Who We Are!
EIN - Employer Identification Number - 85-1160675
Earnest Heart Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization specializing in restoring, educating, and empowering families, children, and individuals. We purposed in our hearts to strengthen those in need through a merciful heart full of loving-kindness. This foundation was birthed from a heart to serve and eradicate poverty from those impacted through socio-economic barriers. We believe that when merciful hearts and helping hands unite, those barriers can be mitigated.
Earnest Heart was created because we believe lives and legacies can change through compassion and solidarity.
Why We Serve!
Core Values: The following 7 scriptures reflect our earnest desire and commitment to serve.
John 21:17…And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Matthew 25:35-36 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Psalm 72:12 For he will rescue the needy when he cries for help, The afflicted and abused also, and him who has no helper.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over…
Psalm 34:6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Psalm 69:33 For the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
Luke 5:7 They called to their friends in the other boat to come and help them. The friends came…
Meet the Board of Directors:
The Board of Directors for Earnest Heart Foundation is responsible for strategic planning and oversight of the organization, operations, programs, projects, and future endeavors. The board approves all organizational goals and objectives, policies, and procedures. The authorization of all new programs, financial affairs, and the authority to align and allocate funds according to the vision and mission of Earnest Heart are also the responsibilities of the board. The board will accomplish Earnest Heart's goals through partnerships, staff, advisors, and other volunteers.
"Thanks be to God, who placed within my heart
an earnest care for others."
Dr. Temperance T. Tobe has over 30 years of experience working with families and students. As the C.E.O. of Earnest Heart Foundation, she has a B.S. degree in Human Science, an M.S. in Child Development and Family Studies, with certifications in Family and Consumer Science, Career Development and Special Populations, Curriculum Instructional Support Coordinator, and an M.S. in School Administration. She obtained her Ph.D in Education Leadership from Walden University and takes pride in uniting helping hands and merciful hearts as the founder of Earnest Heart Foundation.
Founder and CEO of Earnest Heart Foundation.
Among her other accomplishments are several awards, community-church partnerships, and grants designed to empower youth and strengthen the family unit. Her other achievements and honors include membership in the National Society of Leadership and Success, the Ebonettes Award, the Team First Award, the Bright Ideas Grant Award, the Soar Summer Reading Program, the Math Saucers Tutorial Project, Y.E.S.S.- Cup Partnership, the Young MoP Grant, and the N.C.C.U. Service-Learning Award.
Although she is immensely proud of her academic accomplishments, Dr. Tobe affirms that her greatest achievements are her special treasures. She has been married to Edward Tobe for 32 years, and together, they have two young adults.
Dr. Tobe has been a member of her local church for 25 years. She has served as the Teen Director, a Missionary Board member, a dancer on the Liturgical Dance Ministry, a Sunday School teacher, an Ark Prayer Leader, and an Outreach Director. As an exuberant and forthright leader, she now serves as an Associate Pastor and Director of Prayer and Intercession at her local church. When asked why she started the Earnest Heart Foundation, she kindly responded, "Thanks be to God, who placed an earnest care for others within my heart."
Edward Tobe is the owner of ETGxP Compliance Services, L.L.C. As the Treasurer of Earnest Heart, he has a wealth of experience in validation, consultation, and compliance services and oversight. He currently serves on two different boards. Mr. Tobe community affiliation allows him to provide non-binding strategic advice from a community perspective as a board member with a local credit union. In addition, he humbly serves on the board of directors for his church. As a board member, Mr. Tobe assists in making sure the church's financial and business affairs are accurate, complete, and proper maintenance of financial records and information/tax returns comply. Additional skills valuable to Earnest Heart Foundation include approving annual budgets, maintaining financial records, ensuring the organization’s ongoing solvency, and overseeing check signing, expense reimbursement, and credit card usage.
Regarding education, Mr. Tobe earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. His continued professional development is valuable to Earnest Heart and includes project management, customer interfacing, resource allocation, and time management.
