We couldn’t wait to share this heart-wrenching and inspirational story from one of our team members! Mario Mitchell, one of our amazing realtor partners, has been very open about his life and shares it in hopes of helping the mindsets of others who are on their own journeys. This is a hard story to read, but we share Mario’s passion in telling it in hopes that it helps someone.

When he was a toddler, Mario’s father stowed him and his mother on the aircraft carrier he was serving on and smuggled them both from the Philippines to San Diego. His father suffered from untreated PTSD and was extremely abusive toward them. Two years later Mario’s mother tragically died, and his father turned more violent toward him and his younger brother. That Christmas a neighbor saw the aftermath of this, he had been beaten unconscious with broken ribs and eyes swollen shut. With his father jailed, Child Protective Services placed him and his brother in an orphanage. But, this unfortunately wasn’t the end of his troubled childhood… After 4 years Mario ran away from the facility and at just eight years old he was living on the streets, homeless…

Mario spent almost 5 harrowing years sleeping under bridges, restrooms, and in the woods, fending for food and shelter. He learned how to jump trains, hustle pool, & darts from grown men at dive bars, and he dreamt of getting back to reality. He had spent most evenings breaking into schools where he would play basketball and keep warm and off the streets for a few hours. But it wasn’t long before he slipped, an officer stopped Mario one night and matched his footprint to one left after one of his break-ins. He was taken to a rehabilitation facility for runaways and troubled youth where he gradually learned about self-discipline. During this time he was introduced to organized sports where he learned how to be on a team, how to listen to authority, and learned how to come back from survival mode. Moving into the Foster and Public School systems in his early teens he had a hard time fitting in and didn’t make the cut for several school teams, discouraged he ran and was back in the rehab facility again. A counselor, and former Major League Pitcher, taught Mario to focus that energy inward to better himself and his confidence. He was determined to work harder to earn what he wanted in life, and he did just that! The following year he was placed into Foster Care again and thrived as a freshman on his high school team and went on to earn a Full Basketball Scholarship! Despite moving between 63 different foster homes in 6 years, He Thrived. His determination is nothing short of inspirational!

Mario is blessed to follow a passion very close to his heart, he is now an amazing realtor partner who has the honor of serving families in our community. Home is something that he dreamed of for all of his childhood, and being able to help families find their dream homes is such a gift! This is why we’re so passionate about supporting worthy causes like Zoe Freedom Center. As a non-profit that is dedicated to empowering the lost and forgotten, through worthy causes like this, they can transform themselves. Accomplished business owners, influential leaders, inspirational coaches, loving parents, and amazing people with newfound purpose; this is the goal of Zoe Freedom Center. With every introduction you give, we donate a portion of our income to Zoe Freedom Center, Children’s National Hospital, and other worthy causes. If you or if someone you know is thinking about moving, Call or Text us at 804-655-0651 now and introduce us to them. Not only will they get the 5-star service that we are known for, but they will help support an awesome worthy cause so they can continue all the good work they do in our community.

Mario’s children are now around the same age as when he first ran away from the Orphanage in San Diego, CA. and looking at them he reflects on his journey, and is always humbled but grateful to his father for his poor judgment because though his path in his young life was extremely difficult, it has taught him the work ethic he has today and the compassion and empathy he carries with him is his strongest asset. He is so grateful to have the opportunity to provide a loving home to them where he had none at their age.

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We’ve been looking for all opportunities to give back to our community, and Zoe Freedom shares the values very close to the heart of Reynolds EmpowerHome Team. This is why we’re so passionate about helping families through real estate, it allows us to support worthy causes like Zoe Freedom. Helping these families and fighting for you, the families we serve, through the purchase or sale of a home every day is an incredible responsibility that we don’t take lightly! With every introduction you give, we donate to Zoe Freedom Center, Children’s National Hospital, and other worthy causes so they can continue the awesome work they do in our community.

Thank you,
Sarah & Debbie Reynolds
CEO / Team Leader of Reynolds EmpowerHome Team

If you are thinking about moving, or if someone you know may be, please call or text 804-655-0651 and introduce us to them. Not only will they get the 5-star service that we are known for, but they’ll be able to support this awesome worthy cause.