He was a young boy when he started volunteering, “probably around 5 years old,” said Dr. Michael A. Hochman, a successful and highly skilled ophthalmologist and retina specialist working in Laredo, Texas. As a child he would spend hours alongside his parents as they volunteered at local organizations in his hometown of Urbana, Illinois.
Dr. Hochman continues striving to live by the compassion and empathy instilled in him by his mother and father. Throughout the year Dr. Hochman gives his time, energy and expertise, when appropriate, but more importantly he is passing on the legacy of giving to his children. Every week Dr. Hochman and his family give back to the community and have put in a considerable number of hours for many years now. They have received The President’s Volunteer Service Award for their commitment and continue to volunteer.
“Helping the community is not just privilege, but an obligation that makes our life complete,” says Dr. Hochman about his family’s volunteer efforts. They help out various groups but focus their work on serving Veterans by way of Volunteers Serving the Need and assist in feeding the homeless by volunteering at Bethany House of Laredo. Because he’s been volunteering from a very young age, Dr. Hochman says that while some of us have lots of advantages, some of us don’t have a mother or father to guide us. Some of us suffer from a disability, mental illness, or blindness. “It’s important we not only provide a service but also help build a safety net for those least fortunate.”