Glory
to OUR story...
to THEIR story...
to YOUR story...
Alumni Fall Newsletter 2014
Glory
UGA MIRACLE #morethananumber
Welcome, UGA Miracle Alumni!
Thank you for opening the first newsletter of the 2014-2015 Miracle year. We are honored to serve you in our 20th year on campus and are deeply grateful for your continual commitment to this outstanding organization. Together we’ve been championing our families, supporting our hospital, and engaging our campus for 20 years. This year, UGA Miracle is dedicated to celebrating that. We are proud to let this year’s theme of “Glory, Glory” ring throughout every fiber of our organization. Glory, Glory celebrates “their,” “our,” and “your” story. Together we will continue pouring compassion into their story, the families treated at Children’s and their tremendous staff that perform miracles every day. We will continue celebrating our story and the two decades of history made by passionate Miracle Makers like yourself. Finally, we will celebrate your story, the personal story of every Miracle Maker whose impact propels this organization to greater heights every day. As UGA Miracle alumni, your story is unique and invaluable. Every ounce of passion that you poured into this organization throughout your time at UGA allows us to stand a bit taller, much wiser, a whole lot prouder. We are a product of those who molded us, mentored us, paved the path before us. Each day we are deeply humbled to follow in your footsteps. Glory, Glory to an incredible 20th year, together! For The Kids, The Alumni Connection
Executive Board 2014 Mackenzie Ryals Izzy Zucker Ellis Lane Ryan Garrahan Erin Miller Amanda Turner Executive Director Internal Director Marketing Director Finance Director External Director Campus Relations Director
Maggie Feagin
Business Relations Co-Chair
R.L. Bell
Business Relations Co- Chair
Becca Brown Mary Katherine Hall Fundraising Co-Chair Fundraising Co-Chair
Catie Foley
Media Co-Chair
Katie Goldstein Media Co-Chair
Lucy Dabney
Alex Reinecke Miller Singleton
Community Outreach Co-Chair
Community Outreach Co-Chair
Lanie Hyman
Patrick Young
Hospital Relations Co-Chair
Emily Phipps
Hospital Relations Co-Chair
Family Relations Co-Chair
Pearce Lane Family Relations Co-Chair
Haley Huskins Landon Bentley Morale Co-Chair
Morale Co-Chair
Rachel Rhodes
Colton Fowlkes
Member Development Member Development Co-Chair Co-Chair
Rachel joined the UGA Miracle family this year after earning her Amy Jones Alexa Crow Allie Blinder undergraduate Entertainment Chair Public Relations Chair Restaurant Relations degree in HisChair tory at LSU. She is currently a grad student studying Collegiate Student Affairs here at the University of Georgia. We are extremely excited to welcome her this year!
Meet our new Advisor
Alumni Spotlight
Jamie
Gallagher
With UGA Miracle gearing up for the start of the semester and committees getting started we couldn’t think of a better alumna than former Cmmunity Outreach member, Member Development member and Neon Color Group Captain, Jamie Gallagher! Jamie started off her journey at UGA on the Community Outreach committee during her freshman year and continued her involvement all the way through her senior year. Jamie was in the inaugural Color Group Captains after helping develop the idea. When asked about her UGA Miracle experience, Jamie said, “My favorite part of UGA Miracle was seeing other Miracle Makers being incredible forces of good in the world.” After interning with the Ryan Seacrest Foundation at Children’s for two years throughout her time at Georgia, Jamie’s view of the hospital has evolved, as she was able to interact with the patients and families on a daily basis and truly experience the hospital.
“Working in the hospital, interacting with the patients, and witnessing amazing things will keep me inspired!”
Jamie is able to continue being FTK while working in Volunteer Services at the Egleston campus of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She is able to interact with patients and volunteers and even plan daily patient events. Jamie knows that “ working in the hospital, interacting with the patients, and witnessing amazing things will keep me inspired!” Even though she is keeping busy with her work in the hospital Jamie hopes to continue her involvement in UGA Miracle and is excited to provide guidance, mentorship, and inspiration to anyone in any level of involvement in UGA Miracle! Jamie’s advises us all to not wait in any part of our lives. Don’t wait to introduce yourself to the kids and families, get creative, and continue involvement as an alumnus. Jamie encourages us all that what we do really does matter and make a difference. Jamie’s continued involvement, radiant positive energy, and excitement to be a support system for anyone in need is what makes Jamie such a valued alumna. We love you, Jamie!
