In 2022, the My Hero International Film Festival premiered a short film featuring Charles Withuhn (Mu/California 1972) and his community service acts in Chico, CA. The film was the brainchild of Respectful Revolution, a non-profit advocacy venture documenting positive actions throughout the U.S. with short video portraits.
Brother Withuhn has been a commercial and electric contractor for 40 years, executing all the signage for Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico, CA. When he moved to Butte County in 2017, there was not as large of a homeless population as there is currently. However due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have been indefinitely closed and many people have faced hard times. Once Withuhn heard a story of a woman who hadn’t had a shower in a year, he decided it was time to start making a difference in his community by designing mobile, self-contained showers for the less fortunate.
“This is why Theta Chi and fraternity is important, it helps build a network of friends that can see you through life to call, talk to, vent to, laugh with, get some direction and ask for help. With everyone so isolated, many people are missing the human connection. If we are going to succeed as a nation, we need each other and we can’t turn a blind eye to someone asking for help” said Withuhn.
He added, “The antidote for sadness is to go out, love, and be loved. Creating opportunities for someone to have access to clean, hot water and a place to stay has been fun, fulfilling and it makes me feel good that I’ve been able to lend an Assisting Hand.”
Good job, Charles! We’re always proud to learn about brothers who continue to extend an Assisting Hand.
To see more insight on Charles’ epic humanitarian effort, you can view the award winning short film here.