HERO For Children

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Board of Directors

To view H.E.R.O.’s Board of Director Profiles click here.

Ralph Olson
Chairman
Original Board Member
Chairman and CEO (Retired)
R.A. Jones & Company, Inc.
In 2002, He was Honored with the Medal Of Freedom which is the highest and most prestigious Honor awarded by the Government of the United States to any non-military individual.

James R. Summer III
Treasurer
Original Board Member
Executive Director, Assurance & Advisory Business Services
Ernst & Young

Michelle O’Donnell
Secretary
Former Director of Human Resources
Georgia Natural Gas
Life Coach (Self-Employed)

Garrett Gravesen
Co-Founder & former Co-Executive Director
H.E.R.O. for Children, Inc.
Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director
Global Lead Program

Ryan Gembala
Co-Founder & former Co-Executive Director
H.E.R.O. for Children, Inc.

Donna Drakes
Executive Director
H.E.R.O. for Children, Inc.
Donna Drakes received her Bachelor’s degree in African-American Studies (Magna Cum Laude) from Harvard University in 1993, and her Master’s degree in Social Work from Columbia University in 1995. Ms. Drakes possesses 12 years of program, financial, and personnel management experience in the non-profit and social service sectors. Her professional background reflects experience providing services to adults and children in the areas of child welfare, domestic violence, substance abuse, elder care, mental health, and HIV/AIDS. She achieved tremendous success overseeing and expanding services at a large non-profit in New York City, including two programs for individuals, children and families with HIV/AIDS, with a total budget of over $2 million.

Ms. Drakes joined H.E.R.O. for Children, Inc. as Executive Director in August of 2008. Significant achievements in her first 2 years include restructuring the staff, augmenting the Board of Directors, diversifying funding sources, and acquiring Camp High Five, a one-week camp for children affected by HIV/AIDS. Ms. Drakes is charged with developing and implementing new programs for H.E.R.O., amongst other responsibilities, and will take this organization to new heights.

Dr. Sheryl Henderson
Attending Pediatrician
Grady Health System Infectious Disease Program
Family and Youth Clinic
Assistant Professor
Division of Infectious Diseases
Emory University
Dr. Henderson received her M.D. and Ph.D. degrees (in biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology) from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. After completing her residency at Johns Hopkins, she worked as a Pediatrician in Baltimore, Maryland between 1993 and 1995, when she accepted a fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Emory University School of Medicine here in Atlanta, GA. From 1998 through 2010, she was employed as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University, as well as Attending Pediatrician at the Grady Health System Infectious Disease Program Family & Youth Clinic. As such, she is intimately familiar with HERO children, their medical, social, and emotional needs, and can provide valuable insight regarding HERO services and program development initiatives.

Since 2002, Dr. Henderson has been involved in a research study of behavior, epidemiology and HIV prevention among HIV-infected adolescents. She has published numerous papers and book chapters, and has delivered a number of presentations on her research and work with children infected with HIV/AIDS. She is a member of several professional organizations, including The American Academy of Pediatrics (as Fellow), The Society for Adolescent Medicine, The Infectious Disease Society of America, and The American Public Health Association. Dr. Henderson received the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Minority Medical Faculty Development Program Award from 1999-2002.

For the past ten years, Dr. Henderson has volunteered as Medical Director to Camp High Five (CHF), a one-week camp for children affected by HIV/AIDS, which HERO assumed in January of 2010. Dr. Henderson is committed to continuing in her role as CHF’s Medical Director.

Ms. Christal Cherry
National Director of Development
Alumni, Faith and Community Partnerships
United Negro College Fund

Honorary Board Members

Coach Mark Richt
Original Board Member (2003-2008)
Head Football Coach
University of Georgia

Coach Vince Dooley
Original Board Member (2003-2008)
Legendary Coach and Athletic Director (Retired)
University of Georgia

Paul Hewitt
Former Board Member (2005-2008) Head Basketball Coach
Georgia Institute of Technology

Board of Advisors

Dr. Pam Bachanas
Original Board Member (2003-2008)
Team Leader, Prevention with HIV-Infected Individuals and Families
HIV Prevention Branch, Global AIDS Program
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Wes Moss
Former Board Member (2005-2008)
Speaker, Author, Financial Radio Host
Executive Vice President & Chief Investment Strategist
Capital Investment Advisors

Staff

Donna Drakes
Executive Director

Tamiko Etoh
Director of Programs

Nadia Eliacin
Program & Development Associate

Collette Hopkins
Camp Director

Tanisha Grimes
Life Skills Facilitator

Ashley Mitchell
Life Skills Facilitator

Craig Frazier
Life Skills Facilitator

Marcus Dumas
Life Skills Facilitator

Ed Walker III
Contingent Life Skills Facilitator

Gerda Eliacin
Part time Driver