Choose to Change is Featured in KURV 710 Talk Radio with Sergio Sanchez

Read the Transcript:

Sergio

Let me go to the phone lines, my friend, Orlando Salinas. Anything for Salinas... My friend Orly from Choose to Change is joining me right now.

He's with CQR. You know, the people that do remodeling. He's got a successful business. Which by the way, Orly, with people doing remodeling all that and COVID, you were telling me last time that it is crazy busy for you, right? People doing remodeling and extensions.

Orlando

It is incredibly busy, and it's I have customers waiting on me for months, literally, and I'm so grateful for that. Tt's really, it's amazing. It's amazing.

Sergio

You do kitchens and baths. And also, if necessary, like do extensions and more rooms like full projects for remodeling for the entire house, right?

Orlando

Oh yeah, yes. Right now, we're working on the house we're doing well, two houses complete renovations outside and inside, from fences to pools to outside kitchens, to just all kinds of stuff. Because we have all the resources, but I specialize in kitchens and bathrooms, which of course, I am doing all that inside as well.

I know God is providing for you through your business... ...Gods' Providing for you to do this [Choose to Change].

Sergio

I mentioned this because you know you are a walking miracle of God your life. Your personal message of the Lord brought you out of deep darkness and being behind bars and just a life that was just not worth anything. To total transformation, you developed this Choose to Change Foundation. You speak with men who are out on parole right. They're trying to transition from prison back to normal life, get a job, be responsible dads and husbands. It's a great, great foundation. I know God is providing for you through your business. You're very successful. God's providing for you to do this. For folks who have never heard the Choose to Change, tell them how you reach these men, these halfway houses, and even in prison trying to get them to turn around.

Orlando

Well, one of the things that people don't know about me in my remodeling business is people have not even a clue of where I'd come from. But at least 10 to 20% of everything that I make in my business goes to the Choose to Change Foundation. And it's been like that for at least 10 years. But in any case, the Choose to Change Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Christian-based organization. Our mission is to restore families by inspiring, challenging, and equipping men to become more effective fathers, husbands, and leaders in our community. And our vision is to end fatherlessness in our communities, which is a very high goal, right. But that's what we're fighting for.

Sergio

Of the guys you see in prison, Orly, of the guys you see that came out of prison, that you're trying to help them get back on the straight and narrow; How many of those dudes did not have a father?

Orlando

Many do get back into the straight and narrow?

Sergio

No, how many of them did not have a father when they were growing up?

Orlando

Over 50%, over 50%. No what actually it's like like over 60 to 70% of people in prison are fatherless. Those are the highest ranges. And fatherlessness is a major issue in our society. Major, I call it a systemic problem. That's a truly systemic problem. And so then what I do is I challenge men to rise up and become the fathers and the husbands and the leaders that we have been called to be by God, you know, whether you are a believer or not. That's just the fact. And that's what I fight for. And I started with the people in prison, with the people coming out of prison, and people in recovery. But I but anyone and especially the fatherless young men out there that are just seeking direction in life.

Sergio

You have any idea how many men in Choose to Change, in your ministry, your outreach, your Foundation, how many men through the years you've been able to help get straight and be good husbands and parents go get a job, and you know, transition? Just turn it around? Do you have any idea?

The reality is that very few men make it. That's the hardcore fact...

Orlando

Yes. We've touched; literally, I have touched literally 1000s of men and families with my ministry and my organization around the world. Because I've had the privilege of traveling all over the United States to New Zealand to Australia to Brazil to the Philippines, sharing my story. Which, we haven't even gotten into that of how why I even do what I do. But we won't get into that right now. It's too long. People can look me up at ChoosetoChangeFoundation.com, ChoosetoChangeFoundation.com. But the reality, Sergio and most rehab centers and recovery groups will tell you this, but the reality is that very few men make it. That is the reality, hardcore fact. Because drug addiction is a monster. And when you didn't have a father, that's even worse. But the good news is that I've seen hundreds of life change through our ministry, and men in our church that I belong to, I can think of at least just 15 off the top of my head that have changed their lives or serve your families. I can give you one example. Just to give you one because there are several. Two new guys that just came in. They came from the parole office; they just had trouble wanting to change their lives and didn't know how. Heard my story came to my class. And this one guy, his name is Rick, we'll call him Rick. He has five kids. He was struggling with alcohol. Today, he's doing great. He's been sober for over a month. He's never been sober over that long or two months like that. He wants to get married to his longtime girlfriend that already has two kids, and their family is being restored. And that's what we're doing at the Chose to Change Foundation. I can think of another guy that came to my meeting five years ago, but he didn't listen. He went back to prison. Now he's come back. Now he's ready. I can see the change in him. But the good news is he knew exactly where to come. He came to the doors of our church. The Door Christian Fellowship came into my room. He said, Now I understand what you were trying to teach me. I'm ready to have me become the man of God. The man, the father, the husband that I am meant to be.

Sergio

You got a fundraiser coming up this weekend. Tell people about it.

Orlando

So yes, please. This Saturday, the 29th. I believe it's the 29th. It's at Oil Can Harry's in Edinburg, Texas, at the Oil Can Harry's in Edinburg, Texas from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. we're gonna be washing cars to raise money. Our goal is to raise $1,500 this weekend in that fundraiser. I'm going to be giving away free breakfast tacos in the morning. So that way people will come over, I'll probably have some drinks and water for the people to come to see what we're doing. Wash their car and get a flyer from us. And to tell you a little bit about what we're doing in our community. And great things are happening.

Sergio

Oil can Harry's Edinburg, 8 a.m. in the morning to 1 p.m. this coming Saturday donation carwash to benefit the Choose to Change Foundation online it is choosetochangefoundation.com, right? Or is it .org?

Orlando

No, .com. ChoosetoChangeFoundation.com or choosetochange.net.

Sergio

Got it. You'd be safe Orly, thanks for checking in.

Orlando

Well, thank you! I appreciate this time.

Sergio

Orlando Salinas with ChoosetoChangeFoundation.com.

Help us end fatherlessness due to incarceration!