Ms. Rachel Owens has accepted the call to serve as the Chair of Earnest Heart Foundations and brings twelve years of experience working with nonprofits. She has been an environmental science educator for 26 years in both NY and NC. She has been a board member for local affiliates of the Keep America Beautiful organization for a combined 12 years now. Her passion for all things environmental has driven her to lead and join the efforts of many other groups that empower people to protect our great lands and waters, including the Climate Reality Leadership Corp. And then within her capacity as an educator, she has led her students in countless extracurricular clubs and events that include environmental club, STEM club, Envirothon, a solar schools initiative, rain gardens student internship, charity events, summits, rallies, public speaking engagements, and her students have even won multiple state-level competitions and multiple years of Keep America Beautiful Volunteer of the Year awards. Rachel herself won NC Environmental Educator of the Year for 2013, and Northern High School’s 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year. Rachel has lived in Durham for 6 years.
Dr. Michelle Sever, Ph.D., brings 20 years of experience in epidemiology and clinical research, leading studies and clinical trials in the areas of food allergy, seasonal and perennial allergy, asthma, and pediatric and adult solid organ transplantation. Dr. Sever spent the first 12 years of her career at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/N.I.H., and then moved to Rho, where she spent eight years as a Sr. Research Scientist and Principal Investigator for several federally funded statistical and clinical coordinating centers. Serving as a member on the board, she is now a Sr. Director in Government and Public Health Services at P.P.D. Dr. Sever has achieved a B.S. in Biochemistry and Microbiology from North Carolina State University and a M.S.P.H. and Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Sever spends time outside of work volunteering with her church and other community organizations as a tutor and mentor for at-risk youth. She is also an artist focusing on creating abstract art and unique jewelry pieces with acrylics and resin.
Dr. Vimbainashe Chanakira, originally from Zimbabwe, is a certified educator in both the United States and Zimbabwe. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Zimbabwe and began her teaching career in her home country. After her family migrated to the United States, Dr. Chanakira furthered her education, earning a Master of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences and a Master’s in School Administration from North Carolina Central University. Driven by a passion for eradicating poverty for all, she completed her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Walden University. With 40 years of experience working with families and children in Zimbabwe and the United States, Dr. Chanakira brings invaluable expertise to Earnest Heart.
As Vice Chair of Earnest Heart, she dedicates herself to supporting families, individuals, and those in need. She embodies a steadfast commitment to service, which is a cornerstone of the organization’s mission.
Ms. Amanda Weaver has accepted the position to serve as the Secretary of Earnest Heart Foundation. She brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and dedication to service. Ms. Weaver is a Harnett County, NC native and resident in the Durham-Morrisville area for the past 5 years. She has worked for a Non-Profit Company on a Federal Ability-One Contract for 14 years, with the last 5 years as a Project Manager at the NIEHS Site. She also has over 20 years of Accounting/Bookkeeping Experience with an AAS in Accounting.
Growing up on a farm and in a rural community, she learned responsibility early and the need to help others. One Summer, an accident caused her Father to be severely burned and stay at the UNC Burn Center for a lengthy stay. The entire community pitched in together to help harvest the family's crops that year, strengthening her desire to give back to the community and help others.
Ms. Weaver shared, “I am honored and thrilled to be part of the Earnest Heart Foundation. I am ready to learn all that I can and help others through its projects and programs.”
It is a pleasure to join Dr. Temperance Tobe, CEO and founder of the Earnest Heart Foundation, as an Earnest Heart Advisor. I am Dr. Cynthia Harrell, a physician, retired from the practice of Internal Medicine.
I am grateful to God for the many opportunities that He has given me throughout my career. I have a B.A. in chemistry from Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA. The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill conferred my Doctorate in Medicine. I am also a veteran of the US Army Medical Corp.
I am thankful for a Warwick Fellowship, which allowed me to study and participate in the National Health Service in England. Later I was also able to study Obstetrics and Gynecology in Scotland at the University of Edinburgh.
God has given me many opportunities to be exposed to varied approaches to finding solutions to problems. Of course, He must be acknowledged, and my mind must be open to receive innovative and dynamic solutions that will add to the team outreach offered to the community by the Earnest Heart Foundation. It is my pleasure to serve.