Photo by Brenda Bravo
Public relations executive Heather Geronemus has done more than get her company, UKG, in the headlines — she’s made some, as well. As Director, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility at UKG, she drives the tech company’s financial, international, customer and public relations initiatives and oversees all of its global philanthropy efforts.
Geronemus was first introduced to the world of philanthropy when she began volunteering for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society with her mother as a young child. Today, she continues to work with the organization as part of its MS Gala Luncheon Committee. “Volunteering is one of my earliest childhood memories,” Geronemus says. “I saw how meaningful my mother’s service was to everyone around her and I wanted to be a part of it.”
Her work with the National MS Society led Geronemus to join the South Florida chapter’s mentorship, fundraising and awareness programs, where she helped plan and lead events like Bike MS, Walk MS, Run to Stop MS and various half marathons to raise money for multiple sclerosis research and treatments. While attending NYU, her love of helping others flourished as she led the Jewish Heritage Program’s student mentoring, peer networking and education efforts. She previously co-chaired the Steering Committee for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Ghost Light Society and is returning this year to co-chair the 12th Annual Ghost Light Society Soirée presented by UKG, which will take place in November 2021.
Between her commitments at work, her frequent desire to travel and her love of fitness, theater and ballet, Geronemus is a busy woman — but her passion for volunteering ensures she always finds time to give back. Today, she chairs the Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County’s Board of Directors and sits on the Advisory Board of Cystic Fibrosis, the American Heart Association’s Executive Cabinet, the Winterfest Boat Parade’s Board of Directors and the Emerging Leaders Council of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance.
But in the midst of her hectic schedule helping others, Geronemus suddenly found herself on the other side of charity. “In 2009, after a lifetime of serving nonprofits, I was in need of nonprofit services,” she says. “My father, Dr. Robert Geronemus, was killed in a DUI hit and run while walking and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) reached out and helped me through a time when no one else could. I knew then that I wanted to help MADD end drunk driving.”
As Chair of MADD’s National Board of Directors, Geronemus has helped take it from a local victim services organization to one that raises awareness nationwide. In 2011, she founded “Walk Like MADD” and “MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale,” raising $2.75 million to date. Since 2010, she has traveled to Washington D.C. multiple times to lobby Florida senators and representatives to pass drunk driving legislation that could save lives. Geronemus is actively advocating for two new, groundbreaking pieces of bipartisan legislation, the RIDE Act and HALT Act, which would mandate that all new cars be built with drunk driving prevention technology that could potentially save 9,400 lives annually.
For these efforts and more, Heather was awarded MADD’s “Linda Kitazaki Volunteer Fundraising Award” in 2012, was named Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2014 and earned three MADD Florida Hero Awards. The last award was actually renamed the Geronemus/Unfried MADD Florida Hero Award in 2019 in honor of her unwavering dedication to the cause.
For Geronemus, however, the real reward is hearing the year-round conversation about the dangers of drunk driving and what can be done to end it.
“I see volunteers in communities across the country working to save lives every day, and it’s absolutely remarkable,” she says. “Anyone can be a philanthropist, whether you donate your time, talent or treasure. We all have the power to make the world better.”