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Chi Omega brings Make-A-Wish to Boone |
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Thursday, 01 February 2007 |
by DYLAN CLAYTON
News Reporter
Wishes are becoming realities in the Boone area with help from Make-A-Wish Foundation and Appalachian State University’s Pi Kappa chapter of Chi Omega.
Make-A-Wish, a charity that grants wishes for children with life-threatening diseases and disorders, became Chi Omega’s national philanthropy in 2002, according to Renee Furman, a Chi Omega advisor.
 Active Image | File Photo
Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock waited tables during last year’s Celebrity Serve event at Pepper’s restaurant. This year the Celebrity Serve event, headed by Chi Omega, will donate all tips and 10 percent of total sales to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
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“Before 2002, instead of having a national philanthropy, Chi Omega’s
national office encouraged every chapter to do local community service
to impact their community in the best way seen fit,” Furman said.
Chi Omega is now one of the largest fundraising groups for Make-A-Wish,
Carolyn L. Harrison, regional director for Make-A-Wish Foundation of
Western North Carolina, said.
Chi Omega raised over $2.3 million in fundraising for Make-A-Wish and
granted over 350 wishes, according to Make-A-Wish’s Web site.
In the past, the money Appalachian’s Chi Omega chapter raised went to the Make-A-Wish office in Charlotte.
When the members of Chi Omega found there were wishes being granted for
children in and around Boone, they worked to make their money go toward
projects in the area, Allison E. Boyle, Chi Omega president and senior
finance and banking major, said.
“[Appalachian’s Chi Omega] contacted me saying they wanted more of a hands-on relationship,” Harrison said.
Chi Omega is now working on additional fundraising as well as bringing awareness to the Boone area.
“Our big fund-raiser, Celebrity Serve, is March 27. Local celebrities
serve at local restaurants and the restaurants donate a portion of
their revenue to our charity,” Boyle said.
Chi Omega is hoping to raise more than $20,000 with Celebrity Serve.
All tips and 10 percent of total sales will go to Chi Omega’s
fundraiser. This year, they are hoping to elicit help from football and
basketball players as well as other campus leaders such as Student
Government Association President Forrest S. Gilliam, Furman said.
Since it costs $5,000 on average to grant each wish, Chi Omega is hoping to grant at least three wishes this year.
In the past, several wishes have been granted in the Boone area.
“The wishes range from going to Disneyland to having their car pimped
for older kids. A boy in Boone made a wish to meet the President and he
got to spend 30 minutes in the Oval Office,” Boyle said.
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