Welcome Alicia Sweat 

With spring comes a time of new beginnings and the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation has a few of its own to share. Last month we welcomed Alicia Sweat to the Burn Foundation family as the new Director of Development.

To say that Alicia likes to "hit the ground running" is a true statement both figuratively and literally. In her brief tenure she has already attended two fundraisers, the Storybook Brunch and Polar Plunge, and is busy working on another, the 12th Annual Best Dam Ride. When Alicia isn't pounding the streets doing Burn Foundation business in her fashionable high heels she can be spotted donning athletic wear as she meets her running goal of 45+ miles per week.

Those who know Alicia were not surprised that her career would navigate to the non-profit world. You could say it is in her blood; the 25-year-old is the daughter of Rina Powell, Senior Director of Resource Development at the United Way of the CSRA. Since Alicia was a child, she has been exposed to volunteering and fundraising for various charities.

"My earliest memory of volunteering was when I was just 11- or 12-years-old, and I helped my mom with the Salvation Army's Toys for Tots program, where we distributed Christmas gifts to the needy," shared Alicia. "Even at an early age, it was an eye opener for me. I recognized that not every family is like mine; not every family is fortunate to have gifts under the tree." That experience led Alicia to become active as a volunteer and leader in clubs and student government throughout high school and later at Augusta State University, where she was a business major.

"Any opportunity to give back and help people is something I find very important," Alicia shared. "I'm excited about the opportunities that lie ahead with the Burn Foundation. We're called the little charity with the big heart. We may not be as big as other charities in Augusta, but with the support of our staff, volunteers and Board of Directors, we are making a huge impact on the lives of burn survivors and their families."

Welcome aboard, Alicia!