Charles Anderson, chief executive officer of the United Way of the National Capital Area, Vienna

My father passed away from a heart attack when I was 14. Before that, I was happy-go-lucky, no-responsibility, Ozzie and Harriet, stuff like that. And then, suddenly, I have this grand awakening that this is a different kind of world. One day I was a kid, and the next day I had to be an adult. Then my mother got ill. She would be walking and suddenly fall down. It was really scary.

My mother died in October of my sophomore year in college. There was a teacher who pulled me aside and said, "If you ever need to talk, I'm there for you." I looked at her, and I said, "Oh, I don't need to talk." Next thing I know, I was spilling my guts. She was the person who allowed me the opportunity to open up. She was a social worker, and that helped me say, "This is a career that interests me." She demonstrated to me that there are people who help other people. She was a role model. Having been helped, my natural reaction was turn around and give help.

Interview by Cathy Areu