"Where there's HOPE there's HEROES"

Founder

Joel Willis

While honing technical skills in a Family Medicine residency program it wasn’t long before Dr. Willis felt the visceral effect of a fragmented health care system. Grateful for the training to be a physician, he was nevertheless seeing and experiencing a system ripe with patient and clinician frustration, and ‘burnout’. That’s when Dr. Hanicek (a mentor and friend) using his Spidey sense asked Joel to join Superheroes for Kids in Ohio.

"I’ll never forget the feeling I had, my first day as Superman, when a little girl in the hospital ran up and hugged me as her mom smiled and cried. In that moment I felt the power of hope and healing as I lay witness to a lifelong passion of mine—bring healing to vulnerable populations."

Shortly thereafter Joel moved to Washington, D.C. to complete a Health Policy Fellowship and ultimately took a job as an outpatient Medical Director during the heart of the pandemic - an experience that solidified his belief that the D.C. region could benefit from ‘Heroes.’    

Today, Joel remains humbled and grateful for the opportunity to work with such an amazing cast of characters who volunteer their time and energy to make children smile.

"I'm proud of what we have been able to do so far, and I can’t wait to see what we’ll do next. Please consider joining our group as a volunteer or donor—we would love to have you. Remember, where there’s hope there’s heroes."

Co-Founder

Andrew Byrne

Andrew Byrne is a member of the USAF and the co-founder of Heroes for Heroes Washington D.C. Originally from Stow, Ohio, he has been involved in superhero volunteering for nearly a decade. He started his journey prior to leaving for basic training when he was in Cleveland, Ohio and was part of a group called Superhero to Kids in Ohio (SHTKIO). Their mission was to engage with the community and help children battling adversity in the Cleveland area. He fell in love with the cause and eventually started his own group in Omaha, NE called Heroes for Heroes Omaha, which he ran until he left active duty.  After handing H4H Omaha over to a friend, Andrew hung up his shield and moved to Washington, DC. to focus on the next chapter of his life.

Six months later, Andrew received a call from Brian Chulik, a friend of his from SHTKIO.  After hearing that Joel was looking to start a H4H chapter in D.C., Brian reached out to Andrew and a bond/ partnership between Superman and Captain America formed.  

One year later, H4H D.C. became a fully formed nonprofit looking to bring goodwill to the area...Guess Andrew wasn't quite as ready to give up the shield as he thought.

Board Member

Ajani Bennett

Ajani Bennett's Spidey senses were honed, in the great city of Chicago, where superhero Saturday morning cartoons mesmerized and inspired him to meet his own challenges as a young man growing up in a big city with a big family. He was particularly drawn to Spiderman and the idea instilled in him by his uncle Ben - "with great power comes great responsibility".

This idea resonated with him as it was a constant part of the lessons his mother conveyed within him daily. As someone who worked her whole life in the non-for-profit space, her example and teachings relentlessly promoted ideas of the Golden Rule, being a good and honest person, and facing life’s challenges with character and conviction.

"I feel honored to be a part of this group. It is not lost on me during visits that Spiderman is often the character that rings so passionately with children and families. I wear that badge with pride, as I seek to be both inspiring and inspired by the children we meet, who, like Miles Morales, show us that we can rise above our circumstances finding strength within ourselves. Look out, cause this friendly neighborhood Spiderman has a plan to do what Spidey can—bringing a web of smiles near you".