THE BOY INSIDE
THE MAN

A charismatic, innovative, vision-driven humanitarian. Donovan Gardner bravely allows an unambiguous view into his personal trauma to give a voice to the wounds of others. 

 

As the first-time author of the eagerly awaited “The Boy Inside the Man” a memoir that navigates his intrepid journey through childhood trauma, Donovan Gardner champions the reality that we don’t have to be a product of our pain. Born in Allendale, SC, and raised in a single-parent home, the door to Donovan’s trauma was opened when he was molested by a family friend. Donovan’s memoir walks us through his journey of healing and reinvention, as his growth transformed him into the high-powered, optimistic, visionary who now dedicates his life to the empowerment of others. 

 

Donovan is an author, speaker, coach, entrepreneur, and youth advocate. In the fulfillment of these roles, he applies the motto “Empowered Today, Equipped Tomorrow.” Donovan’s innovative, holistic approach to pedagogy influences individuals, unifies teams and invigorates leaders by building a bridge between where they are now, and where they want to be. Donovan has dedicated his career to youth advancement which is reflected in his recent charter of a Grassroot educational organization in 2019 which earned a contract with one of the largest school districts in the nation in 2020. 

 

Driven by his passion for philanthropy and community involvement Donovan’s humanitarian efforts are reflected in his dedication to many nonprofit organizations. Donovan has played a critical role in organizing food and toy drives for organizations such as Second Harvest Food Bank, Toys for Tot, and the Just Because Foundation. His philanthropic pursuits include the awarding of hundreds of scholarships for after-school care to historically underserved students. Above all of his numerous passions, Donovan is most dedicated to his family. The reinforcement behind Donovan’s drive, purpose, and distinction is his wife and two children.