Make-A-Wish

For those of you who do not know what the Make-A-Wish Foundation is, I'm going to give you a little background about the foundation. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a program that raises money to grant wishes to children with life threatening illnesses. The foundation began in 1980 after a few people got together and decided to grant the wish of 7-year-old Chris Greicius. Chris was courageously battling leukemia and did not have long to live, but his one wish was to become a police officer.

Chris Greicius

         The foundation was able to find a United States customs officer who developed a friendship with both Chris and his mother. The officer gave Chris a ride in a police helicopter to their headquarters where he was personally greeted with three police cars and a motorcycle. After Chris’ tour of the headquarters they surprised him with a custom tailored official DPS uniform. Chris’ dream of becoming a police officer came true through just a few people wanting to grant the wish of a 7-year-old. His inspiration sparked the founding of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Today, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has created 203, 278 wishes, which is one wish every 40 minutes.

         
Now that you know a little bit more about what the Make-A-Wish Foundation does I am going to inform you about their alliance with the Chi Omega sorority. In 2002 Chi Omega created an alliance with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Chi Omegas across the United States have raised over $5.5 million through philanthropic events. The Chi O’s host several events throughout the school year to raise money, although events may differ at every university.

 At TCU, home of the horned frogs in Fort Worth, Texas, the Chi O’s host three main events and participate in one throughout the school year to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Chi O’s first event is during September; they host a silent auction that in the past few years averages an income of around $20,000. During March the Chi O’s form a team to run in the “Race for Wishes.” This is an annual race that occurs in the Dallas – Fort Worth area to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Chi O’s second event occurs in April when they have a sports night and sell group tickets to a sporting event, last year the Chi O’s sold tickets for a Texas Rangers game and ended up making over $1,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. And lastly, the Chi O’s biggest event of the year is the Frats-At-Bat tournament that happens every year in April. The TCU Chi O’s form together softball teams that consists of all fraternity members. So to make the tournament more fun, the girls coach the boys. It is a two-day tournament that creates fun competition for a good cause. Over the next ten weeks I will be informing you all about the upcoming events that will eventually lead to Frats-At-Bat!

Frats-At-Bat 2010

To learn more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation please go to: http://www.wish.org