The Best Investment We’ll Ever Make
When people ask Deborah and I where we like to put our money these days, we give them a simple answer: students.
Not more stocks. Not more real estate. Not even new business ventures. As valuable as those are, they don’t come close to the return we get from investing in young people who are working hard to shape their future—especially when that path is steep, uncertain, and often unsupported.
That’s why we created the Gladney and Deborah Darroh Scholarship Fund, awarded to students at institutions like Texas Southern, Texas A&M, UT Austin, University of Houston, University of Arkansas, University of South Florida, and Houston Community College. These aren’t just schools—they’re launchpads for leaders, for overcomers, for the next generation of entrepreneurs, educators, scientists, and community builders.
Why These Schools?
Some might ask: Why not choose just one prestigious university and focus there? And the answer is simple—we don’t believe excellence lives only in one ivory tower or only in one kind of ivory tower.
We specifically chose a mix of large state universities, HBCUs, and community colleges because we believe potential isn’t dictated by pedigree. It lives in first-generation college students. It lives in the children of immigrants. It lives in students juggling jobs while maintaining a full course load.
People like Cace Mack, who, after losing both grandmothers and surviving a traumatic car accident during high school, still finished with a 3.7 GPA and is studying engineering at Texas Southern. He works at Kroger to help support himself and discovered his natural leadership abilities by serving others at the front end of the store.
Or Sandy Soto, a proud Latina student at the University of South Florida, raised by a grandmother while her immigrant parents worked long hours chasing the American Dream. Sandy’s writing revealed a maturity well beyond her years. Her vision? Owning properties and giving back to her community through sustainable agriculture and financial literacy. She closed her letter by writing, “I know I can accomplish anything”—and we believe her.
These students are the reason we cast a wide net. We’re not looking for perfect resumes. We’re looking for good soil.
Remembering Our Own Journey
Deborah graduated from Florida Atlantic University, while I graduated from the University of Houston. Debbie supported herself working parttime. I paid for every credit hour by working full time during the day and attending class at night. There were no shortcuts, no family checkbooks. And while it was hard, it was also formative.
That’s why, when we read letters like Katia Hernandez’s—whose parents and grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador during a civil war—we’re reminded of what it means to fight for your future. Katia has since graduated with honors with a biology degree at UT Austin. She is now working in The Texas Medical Center performing research with plans to earn a PhD to tackle infectious diseases and public health challenges. She also finds time to volunteer with hunger relief efforts.
Katia was never asking for a handout. She was only asking for a chance.
It’s Not About Pedigree. It’s About Purpose.
I’ve said this before: Some of the brightest minds I’ve met didn’t come from elite schools. They came from everyday backgrounds, with extraordinary grit.
Deborah and I are investing in purpose not polish. Drive, not status. We want to help students who are working their way forward—not coasting on legacy, but forging one of their own.
These students aren’t just writing essays to win scholarships. They’re telling stories of family sacrifice, overcoming trauma, balancing multiple jobs, and still daring to dream bigger dreams.
Beyond the Tuition Check
Scholarships are more than money. They’re a vote of confidence.
When a student finds out that someone they’ve never met believes in them, it changes how they see themselves. I’ve had students tell me that the money helped, yes—but what really mattered was knowing that someone saw their potential and said, “Keep going. You’re worth it.”
Deborah and I achieve this because we don’t simply write a check to recipients and forget about them. We stay in touch with our scholarship awardees and forge lasting relationships. This type of belief fuels resilience. It builds the kind of person who turns around and lifts others up, too.
What We Hope They Carry Forward
When Deborah and I read these letters, we don’t just think about the individual student. We think about the generational ripple effects.
One student becomes a teacher and impacts 30 kids a year. Another becomes a nurse and comforts hundreds. Another starts a business and creates jobs in a neighborhood that desperately needs them.
By helping one person, we’re really helping dozens, maybe even hundreds. That’s the power of planting seeds in good soil.
A Shared Commitment
Deborah is the heart of every scholarship we award. It’s her quiet strength in encouraging these young people, her values, her generosity—Debbie’s is the spirit embedded in every check we write, every letter we read, every dream we support.
We give because someone once believed in us. Now it’s our privilege to return that belief tenfold.
Looking to Tomorrow
The best legacy we can leave isn’t measured in wealth or buildings. It’s measured in lives lifted, doors opened, and dreams realized.
To the students at Texas Southern, UT Austin, USF, and beyond—thank you for letting us be part of your journey. Your letters remind us why this work matters so deeply. We’re honored to walk alongside you.
Keep going. Keep growing.
The world needs your voice. And we’ll keep planting seeds—right where they belong. In good soil.