Board Of Directors

Mr. Robert Jackson is a brilliantly creative fundraising executive whose leadership and experience have raised millions of dollars for higher education institutions and not-for-profit agencies. Under his leadership, the agencies he has served have acquired not only significant resources but positioned themselves for continued stability to improve the lives of countless students and vulnerable families. Currently, Robert is a director of development for Emory Law, and most recently he was instrumental in leading the department in achieving the unit goal of $4 million as well as completing its challenge objective of $5 million during the law school’s Centennial year. Primarily leading its major gifts program, which included the conclusion of two challenge grants, Robert also manages its annual fund program that routinely achieved its unrestricted revenue goal of $1 million.

Prior to Emory Law, Robert served as a director of development for Spelman College. Under the leadership of President Dr. Tatum, Robert was an integral part of the major gifts team that was successful in completing Spelman’s largest comprehensive campaign of $150 million. Robert worked closely with a member of its Board of Trustees to effectively fulfill the $1 million challenge grant from the Ford Foundation. Additionally, he has held front-line fundraising positions at Lutheran Services of Georgia and Atlanta Mission.

Robert is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. He holds a BA in Marketing from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA. Originally from California, he is married and enjoys traveling and sports.

Danielle Arellano serves as a Public Health Advisor with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the National Center for Injury Prevention, Division of Injury Prevention in Atlanta, GA. Since 2010, Danielle has dedicated herself to creating partner-focused collaborations with the goal of strengthening resilient communities through public health program development, management, and evaluation across the nation. Her current work primarily lies in opioid overdose prevention initiatives and working with partners on strategic efforts to prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences, traumatic brain injury, and transportation-related injury. Prior to working in injury prevention, she worked in maternal, child and reproductive health, partnering with American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and tribal-serving organizations; this remains a steadfast passion. For years, Danielle volunteered in support of communities living with HIV, and is committed to responding to the needs of women and their families affected by HIV/AIDS; she also brings lived experience that she shared as an AID Atlanta AIDS Walk spokesperson in 2009 and 2010. Danielle obtained a Master of Public Health degree from Emory University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Florida State University. Danielle is excited to join the board of the Heather Ivy Society, to contribute and learn!

Ms. Jill Patel is a passionate fundraising professional driven by her desire to help others lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Jill has raised millions in charitable funding for healthcare, from cancer research to community education. In her current role as Regional Development Officer for the WellStar Foundation, Jill connects Atlanta philanthropists, corporations, and grateful patients with opportunities to enhance local healthcare at WellStar Atlanta Medical Center. Prior to WellStar, Jill fundraised for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the Center for the Visually Impaired. Jill has been an advocate for patients with HIV/AIDS since her very first community volunteer role at the Whitman-Walker in Washington, DC.

Ms. Adrienne Ware never disappoints in her genius gifs of organization and creative leadership. Adrienne is a well-seasoned IT professional, who has held numerous leadership positions with AT&T, Avaya, Hewlett-Packard, and most recently ADP. Her diverse background and more than 20 years of experience in IT services have been recognized in the industry both domestically and internationally. She has a track record of growing both revenue and market share in both traditional and professional services. Adrienne has been the recipient of the National Eagle Leadership Institute Award and the Avaya Leadership Award. She was nominated for Woman of the Year by Women in Technology and was presented with the coveted Benjamin L. Hooks Award by the NAACP. She has also served on the boards of the American Red Cross and Camp Fire Boys and Girls Club. Adrienne was featured on the front cover of the Competitive Edge Magazine – Women of Change are Charting Their Own Courses.

Adrienne majored in Computer Systems at Howard University in Washington, DC and Leadership Development at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in Durham, NC. She and her husband have two children and reside in Tucker, GA.

Contact us if you are struggling with an HIV diagnosis, and you need support. Based in Atlanta, GA, our organization proudly offers our services to women throughout the nation.