Former University football coach and athletic director Vince Dooley is hosting a fundraising event tonight at his home to benefit UGA HEROs.

Twenty-five couples will enjoy an exclusive dinner and a tour of Dooley’s garden in exchange for a hefty donation.

The recommended pledge in order to secure a reservation was $1,000, said Dan Lack, a senior from Atlanta, who is co-chairing the event.

UGA HEROs is an extension of H.E.R.O. for Children, the only non-profit organization in Georgia dedicated to improving the quality of life for children infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Dooley and current football coach Mark Richt are members of the board of directors for the organization.

The dinner and garden tour are an attempt to invite new people to get involved with UGA HEROs, Lack said.

“We wanted to do a nice, big event, not necessarily for students to attend, but to get Athens community members more involved with UGA HEROs,” Lack said.

He added Dooley is an “exquisite gardener” and the tour will be a special part of the event for guests.

Garrett Gravesen, one of the founders of UGA HEROs in 2003, said he thinks this event will “bridge the gap between the University and Athens communities” and give business leaders and residents a cause to rally behind.

“The ultimate goal is that the money raised will cover the UGA HEROs annual operating budget,” Lack said. “Then every dollar that students from UGA HEROs raised goes directly to the children.”

According to Gravesen, UGA HEROs is the only campus organization that has been able to raise enough money to cover their budget.

He said that he is excited about the attention that Dooley’s dinner event will bring to UGA HEROs. He also hopes the opportunity to have an event hosted by a “living legend” such as Dooley will encourage other schools to replicate this type of fund raiser for H.E.R.O. for Children and other charities.

UGA HEROs is also the recipient of the S.O.A.R. awards’ 2007 Organization of the Year and Outstanding Campus Event.