Rob Scheer

Founder of Comfort Cases

Rob Scheer

Founder of Comfort Cases

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Biography

Rob Scheer founded Comfort Cases in 2013. Comfort Cases is an all-volunteer charitable organization that provides overnight bags, pajamas, hygiene items, activities, and comfort items to children and teens transitioning into foster care. An adoptive father of four children from foster care and a former foster teen himself, Rob recognized a troubling yet consistent trend: like so many in the foster care system, his own children came to his home carrying what few possessions they had in black trash bags. He immediately connected the trash bags with the instability, lack of self-worth, and fear that many kids in foster care experience during this uncertain time in their lives. Armed with the conviction that all children should be provided with everyday essentials and the comfort of a few things to call their own, Rob started Comfort Cases and began a journey to improve the lives of foster children throughout the DC metropolitan region.

Backed by friends and local supporters volunteering their time, Comfort Cases provided 500 cases to social service agencies in the DC region during its first year of operations. Local companies began hosting donation drives with their employees and girl scout troops, schools, and faith-based and community groups began reaching out to host packing parties. The ability to join in service together, give locally, and help children was a recipe for continued success. In 2015, the charity’s reach grew exponentially- 5,000 comfort cases were distributed that year. In September 2015, American Girl Magazine ran a feature article on Rob’s daughter Amaya and her community involvement and special role with Comfort Cases. Subsequent news coverage about the Scheer family and Rob’s vision for helping foster children has resulted in national and worldwide interest in Comfort Cases. The organization is continuing to expand its reach and will continue to grow under Rob’s leadership. Rob looks forward to the day when Comfort Cases can utilize local partnerships to help any foster child in need in any community around the U.S.

In addition to his work with Comfort Cases, Rob is the Chief Strategy Officer for Landmark Network in Van Nuys, CA and has over 25 years of leadership and operations management experience in the mortgage and financial industry. Rob is also a proud veteran of the United States Navy. He lives in Maryland with his husband Reece and their four children.

Speaker Videos

TEDx: Life in a Trash Bag: Restoring Dignity to Foster Children

Leading by Example

Nonprofit Gives Backpacks Full Of Hope To Children In Foster Care

Discussing 'Comfort Cases' on Everyone Has a Story

On Making Kids Feel Wanted

Comfort Cases

No Child in Foster Care Should Carry a Trashbag

Helping Children in Foster Care With Comfort Cases

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Speech Topics

Giving Back & Leading by Example

We are all connected as a global community, and it is not only our responsibility, but our privilege to give back to those in need. Community was created for us to take care of each other, but somewhere along the way, we have forgotten that. We live in the wealthiest country in the world but yet we turn a blind eye to the suffering of so many in our own backyards. All it takes is the caring and commitment of one person to make a profound difference in the lives of others. Through his own story of overcoming adversity, Rob Scheer motivates people of all ages to not only care about the struggles of others but to take action to help alleviate their suffering.

From the Streets to the Board Room: Rob Scheer’s Inspiring Journey

Rob Scheer will never forget the day he turned eighteen. It was October of his senior year of high school, and when he arrived home from school, he did not find balloons, cake, and presents. Instead, sitting by the front door of his foster family’s home, Scheer found his life’s belongings in a trash bag. The monthly check his foster family had been receiving stopped coming when he turned eighteen, and Scheer was told to leave. In that moment, Scheer found himself homeless. Scheer knew the odds were against him, but he was determined not to be the statistic that our society has come to expect of a homeless teen. Scheer started on a journey of hardship with the conviction that his choices would lead him down a path to success. Determination and perseverance kept Scheer in school, and with each new challenge, Scheer continued to work quietly towards his dreams of a better life. The lessons he learned about overcoming adversity and believing in oneself inspire us all to reach our highest potential.

Becoming a Leader & Playing in the Game

Rob Scheer’s professional accomplishments defy the expectations that society predicts for a man who grew up moving around within the foster care system and ultimately became homeless. Scheer’s life experience challenged him to work hard to overcome adversity. Building on this drive and strong work ethic, Scheer created a successful career for himself in the world of business. On his journey, Scheer realized that reaching your full potential as a leader means truly being involved with the goals you are working to achieve. A leader has to play in the game with those he is leading to truly motivate and reach the full potential of all members of the team.

Rebuilding a Shattered Foster Care System

When something breaks, you can fix it; when something shatters, you must rebuild it. Our foster care system is in need of complete reform in order for children in care to have a more humane experience. Rob Scheer knows that the first step is for our community to realize there is a problem. There are far too many people who have little to no knowledge of the struggles children in foster care face. These children are truly invisible in our society. Not only must we raise awareness of their plight, but we must come together to alleviate their suffering. We must ensure that the basic needs of children are being met as they enter into care. Despite the frightening and chaotic transition they are experiencing, these children deserve to have a sense of dignity as they are moved to another home. We must also realize that we are simply graduating foster children from the foster system to the prison system. We are not providing these children with the educational and life skills required to launch a successful future. Scheer inspires us to realize the responsibility that each and every one of us holds to take care of these children and ensure that they have an equal opportunity for success in adulthood.