The Promise We Made
by Larry Swank, Sherry Swank
Publisher
Forbes Books
Publication
Dec 08, 2026
Format
Hardback
Illustrated
No
Price
29.99
Dimensions
6 x 9 in
ISBN
9798891884137
Pages
216
Age
Adult 18+
Category
Biographies & MemoirsBusiness & EconomicsCareerSelf-Help
Rights Sold
🌍 World Wide Rights Available
Description
Awards & Endorsements
Review
Author(s)
Larry Swank
Sherry Swank
Related Titles
| Publisher | Forbes Books |
| Publication | Dec 08, 2026 |
| Format | Hardback |
| ISBN | 9798891884137 |
| Pages | 216 |
| Age | 18 - 99 |
| Price | $29.99 |
Categories
Biographies & MemoirsBusiness & EconomicsCareerSelf-Help
BISAC Codes
SELF-HELP / Death, Grief, Bereavement
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Nonprofit Organizations & Charities / Management & Leadership
The Promise We Made
by Larry Swank, Sherry Swank
When Larry and Sherry Swank lost their son Jaxson at twenty-two months old, the grief was all-consuming. But in the darkness of that first night, they made a promise: they would find a way to give their son’s brief, radiant life lasting meaning.
The Promise We Made: Transforming Grief into a Force for Good tells the story of how that promise became the JWAS Foundation, an organization providing full scholarships, leadership development, and whole-family support to children from preschool through college.
Inside, readers will discover:
* How the Swanks turned devastating loss into a thriving foundation
* The Trilogy of Care model that supports scholars, parents, and families together
* Practical lessons in building a purpose-driven nonprofit from the ground up
* How faith, community, and intention can carry you through the unimaginable
* Stories from the Jaxson Scholars and families whose lives have been transformed
Written with vulnerability and warmth, this book is for anyone who has faced profound loss and wondered whether joy and purpose could ever return. The answer, the Swanks discovered, is yes.
Reviews, Awards & Endorsements
Review
“Sherry and Larry have both done a marvelous job in creating a narrative that is captivating on more than one level. Not only does the reader gain an understanding of where you are and where you have been, but where the JWAS Foundation is—its purpose, its growth, and its potential. As bereaved parents, my wife, Cindy, and I encourage you to read The Promise We Made and walk away challenged to be a better person, make a difference, and be an encourager.”
— Pete Hodo III
Chief Financial Officer, Highland Commercial Mortgage
“Transforming the pain of grief into a source of strength, purpose, and deeper connection—The Promise We Made is a love story, inspired by the light of a lost child, fueled by faith, and filled with hope and healing.” — Dan and Tricia Luck JWAS Supporters
“This is the story of how one family’s heartbreak has been the catalyst for them to make the world a better place. It is a lesson for everyone in how to turn loss into purpose by creating light for others.” — Nancy Mercurio Executive Director, Unity of Tampa
“Transforming the pain of grief into a source of strength, purpose, and deeper connection—The Promise We Made is a love story, inspired by the light of a lost child, fueled by faith, and filled with hope and healing.” — Dan and Tricia Luck JWAS Supporters
“This is the story of how one family’s heartbreak has been the catalyst for them to make the world a better place. It is a lesson for everyone in how to turn loss into purpose by creating light for others.” — Nancy Mercurio Executive Director, Unity of Tampa
Authors

Larry Swank
LARRY SWANK is the Founder and Chairman of Sterling Group, a leading multifamily housing firm headquartered in Mishawaka, Indiana, with operations across fifteen states. A pioneer in affordable housing throughout the Midwest, he has spent more than fifty years in the industry and is a Life Director of the National Association of Home Builders. He is the co-founder of the Jaxson William Augustus Swank (JWAS) Foundation, which provides full academic scholarships and comprehensive family programming to children from preschool through college. He resides in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Sherry Swank
SHERRY SWANK is a community leader, philanthropist, and former Vice President of Operations at Sterling Group. She has served on the boards of the Center for the Homeless and the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation. She if the co-founder of the Jaxson William Augustus Swank (JWAS) Foundation, which provides full academic scholarships and comprehensive family programming to children from preschool through college. She resides in Mishawaka, Indiana.
Current Licenses
🌍 World Wide Rights Available