Team Heartland, from left to right: Geoffrey, Marian, Chris and Isa
Just last night, Chris Szabo, an incredible Team Heartland Roadie hit the road once again. He’s joined other members of our staff for the Your Home for the Holidays Live Tour where they’ll travel to the homes of our supporters across the country.
I could say a million words describing the remarkable influence Chris has left on all of us here in the office. But in true Chris fashion, he’d rather turn the spotlight to the people he met on tour that changed him.
A letter from Chris Szabo, Fall 2013 Roadie:
After 240 hours of training, 10 weeks on the road, and almost 100 presentations, my time as an Invisible Children Roadie is coming to a close. My time spent in San Diego and across the United States has given me the unique opportunity to not only grow in my adventure to a fulfilling life, but to also encounter amazing people along the way who have been compasses in my journey. I’d like to highlight a few of them.
From the get-go, Robyn Corcoran, a teacher at Paul Mitchell of Dallas, not only booked two screenings, but also continually sought to do more, with a continuous positive attitude. She sent daily texts of encouragement to the team and me, helped the other teams book screenings at other Paul Mitchells, and proceeded to do everything to make our journey an amazing one. Our screenings at her school resulted in over $3,000 raised, my teammate Isa shaving a section of her head, and our friend Robyn booking a flight to San Diego. She came to the beach with us, met Jason, toured the office, and walked away more inspired than she ever could have imagined. Her attitude and outlook in life is characteristic of an Invisible Children superstar and an all-around remarkable human being.
Team Heartland poses with Robyn (second from left)
The second person is Chuck Andrews. Much like Robyn, Chuck was one of those persons who consistently kept up with the team and myself as we traveled. He has been a longtime supporter of IC, and has helped to host screenings and Roadies for years. The moment we pulled up to his house, it felt like months of being away from an old friend, and the following morning at his school felt like visiting our old stomping grounds. The inspiration he instills into his students, and the valor with which he carries himself inspires me to want to be a teacher, not only because of the inspiration I can give to students, but also the fulfillment I can receive in myself. Keep pie-ing away & hoorah Chuck!
Chuck reached his fundraising goal! The deal: His students got to pie him in the face
Last but not least are Robyn Grossnicklaus, Kenneth Pierce, and everyone at Warren Middle School in Forney, TX. From the moment I was contacted by Robyn, I knew that this school was going to be special. She would get back to me immediately in all communications, advertised like no other, and the best part is she’s the Assistant Principal. The caliber of commitment and leadership I saw even before arriving at the school made me excited for the screening. After arriving, I learned from Ken about his dream to inspire his students to change the world around them & to truly believe in themselves. The attitude I saw in him & Robyn completely pervaded into their students & faculty. They are the literal world changers because they are raising students in the correct ways they should go.
Team Heartland at Warren Middle School in Forney, TX
All in all, I can say I’ve been motivated, inspired, surprised, and honored to be on this adventure as a Roadie with the best organization I could ever know. Though my time here in San Diego has come to a close, my life as a responsible global citizen bound upon the breaks of change has only continued to expand. May the lives we live, the dreams we share, and the passion we create be as endless as the stars themselves. And on we continue…
Think people should hear about this?