and character development, Game Changers works to give children the tools, confidence, and relationships they need to succeed. It's a powerful conversation about resilience, purpose, mentorship, and turning personal hardship into an opportunity to change lives. In this episode, we discuss: Steve's childhood journey through many foster homes and placements How Game Changers and River's Edge Retreat came to life The importance of mentorship, character development, and positive relationships How one person's willingness to help can impact generations Subscribe to As Told By You for more honest, inspiring conversations with the people making a difference in Columbia, South Carolina, and beyond. Every person has a story, and we believe those stories are worth telling.