GC Miracle is hosting its Miracle Man event on Thursday, Feb. 27 in the Arts & Sciences Auditorium for an entry fee of five dollars to raise money for Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital (BKO).
Miracle Man is the organization’s Valentine’s Day-themed event. In this event, several GCSU male students volunteer to wear a suit and show off their talents, then dream dates and gift cards are auctioned off to the crowd.
While the fun parts of Miracle Man may entice some to attend, GC Miracle’s biggest project is to raise money for the kids at BKO. GC Miracle is a part of the larger organization called Children’s Miracle Network, where GCSU and many other colleges around the nation are involved.
GC Miracle is the largest student-run organization on campus and gives their unwavering support to BKO, the closest children’s hospital to GCSU, by volunteering and raising money.
GC Miracle is made up of 18 executive members, a morale team and several assistant and committee members. Over the course of a school year, they work together to raise money with fundraising events like Miracle Mile, Miracle Man and Thunderthon.
The Atrium Health Navicent in Macon, Ga. has been providing pediatric care for 30 years. In 2019, they expanded this care, opening the BKO Children’s Hospital.
“To make sure every child gets the best care, right in our area,” said BKO’s website, about why Navitient Health opened the children’s hospital.
GC Miracle is a major reason BKO is as successful as it is today. The events that GC Miracle holds and the year-round fundraising make for an abundance of support for the children at BKO.
GC Miracle has been hosting the Miracle Man event for years and ever since they began, it has been popular among the students at GCSU as a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Hailey Zerkle, a junior special education major and the internal branch director for GC Miracle, stated her favorite part of Miracle Man.
“When all the boys do their talent,” Zerkle said.“I think it is such a fun time to see them do goofy things rather than just walk across the stage.”
The boys who participate in Miracle Man display a special talent on stage to encourage the crowd to bid on them and the gift card they are giving away. At last year’s Miracle Man, many amazing and funny talents were revealed.
“One boy rode around on a razor scooter and jumped off the stage on it,” said Lilah Gapp, a junior public health major and the financial branch director of Miracle, about attending the 2024 Miracle Man. “One boy turned a hamster into a puppy which was fun. A couple of boys did some soccer skills and one boy sang, so it’s just fun little things like that.”
The executive members were asked why people should go and support Miracle Man and what is in it for them.
“You should go because it’s so much fun and also you might win a date or a gift card,” said Drew Hill, a junior mass communication major and the external branch director of GC Miracle.
Each person who is a part of GC Miracle or is registering to attend Thunderthon creates a Donor Drive account with Children’s Miracle Network. These accounts are where the money is stored that goes to BKO kids who need GCSU’s help.
As well as attending Miracle Man, there are several other ways to become involved in GC Miracle’s organization.
“We also have committees and assistants to our executive board,” Gapp said. “There’s a lot of opportunities for whatever you’re interested in: marketing, finance, morale, hospital relations, there’s really a place for everyone.”