Our Mission
The mission of Designated Dawgs is to make the University of Georgia and Athens community a safer place by being an aid to UGA and Athens-Clarke County Police Departments by preventing walking home, driving under the influence, and preventing crime overall.
91,000 rides home provided by UGA students
for UGA students in over 20 years of service!
Our History
Tim McNary and his friend, Carl Fleming, began research on how to implement a designated driver program at UGA
McNary and Fleming began to introduce a safe ride program to the Athens community. McNary and Fleming chose to name the program WatchDawgs, Inc. After much planning and hard work, WatchDawgs gave its first ride on Jan. 11, 2001
Won the Outstanding Service to the Community award from the Student Organization Achievement and Recognition Awards
The executive board of WatchDawgs voted to change the name of the organization in order to Designated Dawgs, a name which more clearly communicates the services provided by the organizationth
Provided over 91,000 rides to UGA students
Our Executive Board
Taylor Talley
Chief Executive Director
Ireland Hayes
Deputy Executive Director
Sarah Brennan
Vice President of Finance
Sydney Sanders
Vice President of Operations
Kate Whitley
Vice President of Communications
Lucy Brown
Director of Fundraising
Jin Lee
Co-Director of Rider Relations
Isabella Fernandez
Director of Risk Management
Eliza White
Co-Director of Rider Relations
Nikhil Manocha
Director of Volunteers
Alexis Hering
Co-Director of Sponsors
Alexis Nixon
Director of Web Development
Delaney Rigdon
Co-Director of Sponsors
Our Sponsors
The team at R. Alan Cleveland, LLC has extensive experience helping clients in Athens, Georgia and the greater Atlanta metropolitan area with a broad range of personal injury cases.
See their website at https://athensinjurylawyer.com/
Bronze Level Sponsor
R. Alan Cleveland, LLC
Leon Farmer & Company is a beverage wholesaler that services 27 counties in Northeast Georgia. As a local, family-owned business, we are committed to the responsible and legal consumption of the products we distribute.
“We sponsor Designated Dawgs because we believe that planning ahead for a safe ride home is a key element of alcohol responsibility. Designated Dawgs positively impacts the Athens community with every ride given and we are honored to continue supporting this great organization.”
Leon Farmer Company
The Parents Leadership Council is a group of highly engaged parents who are eager to be involved on campus and make a direct impact on undergraduate student life. The Parents Leadership Council supports Designated Dawgs each year through funding and guidance towards organization initiatives.
Parents Leadership Council