Chi Omega Wish Week

Wishes for Days 

Let’s be honest folks.

A lot of times philanthropy can become a box to check off of the list, simply to qualify as a functioning, respectable sorority. I know you’re out there nodding your head. I know you know what I mean.

But, I gotta tell you guys, Maggie Benton, our philanthropy chair(wo)man, is changing the face of philanthropy for Chi Omega Psi. (We are the Psi chapter for those of you that just got real confused) There is a shift going on that’s inspiring and really beautiful to watch.

Monday, April 13 was the kick off to Wish Week. It’s one week out of the school year that Chi Omega dedicates her everything to The Make a Wish Foundation. This is a few weeks before finals so there are a lot of lists to mark off around this time of year. But this year Maggie and the Philanthropy committee was committed (a committed committee) to making this week really cool and really real.

Monday night of wish week we granted a wish. If you don’t know what that means go YouTube that. But I’ll explain it too. Basically we raised enough money to grant a wish for a little guy with a life threatening medical condition.  This guy, Caleb, has been diagnosed with lymphatic cancer and he just wants to go to Disney Land. A respectable desire, my boy.

And now he gets to go. We rolled out. Bell from beauty and the beast was there, Wendy, Jasmine, Captain Jack Sparrow, Buzz Light-Year—from star command. I mean, see for yourself (the pics). We all went to Lokomotion on College Avenue, and played some arcade games, and partied with Caleb. It was a blast. Especially the “you’re going to Disney land” part.

The rest of wish week was geared towards making another wish come true.

Tuesday night we partnered with Zaxby’s and a percentage of their profit went towards Make a Wish. Wednesday was $1 popsicles in front of the Union. Thursday: Parents Night Out. We babysat some kids and proceeds went to Make a Wish. And Friday we camped out in front of Wal-Mart and at different stop lights to collect change.  

The best part was kicking it with Caleb. Like I said, philanthropy can accidentally become something to check off the to do list. But when you start Wish Week off with a wish coming true, it becomes way more than “philanthropy”. It becomes a name, it becomes a face. It becomes a life, and a life-changing gift. 

Check out wish.org if you just got interested.

Written by Annabeth Raiford, Chi Omega