Steve Streit has had three careers spanning the last 40 years. His first career was in the broadcasting industry, where he worked both as a radio personality and then as a program director and format consultant for nearly 20 years.
His second career was that of an entrepreneur in the financial services space, where he’s likely best known as the inventor of the prepaid debit card industry and the founder and long-time CEO of Green Dot Corporation and Chairman of Green Dot Bank.
After 20 years at Green Dot, Streit founded SWS Venture Capital and entered his third career as a venture capitalist who seeks to fund promising young companies in various stages of their development.
Pattisway.org, named after his late mother, Patti, was founded in 2010 to provide emergency cash grants to single parents who find themselves in an acute financial pinch and need fast assistance.
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Can You Describe Patti’s Way for us and Tell Us Why You Created it?
Patti’s Way is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation dedicated to providing grants to single parents with minor children who need fast help with an acute financial emergency. For example, this may be a single mother living paycheck to paycheck, and her car breaks down, or she finds herself behind on utility payments. There is typically no county, state, or federal program that can provide such assistance, where Patti’s Way steps in.
Patti’s Way was named after my late mother, Patti, a very gentle and caring soul with an exceptionally massive heart for children and struggling parents. During her lifetime, she volunteered for several organizations that served children. She also served as a foster grandparent in her later years.
Mom was always the caring neighbor who went out of her way to offer to drive a senior citizen or cook food for a family in need. During one trip to the mall, I remember my mom comforting a scared, lost little girl by chatting with her and playing games while others located her mother. When my mother passed away, we wanted to honor her memory by creating an organization that could serve as she did.
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You Call the Charity’s Grants “Random Acts of Kindness.” What’s Behind That?
“Random Acts of Kindness” is the phrase that best describes Mom’s operating style. You never knew in a day what kindness she would share, but her antennae were always up to find those in need. Mom was always ready to share her warmth, whether it was the gift of food or money or just a comforting smile or reaffirming word for a nervous child. Most of all, Mom was simply kind, and that kindness radiated to those in need. So, we wanted to continue sharing that kindness in the same spirit as my mother and help those in need through financial assistance grants.
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Please Share a Few Examples of Ways Patti’s Way Has Helped Those in Need.
Patti’s Way works with several partner charities throughout the U.S., and grant sizes can vary depending on a charity’s mission. For example, by partnering with The Shelter for Abused Women & Children in Naples, Florida, we have helped many single parents escape domestic abuse and looking to start fresh. In Los Angeles, California, PattisWay.org supports The Hollenbeck Police Activities League and the families of children who participate in those programs. Pattisway accepts grant requests from many social service programs from across the U.S. We are always looking for other worthy organizations that we feel we can help.
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What’s Been the Most Challenging Part of Running a Charity? The Most Rewarding?
The most challenging part of running this type of charity is reading through the applications we receive daily. It’s hard to imagine the physical, emotional, and financial struggles these applicants are dealing with, and we feel for all of them. Yet, we can’t necessarily provide grants for all of them.
The most rewarding part is helping people via monetary contributions and kindness so they can successfully navigate their challenges. The heartfelt cards and letters we receive from grant recipients validate our belief that simple kindness and a little cash can go a long way in helping a family feel respected and valued.
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Is There Anything we Didn’t Cover Today That You’d Like to Share?
If your organization would like to submit grant requests for eligible recipients, please email us at [email protected], and we will contact you to learn more about how we can be a resource.
You can now understand how Patti’s Way really becomes beneficial for all the single parents in need out there.
