Most everyone you talk to celebrates their birthday once a year. For Heather Johnson, that is not the case! She celebrates her birthday twice a year. Once for the day she was born and the other for the day her older brother was re-born.
In 1996, Heather’s brother was on dialysis due to kidney disease and after approaching him and insisting she be tested, her brother agreed and Heather was a 100% match. That situation made Heather realize that “people aren’t go- ing to ask you for help, you need to put yourself out there and do things and give back.” That is exactly what Heather has done each day since.
By day, Heather is a Senior Account Consultant for an insurance company. By night, she transforms into a modern day Superwoman! Heather participates with the Women’s Leadership Council and the Young Leadership Group with United Way of Central Ohio. She organizes several food drives for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank and W.A.R.M. Plus, Heather organizes drives for Central Community House and Amethyst for back to school and summer program supplies.
Where does Heather find the time for everything when she also has a family (husband Jeff and daughters Christina, Abigail, and Victoria) to help take care of? “When there is not enough time, I make more…I stay up late and get up early! My family also participates in volunteering
when they can. We make it one of our regular family activities.”
Heather finds inspiration in the people she meets every day through her work in the non- profit sector. She realizes they are working with less every day to deal with difficult situations and that motivates her to do more.
Another major inspiration in Heather’s life is her mother. When Heather was 13, her father passed away, leaving her mom to raise 5 children on her own. “My mom made sure
we had what we needed and I learned that
it wasn’t about material possessions. She is a strong, selfless person and I am grateful to call her Mother.” This is the same upbringing Heather takes with her daughters. She believes helping young women through mentoring will ensure her girls have a central Ohio that is a world of opportunity for them.
There is a poem that’s called “The Dash” by Linda Ellis that Heather feels is the best advice she’s ever received. “It basically talks about when you pass away, on your tombstone there is a dash between your date of birth and date of death. This dash represents your life. You need to think about your dash and be sure that in the end you will be proud of the life you led.”
For more details and to volunteer for the Women’s Leadership Council, visit www.liveunitedcentralohio.org/wlc .