It takes $25,000 to save a child’s life and Miracle at the University of Georgia has raised $4.7 million for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta since it’s inception in 1995—that means 188 lives have been saved thanks to the students of the university.
UGA Miracle is a student-run nonprofit organization that raises money primarily for the Comprehensive Inpatient Rehab Unit at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the 64 kids in the Miracle family.
Miracle’s biggest event is the 24-hour dance marathon, which will take place on February 20, but many smaller events are held throughout the year to help raise money. For example, on November 11, Miracle at Midnight took place at the Hedges on Broad Street.
Kathryn Youngs, a junior at the University of Georgia, serves as the entertainment coordinator on the executive council. For Wednesday night’s event, Kathryn coordinated performances from the UGA Accidentals, Spontaneous Boy Band and more.
Miracle at Midnight was the 100-day mark until the 24-hour dance marathon. All of the money raised at the event will go towards the total, which is revealed at the end of the dance marathon.
UGA Miracle raised $680,000 last year and the organization will announce their fundraising goal on December 1. To qualify as a premier Miracle school, the group must raise $1 million within one year.
“I really hope to see our school raise $1 million while I am here,” Youngs said. “ I believe we can do it, everyone in the group is so devoted to helping the kids.”
Before the event, Your Pie hosted a percentage night for Miracle and Insomnia Cookies also donated a portion of the night’s profits. The theme of the event was “Space Jam” after the 1996 movie.
Senior Alexa Crow is the marketing director on the executive council and spends a majority of her time coordinating the various events, such as Miracle at Midnight, which occur throughout the year.
“The goal was to rally everyone under our theme this year, which is ‘Together One Nation’,” Crow said. “We hope that everyone left with a little taste of what the big dance marathon will look like in February.”
Junior Abby McHan has been a member of the public relations committee since her freshman year. She was in charge of writing blog pieces about Miracle at Midnight and also promoting the event on social media.
“Being involved with Miracle has been one of my favorite things about college,” McHan said. “I wanted to do something service-related and I had already formed a relationship with the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta.”
The kids that Miracle supports have become celebrities within the group—everybody knows their name and their story. UGA Miracle members and the kids from the hospital take trips to Washington Farms and the Georgia Aquarium during the year.
Sophomore Angelina Velaj said that the community within UGA Miracle is incredible and she has made great friends through the organization. She has gotten to truly bond with some of the kids throughout her two years in Miracle.
“In Miracle you gain emotional connections with the people you are trying to help, and that right there makes my whole year,” Velaj said.
