This is the third post in a series that will showcase the leaders of this generation and how they are creating magic in the lives of their co-workers, their clients, in their community and in their own lives. Today we hear from Chris Goyzueta, the founder and Director of Rock For Hunger, a community changing nonprofit in Orlando, FL. From feeding the homeless to raising awareness to a whole new ball game in brand recognition, Chris is a young leader with change in his mind and his heart. Enjoy!

When writing a brief story about Rock for Hunger, the most difficult part is always trying to figure out where to begin. A little over two years ago, I was in the pursuit of becoming a physician in natural medicine with the goal of being accepted into an Osteopathic Medical School program. Part of being a pre-Med, one has to be active in the community, have outstanding grades, job shadow doctors, and do a whole lot more. The most fun for me always came when giving back to others, and helping serve those in need. This should be the passion of every aspiring physician. During this journey I was elected to be the Director of Hunger & Homelessness for the University of Central Florida, and was motivated to do something that no director has ever done. This is when I combined my two biggest passions in life, music and helping others, and created Rock for Hunger.

At first, Rock for Hunger was to be a student run project that included monthly volunteer events for the students of the University of Central Florida, and then to end everything with a big festival to raise awareness about homelessness and poverty. This festival was dubbed Rock for Hunger. I organized a small committee, which came to be known as “The Hunger Committee.” The Hunger Committee organized the volunteer events, Rock for Hunger, and other major events on campus. Throughout the year we met many great individuals from college students, to needy individuals in the community. It was inspiring to see the faces of the homeless when we provided them with a good meal, to see the joy in a less fortunate child when reading or playing games with them, to see the huge amounts of food we organized at a food bank and most of all to see the commitment and dedication by other students. It is so cliché to use the example from “Field of Dreams,” but when you build it, they really do come.

After the semester was all set and done, and Rock for Hunger was all over we set off for winter break. When we met again the following semester, we were hooked. There was just no way we could let all those people down. We reached out to a lot of people, but the problem of homelessness and less fortunate children was still in the back of our neighborhood. I could not continue my pursuit of becoming a physician with the knowledge of having people starve, homeless, children without hope, and suffering in my own community. Nevertheless it is a problem that can be fixed. Right away I decided to gather The Hunger Committee back together, with some new supporters, and we began the nonprofit organization “Rock for Hunger,” named after our first festival.

Now we feed over 140 homeless individuals every Monday night, tutor children in low income neighborhoods, built a job training program, and still hold our annual Rock for Hunger Fest every November. Just a few months ago we have received our 501(c)3 status, which makes all donations and contributions to our organization tax exempt. This is the much abbreviated version of the Rock for Hunger story. It is amazing the direction life leads you sometimes. You feel as if you know exactly where you are heading, and you find that everything you have done was to build the foundation to your real calling. When one finds this calling, it can sometimes seem so absolutely impossible, overwhelming, and impossible to achieve. It is just so easy to say ,

“That is way too hard; I think I’m fine with what I’m doing.”

Sometimes, no matter how hard, and no matter how many obstacles one must overcome, always go with your inner voice. Follow your calling in life. All the battles and grief are worth every minute, every tear, and every drop of sweat, every frustration, and most of all, every single smile you find in yourself and on the faces of others you have reached out to. It is amazing that at the end of a very hard week when you are sitting on the couch exhausted with every once of energy drained out of your body from everything you have done, you can’t help but smile that you are doing something you truly enjoy. There is nothing in life worth more than doing what you love, and pursuing your calling to life. When you have found your calling, grab it, and do whatever you can in all your might to not let it go. Don’t ever give up! There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and when you reach that light you will be showered in amazement by its beauty. Follow your dreams and don’t ever let anyone or any feeling in the world take that away from you. Be AWESOME at your passion and you can Create Magic wherever you go!

Written by: Chris Goyzueta
Contact: chris@rockforhunger.org
Blog: Rock For Hunger Blog

*Rock For Hunger 3 Fest is coming November 15th, 2008 to the Plaza Theatre in Orlando, FL. For more information and to buy tickets, please visit the Festival web site.* (the site works although it is under construction)