News & Events - Plant a Seed Foundation

How a nonprofit transformed the life of a teen karate star and many others

“I remember when I was being picked on,” said 15-year-old Julian Asencio. “Martial arts taught me to defend myself.” The Bucks County teenager started taking karate lessons when he was 4-years-old…

Thank You Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority

Many thanks to the efforts of the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority. Their recent golf tournament raised over $21,000 for the Plant a Seed Foundation. What a wonderful group of...

Upper Makefield couple’s Plant a Seed grows childhood dreams

Shout out to Michael. We are so proud of you!

More from Brotherly Love on CBS3

Please watch the video below to see how Plant a Seed supports children’s passions....

Newtown Gazette Article

The Plant a Seed Inspire a Dream Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity based in Yardley, recently awarded its 630th and 631st scholarships. The organization helps children between the ages of 10 and 18 pursue their passions by connecting them with positive role models who encourage and mentor their dreams. Pictured in the photo are, from left, college intern Angela McGovern, scholarship winners Vincent and Marsilio Tufo, and Plant a Seed co-founder Michele Rice. Vincent and Marsilio will pursue their passion of art at Penelope Fox Art School, located in...

Plant A Seed Foundation Helps Teen to Boost Confidence Through MMA Training

When facing a personal challenge like leaving all your friends behind and starting at a new school or dealing with your parents divorce, it helps to immerse yourself in a new activity or hobby. That was the case with 15-year-old Chase Wallace of Makefield. With the help of Plant a Seed Foundation, Chase was able to enroll in Muay Thai training at MPR Endurance in Langhorne which gave him the confidence to overcome social conflicts and build his self esteem. Click here to find out more about Chase’s story....

Foundation Helps Children Pursue Their Dreams

The Plant a Seed Foundation helps children pursue their dreams and passions while interacting with positive role models. We would like to give big thank you to Chris English of the Bucks County Courier Times for writing this great article about the rewarding work we do here at Plant a Seed. Click the link below to read the full article and don’t forget to check out our donations page to show your support! Bucks County Courier Times: Chris English on Plant a Seed...

Brotherly Love: Bucks County Foundation Helps Needy Kids

By Ukee Washington BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. (CBS) – Two years ago, we introduced you to a Bucks County couple on a mission to help kids. The couple sponsored classes, like karate and dance. We caught up with Michele and Gene Rice last week. Their foundation, Plant A Seed, helped pay for lessons for 80 children last year, giving needy kids fertile ground to grow. See Video...

People Magazine: Gene and Michele Rice Help Make Kids’ Dreams Come True

By Kristen Mascia and Lorenzo Benet Gene and Michele Rice (center) with Lenora Thompson (equestrian), Mateo Sanders (in karate gear) and Shanaya Chavis (with microphone) Courtesy of Andrew Brusso When a child has a dream – to be an actor, or a singer, or a basketball star – there is one couple in Upper Makefield, Pa., doing all they can to make it a reality. While running a basketball camp for kids, Gene and Michele Rice were shocked when a boy participating explained he’d had to take a 10-mile bus ride from his trailer home, had gotten off on the wrong stop and had to walk the remaining half mile. Despite the difficulty he’d had getting to camp, he was still excited to be there. Thinking of their own kids’ acting classes and sports camps, “we realized we took for granted they could do these things,” says Gene, 56, a recruiting executive. “Other parents love their kids, but the resources aren’t there.” Out of that moment grew the Plant a Seed Inspire a Dream Foundation plantaseedfoundation.org, a nonprofit that gives low-income kids ages 8 to 21 the kinds of camps and lessons other children enjoy. Starting with $10,000 of their own money and through fund-raising, the Rices have awarded $200,000 in grants and services to 254 kids in the Northeast. Interviewing children and screening mentors, they’ve helped kids stretch their talents. “We have kids in karate, dance, gymnastics, sports, art, music and horseback riding,” says Michele, 56, a former speech pathologist. “Helping these kids to explore their passions has been life changing – creating relationships with adult mentors and other children who share their interests.” Shanaya Chavis, 20, knows all about that. Not sure if she’d attend college, Shanaya wanted to sing, yet her mother, a retired nurse’s aide, couldn’t afford lessons. Now, two years after training at a private studio, she’s hoping “to make it big” and is working with a producer on an album while she takes classes at a community college. “I have more confidence; I want my degree,” she says. “The Rices have helped me so much.” Since the Rices’ four children – Shannon, 27, Mackenzie, 25, Courtney, 22, and Owen, 18 – are grown, the couple continues to expand their organization’s efforts, helping children to pursue their passions for multiple years and recruiting volunteers to drive kids to their activities. “We don’t expect them to be stars,” says...

Yardley equestrian inspires others through ‘Plant a Seed’ Foundation

If you were to meet Erin Torbert, within a few minutes of conversation, you would be able to conclude that she is an average 24-year old woman balancing a full-time job with a social life. If you were to dig a little deeper, you’d soon realize that unlike most 24-year old women, Erin’s full-time job includes managing a major portion of her family’s business, Cambria Stables.Built on 107 acres of farmland in Yardley, Cambria Stables was formed in 2001 by John Torbert on his family-owned farm with the purpose of acting as a boarding facility for local horse owners in the Bucks County area. Now, more than nine years later, Cambria Stables still offers boarding for horses, in addition to open houses, riding lessons and summer camps. The additional services can be credited to Erin Torbert.Erin has been working part-time at Cambria Stables since its inception, and started working full-time teaching riding lessons, planning open houses and running summer camp every year since 2003. Because of the implementation of these additional services, awareness of Cambria Stables has increased drastically; over 100 children have received riding lessons and attended the summer camp since they’ve been offered, helping to give the small family-owned business its great reputation.Cambria Stables started working with the Plant a Seed Inspire a Dream Foundation in 2009; Erin was contacted by founder Michele Rice and asked to provide riding lessons for a local 15-year old girl. The mission of the Plant a Seed Inspire a Dream Foundation is to provide financially challenged children, between the ages of 8 and 21, the opportunity to pursue their passions while interacting with positive role models.Once Erin learned about the charity and their mission, she was immediately onboard and worked out a plan that allowed the 15-year old to lease a horse for one year, take riding lessons and work at the camp. As she continued to progress at Cambria, Erin let her take on more responsibilities that paralleled her interests, which included helping with the upkeep of the barn and aiding in the open houses. Erin valued this young woman’s time at Cambria Stables and continues to reach out to her.At the end of this month, Erin will take on two more Plant a Seed referrals at Cambria Stables; a 10-year old girl and a 16-year old girl both from Bucks County. Erin is looking forward to forming a bond with the girls and helping them in any way she can. Erin also wants to continue Cambria’s bond with Plant a Seed; she truly enjoys helping children enrich their lives through their passions. Her advice to any child is, “Don’t give up!” Erin believes that by making the calls, offering to volunteer and putting in the work your efforts will not go unnoticed!To learn more about the Plant a Seed Inspire a Dream Foundation, please visit www.plantaseedfoundation.org. To donate, please visit http://plantaseed.wpengine.com/involved/ and choose the “donate” option.If you have any questions regarding the foundation, please contact Michele Rice...