Sometimes, all it takes is a pencil to spark possibility.
For Lewis Howes, that spark came when he heard Pencils of Promise founder Adam Braun share a simple but powerful story: giving a pencil to a child who had asked for one. The child’s joy illuminated something deeper, access to education is more than materials or buildings. It is hope.
That moment stayed with Lewis. It aligned with his belief in personal growth, leadership and using success to create meaningful impact. Inspired, he took action by supporting the building of a Pencils of Promise school in Guatemala.
Later, he invited Martha Howes to experience the work firsthand.
What they encountered on the ground left a lasting imprint on both of them.
“One of our favorite moments was visiting a PoP school in Guatemala,” Martha shares. “The joy we saw on the children’s faces filled our hearts. We thought we were giving to them, when in reality, they were giving us the most joyful experience.”
They walked through classrooms, met teachers and watched students beam with pride as they showed off their school. For Lewis and Martha, the experience reinforced something powerful: education doesn’t just transform students, it strengthens families and uplifts entire communities.
Their favorite moments with PoP happen not at events or behind the scenes, but standing inside a school, watching children step into a classroom built through collective action. Seeing that first day of possibility, the smiles, the confidence, the spark, is a reminder of why this work matters.
Supporting Pencils of Promise has also deepened their perspective on leadership and service.
“Education changes everything,” Lewis shares. “When you support Pencils of Promise, you’re not just donating to a cause, you’re investing in a child’s future and in generations to come. Seeing students proudly walk into a classroom for the first time is a powerful reminder that even one action can create a ripple effect that opens doors, builds confidence and gives someone a real chance at a better life.”
Through PoP’s community-driven model, Lewis and Martha witnessed something essential: real change happens when communities are empowered, not rescued. Families take pride in building something lasting for their children. Local leaders step forward. Ownership replaces dependency.
That belief, that education is a partnership, is why they continue to support the mission.
If they could inspire one person to take action, their message is simple: Education changes everything.
In communities across Guatemala and beyond, students are walking into classrooms with hope in their eyes and that possibility exists because people choose to act.
At Pencils of Promise, we believe education is the foundation for dignity, growth and lasting change. Partners like Lewis and Martha remind us that when leadership meets intention, impact multiplies.
Because when a child has access to education, the future becomes theirs to shape.
