Project Red grows campus impact thanks to student donors
Period poverty, or a lack of access to proper menstrual products and the education needed to use them effectively, has affected billions of people around the world. Project Red hopes to change that, one free biodegradable menstrual product at a time – and with the support of thousands of Senior Signature donors, the student organization is ready for the challenge.
Project Red, a UGA student organization formed in May 2020, works with UGA’s Facilities Management Division to place free biodegradable menstrual products in all-gender restrooms in 11 central locations on the UGA campus. The group also fosters discussions about menstrual health and period poverty, conducts research to identify needs and menstrual equity concerns among the student body and serves as a model for other organizations throughout the Southeast.
Project Red was initially supported by a grant from Aunt Flow, a menstrual product provider, and a 2020 Campus Sustainability Grant from UGA’s Office of Sustainability. As the organization grew and awareness of its work increased, Project Red’s resources struggled to meet demand. It needed financial support to continue to make an impact.
That support came in 2023, when Project Red was chosen to receive the 2022-2023 Class Gift. The group used the $6,000 donation to purchase two new dispensers, 15,000 menstrual products, and a series of promotional materials. It also reserved funding for future expenses to expand their reach on campus and continue to combat period poverty at UGA.
Senior Signature
The Class Gift is coordinated by the Student Alumni Council and funded by Senior Signature, an annual giving campaign for graduating students to give back to campus by contributing to areas that were significant to their UGA experience. Each student’s minimum contribution is $30, with $10 supporting the Class Gift initiative and the other $20 being directed to a fund of the student’s choosing. UGA student organizations are eligible to apply for the Class Gift each spring to receive funds for the following academic year. Senior Signature donors vote on the final Class Gift recipient.
“By being able to select the class gift, students are making their mark on UGA,” said Emily Neece ’25, the Student Alumni Council’s vice president of philanthropy. “The graduating class gets to support something that will help other students and leave a legacy.”
With the collective support of Senior Signature donors, Project Red is able to continue to meet student needs across campus — but Senior Signature’s impact does not stop there. The Class of 2024 will select another organization as the recipient of its Class Gift. During the 2024-2025 academic year, this organization will receive up to $6,000 to support their work within our campus community.
