Meet the Founder

Brenda Schwab, CPCS, CPMSM

Meet the Founder

Brenda Schwab, founder of The Eighth Leaf Project, holds a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration and is nationally certified by the National Association of Medical Staff Services as a Certified Provider Credentialing Specialist and Certified Medical Staff Manager. With over 35 years of experience in healthcare, Brenda brings a unique blend of administrative expertise and passion for community-driven wellness.

Brenda has dedicated much of her life to advocating for children in the foster care system. She was featured on the cover of Parade Magazine in July 1988 in an article titled “Who Speaks for thethe Lost Children” , recognizing her passionate work and commitment to youth in crisis. Her role as a foster parent and advocate continues to shape her mission to serve the most vulnerable through both her nonprofit work and her healing farm.

In addition to her healthcare and research work, Brenda also founded a nonprofit organization called Emma's Secret Closet. Through this mission, she delivers “First Night Bags” — filled with comfort and hygiene essentials — to children entering foster care during some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives

Brenda is also the creator of Schwab’s Cajun Cheese Straws, a savory Southern snack that earned statewide recognition when it was chosen as one of Louisiana’s Top 20 Products during the QVC “50 in 50” tour of states. The cheese straws were featured on the QVC Mardi Gras show in New Orleans and sold out in 6 minutes. She credits much of her success during that time to the guidance and support of Renae Tull from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture Extension Service.

Her background includes extensive work with Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) in hospital settings, ensuring the rights, safety, and well-being of human subjects participating in clinical research. Brenda’s personal journey took root after purchasing a farm in Robeson County, NC, where she discovered an abundance of Great Mullein growing wild across the land. After contacting Mr. Bill Foote at the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and submitting a photo of the plant, he confirmed it was a 'Mullein weed.' Curious to learn more, Brenda joined a Facebook group dedicated to the medicinal uses of mullein. When she posted a photo of the mass of plants growing in her pasture, she received over 400 responses from members across the country, affirming the value and potential of the plants she had unknowingly been nurturing. That discovery inspired her to blend science, legacy, and service—establishing a center to study medicinal plants and serve underserved communities in a meaningful, sustainable way. Brenda's faith in God has guided every step, and the reason He provided this land is still a mystery — but one she embraces with trust and gratitude.

✝️ I walk this land in faith every day, knowing God is in every leaf, every bloom, and every new beginning. To Him be the glory.