UGA HEROs exists to provide quality of life care to children affected by HIV/AIDS in the Atlanta area. One of the organization’s major sayings is “If It is now WOW then it’s not worth doing.” According to Jack Moran, the WOW chair, “WOW means doing anything you can to show our kids they are loved and have a support group. WOW means pushing the envelope and living with absolutely no fear.” Because of this mentality HEROs has made it their prerogative to raise money for their kids in ways that are truly WOW.
On Wednesday, April 13, 2016, the organization had an event called the Qualifier. The Qualifier was HEROs big push for the end of the semester to raise money. During this event the committees and team leaders were divided into fundraising “clusters.” These clusters will compete for the remainder of the fundraising year to see which cluster will raise the most money.
During the qualifier Committee Members, Team Leaders, and Executive Board Members alike made a 24-hour fundraising goal and an out-of-the-box WOW dare or perk for their donors that they would do if they met that fundraising goal. For example, people said they would shave their heads, dance and sing in dining halls, and wear onesies to their classes.
Patrick Michaels, committee member, thought his goal of $260 was nowhere in site so he jokingly added another perk to nudge his family and friends to donate. Michaels claimed that he would shave a majority of his head but leave a portion of the hair on his head to connect all the way through to his beard. Even though he only had around $70 to his goal with a few hours left, Michaels ended up reading his fundraising goal by 12 AM that night. Michaels stated, “When I reached my goal, I was in disbelief in that I had raised that money but also for what I was about to do.”
He does not regret the decision he made. “Courage has a transformative power. It was a small flash of courage but it made all the difference for our kids,” Michaels said.
Other HEROs members had just as embarrassing incentives for their donors. Emerson Buck, HPR chair, and Hamilton Way, Olympics Chair, told their donors they would get tans if they reached their goal. Michelle Le, committee member, said “Seeing our friends do something so funny was a great push to get people to donate money.”
Not all members went to that extreme. Many members stuck to the basics like baking all their donors cookies or sending them inspirational notes to raise money.
Members are proud of what they have accomplished in the past few days. Brooke Carter, Team Leader, said, “My "embarrassment" in a fruit suit or with purple eyebrows does not even compare to the hardships these children face everyday of their lives. I don't say that to be cliché, I say it because it's true.”
Regardless of what the members did it seemed it work. HEROs raised $23,751.84 in that 24 hour time period.
For more information visit ugaheros.org or connect with HEROs on social media by searching UGA HEROs on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
