Sometimes the hardest part of giving isn’t deciding whether to make a difference.
It’s deciding how.
After the unexpected loss of her husband, Ramsey, Cheri Palmer Hashem knew she wanted to honor his memory in a meaningful way. For over a year, she kept her eyes, heart, and hands open, trusting that the right opportunity would eventually reveal itself. When it did, she discovered that making a difference didn’t require having all the answers—it required paying attention to the people, opportunities, and gentle nudges that kept appearing along the way.
Ramsey’s life story was one of resilience and determination. After his father was killed in a bombing in Lebanon, his mother took on the task of rebuilding their family’s future, reuniting them after a period of separation and ultimately bringing her five children to Canada. Inspired by the courage and sacrifice that shaped his early years, Ramsey later moved to the United States, where he built a successful career, and created a life defined by hard work, generosity, and deep devotion to those he loved..
Cheri initially thought the best way to honor him might be through a cause connected to his roots and the challenges his family had endured. But she wasn’t yet sure where that path would lead. At the same time, she found herself drawn to opportunities to serve closer to home, becoming involved in efforts that supported families and individuals in her local community.
So she remained open.
During a Bible study, Cheri wrote down a simple phrase that stayed with her: “Grow where you are planted.”
Cheri Palmer Hashem, with her late husband, Ramsey, and daughter Emilie
The words took on new meaning as she reflected on her life with Ramsey. Georgia had been part of their journey more than once. It was where they began building their family and, years later, where life brought them back. While neither she nor Ramsey would have described Georgia as their roots, Cheri came to see that roots were not the point. She realized that honoring Ramsey didn’t have to mean looking halfway around the world. She could make a meaningful difference right here in the community where God had planted her.
At the same time, people seemed to enter her life exactly when she needed them. Through a Bible study on generosity at her new church home, Stonebridge, she met Molly Holm, founder of Glory Haus and Emmanuel’s Village, a tiny-home community being created for families of students in Marietta City Schools who are striving to succeed but lack stable housing.
While homelessness was an issue Cheri cared about, it still wasn’t the connection she had been searching for.
Then she heard Molly describe Emmanuel’s Village’s focus on families of students who were working hard to build a brighter future despite the challenges they faced.
Helping provide stability for young people determined to build a brighter future reminded Cheri of Ramsey’s own journey and the opportunities that changed the course of his life.
Emmanuel’s Village: Site Concept, 09.12.2025
Suddenly, the pieces fit together.
The opportunity was local. The mission reflected Ramsey’s story. And the impact would help create opportunities for families with young people determined to build a brighter future of their own.
Working with her financial advisor and Cobb Community Foundation, Cheri made a gift of stock from Ramsey’s former company to support Emmanuel’s Village.
“There is so much hidden need we don’t see,” she says.
Because Cheri kept her eyes, heart, and hands open, one more family will have the stability they need to focus on what comes next. It’s a legacy Ramsey would have been proud of.
The opportunity to make a difference isn’t always where we expect to find it. Sometimes it’s waiting right where we’ve been planted.
Let us help you grow where you’re planted. If you’re looking for a meaningful way to make a difference, we’d love to help. Call Cobb Community Foundation at 770-859-2366 or email CCFTeam@CobbFoundation.org.
To learn more about Emmanuel’s Village, click here.
