Once a patient herself at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta years ago, Sarah Vakili never thought that she would later be heading up one of the largest student organizations at the University of Georgia to give back to the very hospital that changed her life.
Sarah is a senior Public Relations major from Duluth, Georgia and is the Executive Director of UGA Miracle, a student organization that raises funds for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. On her fifth birthday she was rushed to Children’s Healthcare for emergency surgery for an infection in her digestive system. The hospital provided her with the treatment and care she needed to fight the infection and gain her strength back. Now, she does what she can to give back to them.
She first joined UGA Miracle when she was encouraged by older girls in her sorority, but after a short period of time she fell in love with the team members and with the cause itself.
“Miracle became such an integral part of my life and had already given me so much–amazing friendships, unforgettable memories, and more–I felt that I needed to give that all back into an organization that I love.” So, Sarah decided to run for Executive Director of UGA Miracle and was elected to oversee an organization with over 1,000 members.
As Executive Director, she holds a wide range of responsibilities, from brainstorming creative ideas for organization events and fundraisers to running executive board meetings that are held twice a week. She knew it would be an all-encompassing and time-consuming position but she never doubted that the passion she held for the cause would keep her going.
“This organization is important to me because Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta saves millions of lives…it saved mine,” says Sarah. “When you really think about it, the people who work at these hospitals keep families together and in some instances, even help start families. There is nothing more precious than family, and nothing as innocent and pure as the life of a child.”
Over the last 16 years, UGA Miracle has contributed over $2.8 million to the Rehabilitation and Orthopedics departments of the hospital. The organization plans to reach the $3 million mark this March with their annual Dance Marathon. Without organizations like UGA Miracle, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta wouldn’t be able to treat the thousands of patients they see each year or offer life-saving treatments to patients, despite a family’s ability to pay for healthcare or not.
Even though Sarah is in her last semester here at UGA she believes that UGA Miracle will continue to thrive and grow after she is gone.
“I see us becoming even more of a pillar of leadership and service at the University–I hope that in the next few years we are known as an organization that is known for not just our size and how much money we raise, but also the quality of our events, our leaders and our excellence overall,” she said.
Sarah is also currently an intern with Athens Food Tours, a receptionist and marketing assistant at Athens Floral Boutique, a member of Alpha Chi Omega, the Design Editor of The Chapel Bell, and the Vice President of Blue Key Honor Society. She has been extremely involved in UGA campus life and served as an Orientation Leader in the summer of 2010 and was on Homecoming Court this past fall.
For her future, she sees herself working for a public relations agency in New York City but she also believes that her future holds involvement in non-profit work as she takes her experiences from UGA Miracle to the rest of her career. To learn more about UGA Miracle go to www.UGAMiracle.org.