End Overdose is made possible by hundreds of volunteers working tirelessly across the country. Some of them are training attendees at national festivals on how to respond to an overdose, while others are packing naloxone kits in our office well into the evening hours. We want to shine a light on the people whose efforts make our resources free and accessible to all, so we’re excited to share our Volunteer of the Week: Salar Hatef!

Director of Community Engagement & Training AJ Banuelos had this to say about Salar: "Sal has been a long time volunteer with End Overdose – an OG in the game! He was one of our first volunteers for our UCR Chapter and is still going strong today! He has done multiple events throughout the years and is definitely someone that we can always lean on while onsite. He's always willing to lend a hand when needed, and go above and beyond the call of duty. It's a great honor that we have Sal as our volunteer of the week (not to mention, he has an amazing dance game to keep the atmosphere fun and alive!)."

Can you tell us about yourself and your story?

I’m 26-years-old and currently living in Orange County. I graduated from UC Riverside in 2023 with a degree in Business Management. Shortly after, I began working as a Project Coordinator at a large construction company, which has given me the opportunity to apply my education in a fast-paced, real-world environment and gain hands-on experience in managing complex projects.

Before that, I moved to the United States from Iran in 2014 after several years of traveling, motivated by a personal goal to reconnect with my grandfather. That journey completely changed the course of my life.

Looking back, I could have never imagined being where I am today without the support of the people around me—especially those I’ve met through this organization. Their encouragement and belief in me have played a significant role in my growth.

I’ve now been living in the U.S. for nearly 12 years, and it’s truly been an incredible experience—full of challenges, growth, and valuable life lessons. Each step has helped shape who I am today, both professionally and personally.

What inspired you to volunteer for End Overdose?

I have always lived on a philosophical logic that no matter how much we earn or achieve in life, it means nothing until we're able to help others with our blessings. I have witnessed the sad reality of how just one time usage of a wrong substance can affect people's life, and the moment I received a call from my friend Luke Chiappetta about starting this chapter back in 2022, I knew that it just felt right to be a part of something that allows people to get help, even for those ones who might think there is no way back. I believe we were the second chapter in the country after UCLA where we did not have an existing booth within any festivals yet, but it always brought me joy to be able to help people and be a part of something bigger on the college campus.

What’s your favorite memory of volunteering with End Overdose?

I could confidently say that every single shift or festival that I have worked with EO has been super fun and engaging, it's amazing to meet the team and spend time with them towards a bigger cause; however I believe our first EDC and our first Lost Lands were core memories for me because we got a chance to camp with the EO team within RV's and we were able to share our happiness and joy together. I remember one day where I had to train the site ops at Lost Lands where they were a big group of professionals and serious staff, and I felt like I had to represent EO in the best way possible, and it turned out to be a great presentation where they asked a lot of questions and applauded me. I also remember meeting Pasquale and getting recognized because of the EO shirt. That made me really proud and happy.

I am happy and honored that I am a part of this organization where we can be a shoulder for people to lean on and that we can offer help and assistance to people, and most importantly, save lives.