Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricardo and Ray Mc Campbell.
So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
This organization and idea was started during the time I was employed as a Dallas Police Officer. During my 35 year career, I learned that the majority of violent crimes were being committed by young People’. I had a conversation with another Police Officer friend of mine who worked in another part of the city on the west side who shared some of the same sentiments about crime as I did. We decided to create something that would attract the attention of young People’ so we decided to use Superheroes, but also implement what we have learned from being believers in Christ. We started out using our own money and time off from work and our own resources as we still do today with a little help from some sponsors. As we recruited more volunteers, we began to increase in request and implement other teachings such as the importance of education and having a personal value system. We started out with ten to fifteen engagements to where we are now with about sixty to seventy a year.
We have progressed to the point that we have created our own powerpoint that we teach in public and private Schools. Not only do we travel in the surrounding cities around Dallas, Texas, but we travel all over the State of Texas and will travel anywhere in the Country if we can afford to do so. We have grown to about twenty volunteers’ who dedicate their own time and resources. We have assisted the Police Department for the past seven years and travel to neighboring agencies to assist them also. This is done without compensation.
Our fundraising efforts allow us to buy school supplies for children less fortunate and medication for children in the hospital who can’t afford the medicine they might need. We have also assisted families in hardship cases of tragic events. This is all done with our fundraising efforts no Corporate, or Government monies.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
When you are a faith-based organization, you will always have obstacles and people who do not like you. We dont worry about that and continue the fight. We do not deter God’s teachings nor do we support worldly agendas. If a request does not fall in line with what we represent, we do not attend it. We have the power to pick and choose and we choose GOD.
This is probably why we struggle in trying to do more for people because of our faith-based principles of helping anyone who may be in need regardless of race, zip code, or religion. We try to help everyone. Our main struggle is trying to one day have a facility like no other that helps everyone. Since we dont endorse politicians, or radical groups were kind of left alone to sustain ourselves. Which we love it’ I believe that patients is always a good thing you can’t rush God.
The other challenges is sometimes staff ‘ everyone is not going to make it to the end of our journey. We sometimes lose members for various reasons. We have strick recruiting guidelines for members to follow yet nothing that anyone cannot achieve. Our Motto is to always try and be the example to follow especially if you’re mentoring to People or Children who need guidance.
Please tell us about your organization.
What we try to do is be the example for that adult or child if they are dealing with issues that they need help in. Example Children who bully other children. we teach them not to do that and explain and show them the consequences of their actions. We specialize in motivating children to get good grades by teaching our power point and then rewarding them when they succeed. We do this by the award ceremony at their school and giving a pizza party and photo ops with their favorite superhero. We are known for our program called the
‘Hero Challenge” it is composed of several guidelines about grades, perfect attendance, obeying their parents,
fulfilling their chores, and attending their place of worship. We also encourage the parents to be a part of this three-part program. Child, teacher, parent. We are the facilitators.
I am most proud of us because we do not brag about what we do when we do it. Most of our media is earned media. We don’t make a profit off of what we enjoy doing, and sometimes have to come out of our pockets to achieve the mission set forth. I have never really considered what sets us apart from others other than the fact we put God first and above all. We are first come first serve no matter how much money one tries to bribe us with.
I just want people to know that we are a real charity with no hidden agendas, we don’ t endorse politicians or take any funds from council people who want their picture with us to look good in the community.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Continue to ask God for guidance and be more diligent in spreading his word.
Pricing:
- We sell T-shirts with our name on them as a fundraising item they are $20.00 dollars
- we sell baseball caps with our logo on them for $15.00 dollars
- we sell logo patches $10.00
Contact Info:
- Address: 202 Hedgewood Dr
Waxahachie, Texas 75165 - Website: heroescopsandkids.org
- Phone: 2146501737
- Email: dallashero@yahoo.com
- Facebook: heroescopsandkids.org facebook
- Twitter: heroescopsandkids.org twitter
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