Wish Dish | Share Your Story

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The Second Helping

Yesterday, we brought you exclusive origin stories from several UGA HEROs. The word on the street is that you’d like some more. We’re happy to serve you a second helping today—heartfelt accounts written by the real-world HEROs of Athens, Georgia.

Before you read, here’s how to get involved.

John Chaknis

%tags Overcoming Challenges In high school, I worked up in the mountains at a youth camp. Many of my older coworkers went to UGA and we naturally added each other on Facebook after the summer ended.

It was here that I saw HEROs advertisements and recruitment videos before I ever applied to UGA. I remember how inspired and amazed I was, and I knew then that I wanted to be a HERO.

When I was accepted to UGA, I immediately looked for ways I could explore and join up. I went to the kickoff meeting and was absolutely wowed by the presentation and the goal.

This was passion. This was heart. This was for me.

I interviewed for freshmen council and truly began my HEROs story. After exposure to the council, I knew I wanted to be a big idea guy for the group. I applied for Team Leader and was selected, learning much about myself and what I can do for others in the process.

The people I have met have inspired me as well. Some of the greatest all-around friends I have made are fellow Team Leaders, fellow HEROs.
If you’re looking for a great cause, a group of friends, a family away from home, go HEROs.

Kalah Mingo

%tags Overcoming Challenges Hero (n.): a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for their brave deeds and noble qualities; someone who fights for a cause; a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese

The definitions of a hero are endless, ranging from dignified to downright tasty. Still, with all these interpretations it makes me wonder. What defines a true hero? I found my answer when I joined UGA HEROs.

When I stepped foot onto UGA’s campus I knew I wanted to get involved.

To me, trying out a volunteer organization was an obvious start. It was safe. It was “volunteering.” No one could make me do it or stay if I didn’t want to and while I was at it I could rack up some good karma points.

I quickly learned that there was basically “the big three” (among several other awesomely worthy organizations) when it came to volunteer organizations on campus—Relay, Miracle, and HEROs.

HEROs stood out to me for three reasons:

They were the most “in my face” and consistently passionate at organization fairs.
I didn’t know much about HIV/AIDS so I thought it could be a good learning experience.
The name. It sounded cool (and not to mention red is definitely my color).

Needless to say, I chose HEROs. I went to the required meetings, raised more money than I had to, but I wasn’t really sure if I was feeling it. I wasn’t accepted to Freshman Council had a hard time making any friends (sometimes its tough being an introvert). For my efforts, I was allowed to be on a committee—but I didn’t really know what was going on since I came in halfway through. I felt lost and out of place. I decided I would go to our biggest event of the year to see what all the hype was about—HEROs Olympics.

That day I realized what being a hero really meant.

I watched as the kids ran around, jumping down the inflatable slide, running through the bouncy obstacle course, and playing games. I know this sounds cheesy, but I saw a light of pure joy and happiness in their eyes. I realized that we gave that to them.

We did this.

Through the hard work and dedication of HEROs members, we gave our kids that opportunity to laugh, have fun, and forget about the stresses of being a child affected by a life-altering disease if only for a little bit. In the grand scheme of things it may seem small, but in the life of a child the impact is immeasurable.

Mary Stewart Weir

%tags Overcoming Challenges Just like everyone else coming to UGA, I was ready to find my place and my people. I can remember two of my best friends insisting I sign up for UGA HEROs. To make them happy, I did. At that moment, I never knew what this organization would soon mean to me and how thankful I would be that they made me fill out that information sheet.

UGA HEROs has introduced me to some of my best friends I know and will continue to be my best friends for the rest of my life.

HEROs has inspired me to work harder and to be a better person.

Joining this organization, I had no personal ties to the cause at all or even had a full understanding as to what it was. Now, I see the hardships and trials that our children face and it is my personal mission to change that.

UGA HEROs helped to bring me out of my shell and encouraged me to be the weirdest, most outgoing person I could be. I look up to everyone in this organization whether it’s our children, executive board, fellow team leaders, committee members, or philanthropists.

Everyone here has a deep, contagious passion.

This is the reason why so many people join to begin with and why they keep coming back. We have touched the lives of so many with our cause and continue to because of the love and dedication that runs this organization. I couldn’t be prouder to share our cause with everyone I meet, and I hope to touch lives the way this organization has touched mine.

This organization is filled with heroes inspired by true HEROs; once you join, it won’t take long to see exactly what I mean.

Anna Deltcheva

%tags Overcoming Challenges When I first joined UGA HEROs, I was a more-than-slightly confused sophomore. I wish I could say freshman, but I was probably more confused as a sophomore. I had gone through my freshman year doing essentially nothing but eating at the dining halls (as everyone should).

Once freshman year ended, I knew I needed to get involved on campus. I went to Tate during the fall 2014 activities fair and I looked around for maybe two hours trying to find which organization I was most interested in. I’m still not sure why it was, but HEROs stood out to me the most.

My freshman year roommate had been a part of HEROs so I already had some sort of introduction to the organization, but I think it was the guy dancing in front of the HEROs station that led me to think, “Huh, they’re kind of weird, perfect.”

I’m a huge proponent of doing things yourself so you can see the result—HEROs gave me that.

I nailed my interview for a committee, answering the “if you could be a kitchen appliance, what would you be” question with “fork.” Actually, in reality I said that and I cringed because 1.) That’s not an appliance, and 2.) What benefit does a fork give you other than allowing you to stab at a piece of lettuce? Somehow, I was placed on the Community Events Committee.

I knew from just going to committee meetings that the people were hilarious and HEROs had a lot planned. I also knew from the time I was a philanthropist that I wanted to be a team leader. Thankfully that interview resulted in me having actual answers rather than panicked “fork” responses. When I went to my first TL meeting, I actually panicked a little bit because everyone seemed to know each other and I didn’t know anyone—except for some previous 5-second encounters.

What honestly sold me on HEROs was the TL retreat in April. Again, I was nervous because I was going to a sleepover an hour from Athens with people I barely knew. But that ended up being one of the best nights I’ve ever had at UGA. Ever.

With absolutely no exaggeration, I made some amazing friendships that night—friendships that will last for indefinite years to come.

The people I was nervous to hang out with because I didn’t know them are now the people I can call up at any time of day to hang out, or to vent to, or to just share some random story with. I am thankful that HEROs has brought me these friendships while also allowing me to change the lives of some very cool kids, who can honestly out-dance every single person I’ve ever met (and I have videos to prove it).

I’ve realized over time that HEROs is not just another fundraising organization. We get to meet the kids we fundraise for. We get to see how these kids break the HIV/AIDS stereotype. And we get to do all that with some best friends.

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