The Make-A-Wish Foundation.

One of our core values as Chi Omega women is community service. Chi Omegas value giving back to their community both locally and nationally. Chi Omega’s philanthropy is Make-A-Wish. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a non-profit organization that grants over 15,000 wishes annually to critically ill children. Wish recipients can wish to travel abroad, meet their celebrity hero, or experience something they have always dreamed about. A wish granted is an incredibly impactful and transformational experience for recipients, families, and communities alike. For Make-A-Wish children, a wish provides hope, uplifts spirits, and builds confidence at a time of fear and uncertainty. Nationally, the Chi Omega Fraternity has raised over $20 million for Make-A-Wish, and members have volunteered over 1,000,000 hours for the foundation.

 

Click here to learn more about the alliance between Chi Omega and the Make-A-Wish Foundation!

The Theta Theta chapter at the University of South Florida’s annual philanthropy event is Wings for Wishes. Wings for Wishes is a wing eating competition held during the spring semester to raise money for Make-A-Wish. This event allows participants to develop a more personal understanding of the organization’s impact on the lives of children battling illnesses and their families. Local Make-A-Wish families attend Wings for Wishes and share their stories with participants. In 2019, a total of 18 teams, representing a diverse group of USF organizations, participated in the competition. The event raised over $20,000 for Make-A-Wish of Southern Florida, enough money to grant approximately two children’s wishes.
In addition to Wings for Wishes, the chapter hosts numerous campus-wide events throughout the school year. One event that is a favorite among USF students is the Letters to Santa fundraiser hosted during the holiday season. A week before final exams, Sisters set up a table with hot chocolate and baked goods outside of the USF library. Students receive a free treat after they write a letter to Santa. The letters are sent to Macy’s, who donates $1 to Make-A-Wish for each letter received.
Theta Theta’s philanthropic work extends beyond the University of South Florida. The chapter is also actively involved in the wider Tampa Bay community. Theta Theta participates in numerous local events throughout the year to raise money and awareness for the Southern Florida chapter of Make-A-Wish. Most recently, the chapter participated in the Walk for Wishes at Raymond James Stadium. Sisters walked alongside wish families, the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team, and numerous other businesses and community groups in celebration of the 300,000 wishes granted by the organization. The event raised $130,000 for Make-A-Wish of Southern Florida, which will grant the wishes of 13 critically ill children.
Make-A-Wish is an organization that is extremely close any Chi Omega’s heart. The chapter contains several sisters whose families have been directly impacted by Make-A-Wish, and a sister who received a wish herself. The chapter keeps in close contact with wish families in the Tampa area, as well as the children whose wishes are granted through Chi Omega’s donations.

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