RE LOG Fall 2024

10 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2024 at times,” he said. The foundation has been an integral part of who he is since his pre-school days, and it remains ever present. While he’s taken a small step back due to his being in New York and working full-time, Williams continues to dedicate much of his free time to the foundation. “I go to work; I go home; I do my work for JHF when I get home. On weekends, I’m usually working JHF, reading or spending time with friends to try to find some balance in life,” he said. “But it’s important to me, and anything that’s important is worth putting the time and effort into it.” Those who work with him, like Suresh, also attest to Williams’ ongoing commitment to the cause. Suresh describes him as “very involved, especially after he graduated from college”: “When we have major events, like our graduation event in May, he’s there. He tries to make it as much as possible.” Martin Posada ’18 , Williams’ close friend since their days at middle school at RE, agreed, calling Williams a “very committed person. He’s always trying to help the community; it’s something he’s still focused on today.” Added Posada: “After work, he’s still very involved in Joshua’s Heart and new initiatives and everything. Even remotely, he’s still interacting with high schoolers and middle schoolers to drive the foundation forward.” That was how Mary Logan Woolsey ’22 got to know Williams. She joined the Joshua’s Heart Foundation at the suggestion of Head of School Rachel Rodriguez, who was then head of the middle school. It was 2016 and Woolsey was a sixth grader, a campus away fromWilliams, a junior at the time. By the time she got more involved in the foundation as a high schooler, joining its Junior Advisory Board, Williams was in college. Still, it was his story that inspired Woolsey to dedicate her time to JHF. “Josh is incredible,” Woolsey said, citing his dedication to the sometimes-lofty goal of “stomping out hunger,” JHF’s motto. “It’s so inspiring, but it actually made me feel like I was part of something, and changing the world. As cliché as that sounds, it made me feel good to be a part of that. It made me feel like I could do something like that, too.” Williams and his mom, Claudia McLean, were not only the dream team at the heart of the foundation, but they also pushed students like Woolsey to take ownership of their potential. When Woolsey was asked in high school to set up her own food distribution site in Coconut Grove – a task that would involve coordinating with the venue, food suppliers and community members – she was daunted. “But [Josh’s] mom really pushed me,” she said. “At the time, it was scary and I was like, ‘Why is she doing this to me?’ But I was grateful … Not everyone gets the opportunity to lead something like that, and be a part of something that’s impactful.” That distribution site, which Woolsey said she led regularly over two years, was staffed by JHF’s many volunteers and Ransom Everglades students. When she graduated in 2022 and moved to the University of Central Florida, the site’s management was passed down to another Ransom Everglades student, Carolina Hommen ’24 , who continued its mission. Posada, too, fondly remembers volunteering at JHF with his Ransom Everglades friends when he and Williams were in school together. He said they joined, in part, because of their friendship with Williams. “He didn’t pressure anyone to get involved,” Posada said, “but if you wanted to do it, he was always there and always willing to let friends join and get active.” But while JHF has, in many ways, been Williams’ life work so far, he doesn’t consider it a given or take it for granted. He doesn’t see it as something that was inevitable, either. “As I got older,” he said, “I realized there is a lot more fulfillment and understanding and … a sense of meaning in following the talents that God has given you ... and really leveraging those to help yourself, help your community and help the world.” It’s that vision for a future defined by strong and vibrant communities that continues to drive his work with the Joshua’s Heart Foundation and his passionate investment in the next generation of leaders. It’s why he doesn’t see himself stepping back completely any time soon, even as he passes the torch to the next generation. “I have a lot of love for it, and I think as JHF grows, the direction that we’re heading towards will be defined a lot by what the kids want,” Wiliams said. “And that’s the way it should be.” The Joshua’s Heart Foundation has made an impact for nearly two decades. Joshua Williams’18 with his mother, Claudia McLean