Most teenagers who mow lawns during their summer vacation do so to earn money for a new bike or video games. But Tyce Pender, a teen from South Carolina, doesn’t want that. So instead of putting his earnings toward extra spending, the 14-year-old is saving his hard-earned money to help cover legal fees so his stepfather can adopt him.
Tyce Pender wanted to earn money so his stepdad could adopt him and his siblings
Eric Jenkins, Tyce Pender’s stepfather, has been a part of the family since Tyce can remember; Jenkins started dating the teen’s mother in 2010 before proposing to her four years later. So when his parents began talking about Jenkins adopting him and his 15-year-old brother, Tylee, Tyce Pender knew he wanted to do everything he could to make it a reality.
Tyce shares that Eric has been a father figure to him since he was two. He adds: “He’s always been there for us and helps me with anything I need, like homework…This is important because Eric teaches me respect, independence, and what it means to be a man.”
Even though the family was able to find a pro bono lawyer, legalizing Tyce Pender, his brother, and their stepsister Tierrianna, adoption is expected to cost them several thousand dollars.
“Court is expensive,” Tyce Pender explains. “I thought I could make enough money to pay for the adoption.” Because there aren’t many jobs available for 14-year-olds, he understood he’d have to find a way to get the money.
How the teen boy started his brilliant idea
Tyce Pender was motivated to start looking for a job after seeing that his older brother had landed one.
“I used to cut grass with my oldest brother, and so I thought… I could just cut grasses,” he says.
He tried asking for assistance from the Facebook Community, but he failed to find an employer who would hire someone so young. Despite this challenge, the young businessman was unaffected since he had a plan.
He went to his mother, Marcy Jenkins, and requested a small business loan to launch his venture. She then assisted him in obtaining the tools he needed for the job — a mower, an electric leaf blower, and a rake.
When he had everything he needed, and after acquiring the necessary equipment, he returned to Facebook to ask the neighborhood whether anyone needed lawn service. The teen was so happy that he received more than 100 responses.
Within a week, he already had lawn care appointments set up. One of Tyce Pender’s first clients was Sarah Larrabee from West Columbia, who was delighted with his work.
She said: “It went so well, he was such a sweet kid, so polite and just so happy to be there and excited to have his first job, and it was just so sweet.”
The teen’s parents were incredibly proud of their son’s hard work and initiative. “I’m glad that he wanted to do this, and even if he doesn’t make anything, it’s good for him,” says his mom, Marcy Jenkins. “We’re very proud of Tyce, and he tries hard and has so many goals.”
The teen’s acts highly moved his stepfather, but he still intends to pay for most of the adoption expenses. “Caring for Tyce is my job,” says Eric Jenkins. “His heart is in the right place… I’m extremely proud of Tyce. He’s a good kid.”
Tyce Pender started a lawn care business and got a business license
Tyce has cut approximately 16 yards since starting his business and has already saved US$400 toward his goal. He even gained his business license at 14, making him an official business owner.
“I am a real business owner at 14,” Pender says happily. “This is big to me.”
Tyce Pender says he intends to continue running his lawn care business until he graduates from high school, and he hopes to raise enough money during that time to fund a particular goal.
“I have a stepdad… and I want him to adopt me, so I’m planning to save up a lot of money to help pay for the lawyer,” the boy says.
Tyce says he does not currently have set pricing for his lawn service, but if you call him, he will work with you based on what you can afford. He hopes to mow even more lawns once he is out of school for the summer in a few weeks.
If you want to contact Tyce Pender for lawn care services, you can do so through Facebook.
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