Investing in other’s lives is nothing new to a Miracle Maker. We’re For The Kids-- and for each other-- every day. Now is the time to continue impacting this organization in a new and exciting way. Beginning this fall, UGA Miracle Alumni have the exciting opportunity to serve as an official Miracle Mentor. As a Mentor, you will be paired with an upperclassmen Miracle Maker based on mutual interests in career paths, UGA involvement, and a variety of other criteria. We understand that the real world is a busy place. That’s why we’ve created the easiest, most flexible program possible. We will provide all Mentors with the tools to guide you through the mentoring process. Of course, you and your mentee have complete liberty on the structure of your relationship. Registration to become a Mentor will remain open through October 21. You will be notified of your mentee shortly after registration closes, then the pair of you can get to connecting! Interested in becoming a Mentor? Send us an email at alumni.ugamiracle@gmail.com to get started! “UGA Miracle had such a huge impact on my life throughout my college years and continues to have my heart even in my post-grad years. I am most looking forward to this mentorship program to keep the FTK-spirit alive and stay connected to the organization that I hold dear. Whether it’s sharing my experience in UGA Miracle, encouraging students in their fundraising efforts, getting them pumped up for Dance Marathon, or offering advice on career choices and life after graduation, I want to be a mentor to students through all of it. I hope that other alumni will consider this opportunity and continue to give back to an organization we all know and love.” Mary Beth Barfield, 2013
“ I’m pumped to be a part of the Miracle Mentor program because I benefitted so much from my participation in UGA Miracle over the years, I’d love to be able to help create that same experience with others. I can’t give too much money right now, so giving back through mentorship is the perfect way for me to “pay it forward.” Brian Baker, 2014
Miracle Mentorship Program
Glory Glory to YOUR story
Glory Glory to
Every day our hospitals strive to provide the best pediatric care to our miracle kids. In 2013 alone Children’s had 860,849 patient visits, 37,995 surgical procedures and 144,254 inpatient days. Their unwavering dedication to the families and kids they serve continues to encourage us to work even harder to fundraise for them. For our hospitals, last year, students and alumni came together to set the UGA record for raising the most money in a single year by a student-run organization. Even after graduation the love for the kids lives on and that’s what really sets our organization apart. The 4 million dollars that we have raised for Children’s over the past 19 years has saved numerous lives and inspired new students each year to start dancing FTK. In our 20th year, we ask that alumni continue to remember why you danced and to reflect on the impact that each of us had on the life of a child. Last year we ended with 45 incredible families and this year we have the privilege of serving 61 Miracle families. One of these new families is the Russell Family. On November 5th, 2012, 3 year old Jake Russell was diagnosed with an extremely rare bone cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma. He has a tumor localized to the left of his tibia, but today he is cancer free! Aside from a scar on his left leg from surgery, its impossible to know that he had cancer. This disease usually affects patients severely, hampering their future abilities to move and play and without the dedication of Children’s, its possible that Jake’s current situation would be no different. The doctors at Children’s go above and beyond each day to ensure that these children will be able to return to being healthy and active and that’s why we keep fighting to raise more and more for them. Glory, Glory to every doctor, nurse, and staff at Children’s who has dedicated their life to making a difference in the life of a child.
THEIR story
As many of you all know we are starting our 20th year as a campus organization! As we enter this amazing time, we want to take some time and reflect on our roots and recognize that we would have never gotten this far as an organization without our amazing alumni who paved the road before us. Here are 20 facts about UGA Miracle throughout the years!
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1996 is the first year of Dance Marathon at UGA In 2007 the funds raised went to purchase new transportation buses for rehab patients! 2009 is the first year as UGA Miracle Corey Smith performed as our benefit concert in 2009 on Legion Field! In 2009 We broke $300,000 as an organization and DM was held on the volleyball courts in Ramsey 2010 held Sister Hazel as the benefit concert at the Classic Center Kickoff in 2010 was held at Bad Manor and Dance Marathon hosted President Michael Adams who spoke about his granddaughter’s experience at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
UGA Miracle raised over $250,000 in 2010! In 2011 Pat Green performed as the benefit concert held on Legion Field Dance Marathon’s theme was Hollywood in 2011 and we presented a check for over $220,000!
Cheers to the last 20 years...
Glory Glory to
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
In 2012 we hosted Little Big Town at one of Georgia Theater’s first shows after reopening
2012 marked the first year of the standing challenge with over 100 people participating UGA Miracle raised over $320,000 in 2012 – a whole $101,000 increase year-over-year! UGA Miracle hosted Ben Rector in a sold out benefit concert at the Georgia Theater in 2013 “Inspiration Station” was introduced to Dance Marathon in 2013 to help keep people inspired 2013 led to the first year of the “Circle of Hope” Miracle Milestone – recognizing those who raise $1,000 or more! 40 families attended Dance Marathon 2013! Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta In 2013 UGA Miracle raised over $346,000 and actually surpassed $350,000 in later days due to late donations UGA Miracle moves kickoff to Herty Field in 2014. Dance Marathon 2014 broke the half a million dollar mark raising $507,205 for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta!
UGA Miracle’s 2014 theme is “Glory Glory!” and we can’t wait to see where the roots our incredible alum laid will lead us this year!
OUR story
Kickoff “I love how the kickoff was informative but inviting and entertaing at the same timeeven Hairy Dawg was there!” - Logan Blignaut
Braves for the Brave “It combined two of my favorite things at one event: Miracle Kids and baseball games. Go Bravos” -Abby Chenault
Save the Date!
November 12: Miracle at Midnight
November 22: Miracle-wide Tailgate for UGA v Charleston Southern
December 7: of Homes
Classic City Tour
January 25: Krispy Kreme Donut Dare
February 21-22: Dance Marathon
Chase Rice Benefit Concert
“UGA Miracle packed the house for Chase Rice and it made for an incredible night at the GA Theater. It’s one of those conerts that I’ll never forget.” -Haley Huskins
Making the Miracle
Family Day
“Washington Farms is always the best “The program showed me that not way to start off only was I helping fall, but this year it seemed even sweeter the brave families than normal. With from children’s, 61 Miracle families, but could also be we can’t wait to changed for the better through the watch Family Days continue to exceed experience” -Julia Schamay expectations!” - Amanda Turner
Contact Us: Email:
Mailing Address:
alumni.ugamiracle@gmail.com UGA Miracle Office 153 Tate Student Phone Number: Center 706-542-7962 Athens, GA 30602
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