UGA HEROs

Vital Stats

Jennifer Y

Athens, GA

  • people helped3000
  • People Doing It2000

The Problem

The mission of UGA H.E.R.O.s (Hearts Everywhere Reaching Out)is to improve the quality of life for children infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS through fundraising to implement enriching programs, unforgettable experiences, and connections with the community. These programs include The SuperHEROes Mentoring Program, The Rising HEROes Program, and various day events with positive role models like the HERO Olympics, HERO for A Day and Holiday for HEROes. Curriculum and events such as these contribute to bettering the quality of life and self esteem of the children in our program. HIV/AIDS is unlike any other because of the stigma it carries. From Asthma to Cancer – you will not encounter a disease that embodies the negative attitudes and connotations that HIV/AIDS does. To a child, already depleted in healthy coping abilities, living with this disease can be detrimental to his or her development and success in life. We want to make futures not only possible, but bright and achievable because these children aspire to accomplish the same goals and achieve the same dreams that all other children do. Many people think HIV/AIDS is not an issue that is relevant in Georgia, or even in the United States when the truth is that Georgia has the 8th highest pediatric AIDS rate and it is climbing. In 2006 there was just over 9,000 children affected or infected by HIV/AIDS, today there are over 12,000 children in the state of Georgia affected or infected with HIV/AIDS and over half of these children have lost at least one parent to AIDS. Not only do these children have a void in positive leadership and support, but over 90% of them come from household incomes of less than $10,000 a year. This is not only an issue in third world countries or distant continents. HIV/AIDS is an epidemic in our own backyard that needs our support and attention. With the combination of these positive influences, we encourage our children to dream big and give them all the tools necessary to not just attain their dreams, but to live their dreams.

Plan of Action

UGA HEROs would not have undergone such immense growth within its mere 6 years of establishment if it had not been for innovative thinkers, risk takers, and change implementers. Three years ago when I was a committee member, I thought I was just giving back to those less fortunate. Now, as a member of the Board of Directors as the Director of Internal Affairs, I realize that I do more than endorse a product or cause. I have grown with this organization and through my increased interaction; I have gotten to know our children, their families and experienced fun times like summer camp with them and also endured and mourned a child’s death. Having the privilege of these children in my life as a reminder to be brave and never give up motivates me to expose other college students to the same opportunity and have their life changed much like mine was. Recently, UGA HEROs set up a chapter at Georgia Tech University that is yielding promising results. I want to continue this expansion to other universities in the Atlanta and surrounding areas and help manage the construction of another success story. This year, I plan to work intimately with the implementation of a solely scholastic focused tutoring program and establish a personal hygiene/health and sexual safety curriculums when age appropriate for our children. These programs, in cohort with the already existing SuperHEROes and RisingHEROes programs, will help expand our influence over the children enrolled in our program and educate them on vital issues concerning their personal health. Hopefully scholastic assistance will catch our children falling through the cracks of the educational system allowing them to further overcome one of the many hindrances they face in life. The past impact I have made may have had fleeting effects – one child happy for one moment of one day; and although these differences are profound beyond belief, the impact of these new programs will make lots of children, soon teens, and later adults happy for a lifetime. A long lifetime. I have fundraised for, transported, camped with, learned sign language for, planned and “plan-B”-ed Spring Events for, dedicated countless hours to, met with, enjoyed, loved, and missed so many of our children. Although I may never know them all, it just takes one. One smile, one laugh, one thankful gaze, or one trusting tear is needed to connect you to a child and our cause. Not everyone has to wear a cape to save lives. Become a HERO. This summer I am going to South Africa with numerous HERO members to do AIDS relief work to continue our impact. Whoever said one person could not make a difference must not have considered about super HERO power.
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Sex and Relationships
Homelessness and Poverty

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