Developing global citizens through education abroad experiences is a core component of Athena’s mission. In 2005, Athena developed S.O.S. to ensure that charity is incorporated at the heart of our programs, students, and organization.
ATHENA GIVES BACK: S.O.S.
Giving Back to the World that Gives So Much
OUR CHARITABLE MISSION
The Four Meanings of S.O.S.
S.O.S. has four important components: scholarship funds reserved for charity minded students, frequent Athena staff community service, student-selected donations various world charities, and sponsorship of charitable events and projects.
1. S.O.S. (Students Offering Support)
Athena donates a percentage of our proceeds each year to featured charities.
- Developed as an opportunity for students to give back to the world that was so welcoming to them while they were abroad, to further instill the importance of service in relation to global citizenry.
- Upon return from an Athena education abroad experience, Athena enables each student to actively participate in the S.O.S. program by allowing them to decide which global charity they would like to support.
Compassion Without Borders
ANIMALS
Humane treatment
Compassion Without Borders is an all volunteer, grassroots non-profit that works to bring about reform for the animals of Mexico through spay and neuter, humane education, rescue efforts, and humane euthanasia programs.
FINCA International
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Helping low-income entrepreneurs
FINCA's mission is to provide financial services to the world's lowest-income entrepreneurs so they can create jobs, build assets and improve their lives. At the root of their poverty is lack of opportunity, not lack of desire to work.
GoAbroad Foundation
GLOBAL EDUCATION
Scholarships and aid
The GoAbroad Foundation primarily supports projects related to education, nutrition, child welfare, and community development, while advocating and raising awareness about the needs of communities in the developing world.
2. S.O.S. (Service Opportunities for Students)
Students Act Out Charity
- Supporting students who already demonstrate traits of global citizenry through service, we reward them for their efforts through our various charity and global citizen scholarships from $1,000 to $8,000 per award.
- This population of students is a particularly important group to recognize, because the concept of giving back to the world and local communities cannot be overstated, and these students are perfect candidates for maximizing the experience of study abroad.
- Experiential learning opportunities are available to students at our partner institutions abroad ranging from course workshops and service internships to on-campus clubs and organizations.
3. S.O.S. (Staff Offering Support)
We Support Our Local Community
Check out our staff volunteer outings:
Announcing Athena’s 3rd Annual Global Give Scholarship Recipient!
Each year, during Athena’s Global Give Fundraiser at NAFSA, and in partnership with the GoAbroad Foundation, we are able to collect and donate enough contributions to award a scholarship which supports a student in the Philippines to go to school for an entire academic year. This fundraiser has been so popular among NAFSAns since its inception, that ...
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4. S.O.S. (Sponsorship Offering Support)
Giving aid through sponsorship
- Understanding that many charitable causes need financial assistance or free staff support, Athena added the Sponsorship Offering Support component of the S.O.S. program in February 2014.
- We provide support to charity operations and events through both capital donations and offering our staff’s services free of charge. Athena provides event sponsorship, including support for St. Baldrick’s Foundation for childhood cancer research, the Chapelfield Walk-a-Thon, American Cancer Society, multiple fundraisers for Strayhaven Animal Shelter, and more.
- Athena staff has also donated their time free of charge, and Athena funds, to create a brand new website and marketing materials for a local animal shelter.
