Richard Rogers was just an average guy trying his best to live the good life. One day, he was sleeping with his two boys and a friend in their hunting cabin when everything changed.
Lightning sliced through the cabin’s roof in 1995. It struck Rogers directly, stopping his heart and setting his body on fire.
You can see the emotion in Rogers’ eyes when he thinks about that moment. “I didn’t wake up,” he told CBS News. “I was dead.”
One of his boys started CPR while Rogers had an out-of-body experience. After two hours, rescuers were able to get him to a burn center in Chattanooga. Fighting for his life, he vowed to give back. “I sat up in bed and I prayed,” Rogers said. “It was, ‘If you will let me live, I don’t want to live for me. I want to live for others that I can help.’” [1]
His balance isn’t the best. His hearing is impaired, and the scars from the lightning strike still exist but all that hasn't stopped him from honoring that promise he made with God. Today, he’s established the Just One More Foundation, which has already granted $120,000 to people in 17 states to give them a second chance.
People Need Opportunities to Prove They Can Be Successful
Establishing the foundation wasn’t the first time Rogers worked to turn things around after a devastating experience. He is currently the Chairman of the U.S. Stove Company. The business was inherited from his father, who unfortunately took his own life.
With the company struggling, Rogers and his family were determined not to file for bankruptcy or let it go. They worked hard to turn things around, and it is now a thriving business with 150 years of serving customers as part of its history. [2]
“The doctors told me I would never walk again, and so I proved them wrong there,” said Rogers.
The Just One More Foundation is one of several philanthropic efforts that Rogers works on in his community. His company helps with The Launch Pad in Chattanooga, building homes for women overcoming their battles with drug addiction issues.
“What Richard likes about his and my story is that they correlate so closely together because we’ve both been given a second chance at life,’ said Scottie Bowman, who receives support from The Launch Pad. [3]
How Does The Just One More Foundation Work?
Second chances through the Just One More Foundation are available through grants to individuals and nonprofit organizations. Individuals and nonprofits can apply for funds to help them “rise again.”
Education, health challenges, mental health, and drug misuse are the funding priorities for the grants. You can apply for one at this link: https://www.justonemorefoundation.org/grants/.
The site also provides direct links to resources and operates local events. Purchases from the foundation’s shop help to fund the grants that get distributed to others.
Applications closed on October 11 for the second-round of 2023 grants. Recipients will be notified in November. The 2024 dates have yet to be announced.
The Importance of Giving Someone a Second Chance
Everyone makes mistakes. It's part of being human. Acknowledging this gives people room to grow and improve. [4]
When you give someone another chance, you’re giving them an opportunity to show they’ve learned from past experiences. Forgiveness can benefit you emotionally and mentally, especially since holding onto a grudge can lead to higher stress levels.
Whether it's a friendship, family bond, or romantic relationship, forgiving someone can sometimes make the relationship stronger. Both parties may gain a deeper understanding of each other.
Getting a second chance often lifts a weight off a person's shoulders. They might feel grateful, relieved, and motivated to do better. [5]
The person who's given a second chance often feels a renewed sense of responsibility. They might work harder to prove themselves, leading to personal and professional growth.
It’s essential to remember that some situations do not warrant second chances. Actions can be so harmful that they cannot be overlooked, and you have the right to protect your own well-being. There is also a risk that the same mistake gets repeated.
For Rogers, he’d rather give people the benefit of the doubt. The one thing that holds so many back from success is a lack of resources or opportunities. His philanthropic work is evidence that the second chance he received is creating many more for others, changing the world one person at a time.
References:
[1] https://www.justonemorefoundation.org/just-one-more-founder-survives-lightening-strike/ ; [2] https://www.usstove.com/about-us/ ; [3]https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lightning-strike-survivor-richard-rogers-second-chance-at-life-just-one-more-foundation/ ; [4]https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201608/4-reasons-give-someone-second-chance ; [5]https://www.irvingtonschools.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=8&ModuleInstanceID=44&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=5922&PageID=9
