Michael Bervell is currently Hugs for Ghana's Director and former junior board president. After seeing a pressing need in his community, Michael founded "Helping You Grow" (HUG) a local branch of Hugs for Ghana. This grassroots operation focuses on tutoring local elementary school students, performing at local retirement homes, and maintaining a 100-student strong volunteer board. 

Michael oversaw Hugs for Ghana's first ever sports drive which raised over $20,000 worth of sports supplies. With help from Coca-Cola, the Mukilteo YMCA, the Mukilteo Boys and Girls Club, and three schools from the Mukilteo school district, Michael and the Hugs for Ghana board successfully showed his community that it could make an international difference through the simple gift of a ball or pair of shoes. The idea for this drive started in the spring of 2013 while Michael was kicking around a soccer ball with one of his close friends. After this simple event, Michael realized the impact of having access to recreation.  In December 2013, Michael hand delivered the supplies collected from the sports drive and saw the impact that his community had.

Hugs for Ghana is an entirely student-led 501(c)3 organization dedicated to supporting and encouraging children in Ghana, West Africa through creative grassroots projects and collected gift item donations. The organization specifically targets children in villages, hospitals, schools, orphanages, children homes, and other child-related areas in Ghana. Hugs for Ghana believes in the power of students and youth to effect positive change in their communities and in the world. Hugs for Ghana develops and implements programs that benefit Ghanaian communities so that both children and volunteers may be empowered to reach their full potential.