Hometown Heroes

They say it takes a village to raise a child. This village often consists of family members, educators, friends, peers, athletic coaches, and inspirational people we meet along the way. There have probably been countless moments in your life where you’ve leaned on someone you trust for advice or assistance. No matter who you’ve turned to, the importance of mentors is undeniable. So, this Challenge is dedicated to all the influential people who have made a positive impact in our lives. To all the mentors who have given us a helping hand, kept us inspired, and motivated us to conquer all our goals, we want to uplift and thank you.

Join the Hometown Heroes Challenge by composing an open letter addressed to the people who have shaped who you are. Whether your letter is a heart-to-heart to an educator, a token of appreciation to your mom, or a letter of reflection to someone who stepped in when you needed it the most, let them know how much they've impacted your life. We encourage you to include images, videos, and other keepsakes that are reflective of your journey with this special person.

We’ve partnered with Be A Mentor for this Challenge because they are committed to enabling youth to develop positive relationships with caring adults who empower them to reach their full potential through mentorship. We’d like to gently remind you that this is a safe space, and we can’t wait to read your stories.

Judges

Joe Waring is Executive Vice President and CFO of EP Group, LLC. Mr. Waring joined Evening Post Industries in 2013 and was named the group’s Chief Financial Officer in 2018.  In 2021, when Evening Post Industries restructured, he became CFO of EP Group, LLC. Mr. Waring is actively engaged in philanthropy and civics. He is Chairman of the Board for Be A Mentor, Vice Chairman of Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired South Carolina, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. He is also a proud member of the South Carolina Liberty Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Institute.

Alexandra Moore is the Executive Director of Be A Mentor, a nonprofit that serves youth in 26 schools and two city recreational departments throughout the greater Charleston area. She is an active contributor in all of her endeavors. She mentors two incredible youth herself. She is on the steering committee for Spoleto Scene. She is also an active volunteer with Charleston Parks Conservatory, a past volunteer at every Spotlight Awards, and an active collaborator with other youth-serving nonprofits.

For your story to be eligible, it should be between 600 and 5,000 words and adhere to our Community Guidelines. Stories published on Vocal and entered into the contest up until February 15, 2022, at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The Hometown Heroes Challenge is exclusive to Vocal+ members. To learn more and upgrade to Vocal+ visit https://vocal.media/vocal-plus.

To be eligible to win the grand prize, second place, or third place prizes, you must be over the age of 13 and residing in a country where Stripe is available at the time of entry. A complete list of countries where Stripe is available can be found here—winners will need to have a Stripe account created and connected in order to receive the prizes. For this reason, entrants located outside of any of these countries will not be eligible to win.