What do cupcakes have to do with youth mental wellness? What do brownies have to do with anti-bullying? If you’re Harper Martin and Hadley Hildebrand, both seniors at Heritage Hall school in Oklahoma City – and members of the Heroes In Waiting 2024-2025 Teen Advisory board – the answer is “everything.”
This past year Harper, daughter of Tony and Cherie Martin, and Hadley, daughter of Jason and Melisa Hildebrand, have participated in Heritage Hall’s Peer Leadership Program. The initiative is designed to give students the opportunity to demonstrate leadership and long-term service to a nonprofit in their community.
“We chose Heroes In Waiting because we think that bullying and mental health are under-discussed, especially in schools,” says Hadley.
Harper agrees. “We know that there is bullying everywhere, even in our own communities, and we wanted to stand up against it,” she says.
Their latest assignment was to organize a fundraiser for their chosen nonprofit, so they decided to do a bake sale at their school. From baking their own treats, to recruiting volunteers and manning the booth all day, Hadley and Harper planned and managed a fun and successful event.
Heroes In Waiting executive director Jim Stewart was on-hand to accept their generous donation of $181, and he couldn’t be more proud. “These gals have proven all year long what a huge heart they have for their community, and I hope they know how far their efforts will go to impact other young lives.”