Uplift: He overcame a drug abusing mom and founded a nonprofit in Detroit focused on removing non-academic barriers to education.
Strawberry Letter
iHeartPodcasts
4.5 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 19 December 2025
⏱️ 19 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Tarence Wheeler.
Founded a nonprofit in Detroit focused on removing non-academic barriers to education.
- During the pandemic, he helped distribute over **15 million meals** through a partnership with Forgotten Harvest.
- His work is rooted in personal experience: growing up with a mother struggling with addiction and an absent father.
- He credits his success to mentors, coaches, and community members who supported him.
---
### 👥 **Youth Advocacy**
- Terrence emphasizes the importance of **adult involvement** in youth success.
- He believes that **every child who shows up to school is already succeeding**, and it’s up to adults to help them cross the finish line.
- His programs are designed to **uplift, mentor, and provide resources** to underserved youth.
---
### 🦃 **Annual All-Star Giveback**
- Terrence and NBA great **Derrick Coleman** started the **All-Star Giveback** 27 years ago with 200 turkeys.
- It has grown to include:
- **3,000 turkeys**
- **500 chickens**
- **Socks, belts, rental assistance, and more**
- **Special deliveries** for seniors, veterans, and disabled individuals
- The event features appearances from celebrities and athletes like:
- **Gary Payton, Isaiah Thomas, Rick Mahorn, Tim Hardaway, Calvin Johnson, Big Sean**, and more
- **Governor Gretchen Whitmer** and other local officials also participate
---
### 💬 **Key Quotes & Insights**
- “It’s not your conditions, it’s your decision making that determines your destiny.”
- “If I can go from a dope house to the White House, so can you.”
- “If everyone does a little, no one has to do a lot.”
---
### 💻 **How to Support**
- **Phone**: (313) 819-0040
- **Website**: TerrenceWheelerFoundation.com *(as mentioned in the script)*
- **Volunteer or donate**: Not just about money—human capital and time are just as valuable.
---
### 🧠 **Tone and Style**
- **Inspiring and heartfelt**: Terrence shares deeply personal stories to connect with listeners.
- **Community-focused**: Emphasizes collective action and the power of showing up.
- **Uplifting and motivational**: Encourages listeners to give back and believe in their potential.
#STRAW
#SHMS
#BEST
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is an I-Heart podcast. |
| 0:02.6 | Guaranteed Human. |
| 0:04.5 | Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Yo, yo, yo, yo. Can we get Thanksgiving first? I'm hungry. What's up, y'all? It's Kadeen. And DeVal, the host of the Ellis Ever After podcast. This holiday season, tune out the noise and tune in to Ellis Ever After. On Ellis Ever After, we get real with our crew about family, love and marriage. |
| 0:23.8 | And everything else in between. |
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| 0:34.7 | Hi, I am Roshan McDonald, I host I host the weekly Money Making Conversation Masterclass show. |
| 0:39.3 | The interviews and information that this show provides are for everyone. |
| 0:42.9 | It's time to stop reading other people's success stories and start living your own. |
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| 0:58.7 | Now, let's get this show started. |
| 1:00.8 | My next guest found a small nonprofit organization in Detroit that works hard to alleviate |
| 1:06.2 | all non-academic barriers for education for young people. During the pandemic, he led the effort to |
| 1:13.4 | distribute over 15 million meals to the Down River community via a partnership with Forgotten Harvests. |
| 1:20.9 | He is highly respected in the community over 20 years of service and the philanthropic activities |
| 1:27.1 | across the Detroit community. |
| 1:30.4 | Please welcome the money making conversation master class, Terrence Wheeler. |
| 1:34.2 | Terrence, T. Dub, welcome to my show. |
| 1:37.1 | Man, thank you so much for having me, good brother. |
| 1:39.4 | I appreciate you, man. |
... |
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