Our Mission
We value the heroes in our community that consistently uphold the standards of a respectable, moral character. We especially value the persistence of good character when not under perceived-observation. We believe that individuals who uphold the principles of virtuous character in public and private are true heroes of the community.
Day to day, heroes in our community spread positivity and love to others despite the adversities they may be facing in life. We believe that these heroes are the foundation of our robust and enriching community at the University of Chicago. Our community could not flourish without them.
By recognizing community members that consistently adhere to qualities of moral character, we aim to spread love and encourage others to embrace principles of a virtuous being. We select a new hero each month, awarding them $100 and a certificate. Their magnificent stories are shared on our website.
Our Goals
Our goal is to encourage heroes in our community to persist in spreading love and positivity. We want our award to positively reinforce the moral behavior exemplified by these individuals who add great value to our community, especially in times of adversity. Additionally, we hope that sharing the stories of our heroes will inspire others to uphold principles of a virtuous character. Together, we can make our community and the world a better place.
Our goal for the future is to increase the number and value of awards given out each month. We wish to eventually provide more opportunities for the recognized heroes and their families. Furthermore, we hope to grow our platform so that more individuals are encouraged to live by standards of a moral character. An important element of our mission is to inspire individuals to exemplify character qualities of a virtuous being, especially in the face of adversity. To conclude, our goal is to accentuate the actions of true heroes that add significant value to our community.
This Month’s Hero
Tony
Tony is a dining staff member at Woodlawn Dining Commons and has been part of the University of Chicago community since October 1998. He grew up on the South Side of Chicago and has spent nearly 30 years making Woodlawn feel like a second home for everyone who walks through the doors.
Every morning at the omelet station he's up bright and early, keeping everyone laughing before they've even had their coffee. He'll be the first to tell you his favorite part of the job is the people, and you can really tell just how much he means it. Outside of work it's all about his daughter. She's 12 and the two of them are always out together, whether that's bike rides or hitting the parks around the city. His advice: "Go harder when you are younger so that when you are older you can flow through life easier."
Tony was so grateful and appreciative to receive this recognition. We are proud to call him a Hero of Hyde Park. Thank you for everything you do!