Since 2001, Chi Omega has volunteered more than 1 million hours and raised more than $22 million for Make-A-Wish. Chi Omega enables its members to fundraise for local Make-A-Wish chapters across the country and reach more wish kids every year. Within my own chapter at the University of Arizona, we established a weekend on campus called Weekend for Wishes. During this weekend, we participated in two main events to raise money for Make-A-Wish Arizona. We would come up with activities such as Wings for Wishes, in which we sold Buffalo Wild Wings on campus, and even volunteered at our local Walk for Wishes, helping in any way that we could.
With all our efforts, our chapter raised more than $27,000 in just one Weekend for Wishes alone. We were able to help transform lives, one wish at a time. I never knew how impactful a women’s organization could be, and seeing how Chi Omega supported Make-A-Wish led me to pursue a career in nonprofit. I became inspired and intrigued with how giving people were. In fact, being a Chi Omega inspired me to become an intern at Make-A-Wish America for two summers in a row, allowing me to see firsthand the ins and outs of how every person at this organization helps grant wishes of children with critical illnesses.
But I’m not the only one who had this drive. Many Chi Omegas are wish granters, too (myself included). How cool is that? The mission of Make-A-Wish is something that resonates with a lot of people, and I believe that once you have that personal connection, it inspires you to do more – to be more – for wish kids.
Being a wish granter allows me to meet with wish families to determine each child’s most heartfelt wish. It is the most rewarding experience, knowing that you get to help make their wishes come true. Being a Chi Omega, serving as a Make-A-Wish Intern, or helping children identify their most heartfelt wishes has allowed me to see the importance of getting involved and finding my passion for something I love. It gave me perspective from so many different angles; the chance to see everything come together. All three of my opportunities had something in common, and that was helping grant wishes for children with critical illnesses – something I truly believe in.
Wishes simply can’t wait. Get involved with your local Make-A-Wish chapter or donate today. For more ideas of how you can help us grant the wish of every eligible child, click here. You, too, can make a difference!
LEARN MORE about Chi Omega's partnership with Make-A-Wish below!
Chi Omega & Make-A-Wish Alliance from Chi Omega Fraternity on Vimeo.