UGA HEROs

P.O Box 2866 Athens, GA 30612 www.ugaheros.org

How can I get involved?

Join
Go to www.ugaheros.org and click Join Now. You may also register at the HERO office, cube 25 in the Center for Student Organization at the Tate Center.

Georgias Kids. Our Passion. Your Impact.

Donate
Go to www.ugaheros.org and click Donate Now OR checks can be mailed to: UGA HEROs P.O. Box 2866 Athens, GA 30612

Advocate
Find out how to get involved! Join our mailing list or email ugaheros@gmail.com to find out what events we have coming up. (www.ugaheros.org is always up to date)

www.ugaheros.org

About UGA HEROs

UGA HEROs is a nonprofit organziation at the University of Georgia in Athens. HEROs mission is to provide quality of life programs for children in Georgia infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. The philanthropy was started in 2003 by two UGA students, Garrett Graveson and Ryan Gembala. Since then, the student-run organization has raised over $1.3 million to support programs offered by H.E.R.O for Children Inc in Atlanta.

What We Do
Date Auction

The Facts
UGA HEROs has provided 300 children with over 18,000 hours of quality of life care. Georgia is ranked 2nd in the nation in the number of pediatric AIDS cases. There are 12,000 children in Georgia infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. 95% of HERO households live at or below the national poverty line (<$15,000 a year). It only costs $2.47 per day to put one child in a life-changing mentoring program. 50% of UGA HEROs children have lost at least 1 parent to HIV/AIDS.

The HERO Date Auction is held in the Fall. The event largely involves the Greek community, seeking a representative for the auction from each organization.

HERO Olympics

Graveson and Gembala used international travels and works with HIV/AIDS in other countries as inspiration to fight the stigma in their own state. Upon returning to the states, they realized there are many organizations in Georgia to support the medical and physical needs of people living with HIV/ AIDS. They wanted to provide in the moment, quality of life programs unlike anything available for children, not just adults, in the state. UGA HEROs strives to improve the quality of life for the 12,000 children in Georgia by raising money, spreading awareness about the growing problem of pediatric AIDS, and participating in service initiatives aimed at improving the lives of affected children.

Spring Event

The HERO Olympics is held every December at a local high school. All members who meet their fundraising goals are invited to a field day of fun with the kids. Each Spring, the Child Relations committee puts together an event for the current members and the HERO kids. This is event is smaller than the Olympics, and is typically not in Athens. Some past events include Stone Mountain and Georgia Aquarium.

These are just three examples of dozens of events that HERO puts on each year. To find out more visit www.ugaheros.org/ events.