Jillian Wolstein
Chagrin Falls, Ohio
How is your Hero working to make the world a better place?
Jillian has founded a non-profit organization, H.E.L.P., that assists orphans and youth living in Malawi, Africa. Malawi is a country that has been ravished by HIV/AIDS and many children are without parents. She has helped over 4500 children through healthcare and education and provided jobs for over 60 impoverished adults. Through her own personal fundraising efforts she has raised and donated over 1 million dollars to her cause. Her goal is to empower the rural local community and create a system of sustainability that is not reliant on international aid. Through her efforts, Jillian’s non-profit H.E.L.P. has constructed a primary school building that educates over 900 students, a Health Center to combat HIV/AIDS with an 11-bed maternity wing, and a community library. Although Jillian founded H.E.L.P. five years ago, her energy has not been diminished. Jillian is actively working with the Malawian government, funders, and neighboring countries to continue her work and expand her projects.
How has your Hero impacted your life and inspired you?
Jillian Wolstein is an amazing woman who is deeply connected with the needs of others and believes in the struggle for community development as a way out of poverty. She firmly stands by the mantra “Give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he will eat for life.” Jillian looks forward to the future and the many lives that she will touch. Jillian has been an inspiration on affecting change within impoverished communities. Although she recognizes need for assistance, she has always taught the importance of community-driven strategies and empowerment. She has inspired us to become better people and view the poor in a new light. Her energy and compassion are infectious and demonstrate how one person truly can make a difference on a global scale.