Dear Friends,

My name is Ashley Nemer and I am the 2010 Make-A-Wish Chair for the Rho Epsilon Chapter of Chi Omega.  Along with the Make-A-Wish Team, I plan our Annual Frats-At-Bat Tournament, Make-A-Wish Night at the Rangers Games, and the Family Weekend Auction.

Aside from organizing these events, I also educate the chapter about the Make-A-Wish Foundation and ways that they can individually become involved, outside of our Chi Omega fundraising events. If you would like to make a donation to one of our events, or help out in any way, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Ashley Nemer

Make-A-Wish Chair

Meet our 2009 Make-A-Wish Team!

Ashley Nemer

Make-A-Wish Chair

Lindsey Chandler

Make-A-Wish Assistant

Bailey Lang

Make-A-Wish Auction Leader

Emma Land

Make-A-Wish Corporate Sponsorship

Erin Quick

Make-A-Wish Marketing Chair

Lauren-Ashton Shepheard & Brooke Young

Make-A-Wish Ad/PR

Hannah Livingston & Natalie McBride
Make-A-Wish Event Planner

Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® has enriched the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work. The Foundation's mission reflects the life-changing impact that a Make-A-Wish^® experience has on children, families, referral sources, donors, sponsors and entire communities.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980 after a little boy named Chris Greicius realized his heartfelt wish to become a police officer. Since its humble beginnings, the organization has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon, reaching more than 144,000 children around the world.

Although it has become one of the world's most well-known charities, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has maintained the grassroots fulfillment of its mission.

A network of more than 25,000 volunteers enable the Make-A-Wish Foundation to serve children with life-threatening medical conditions. Volunteers serve as wish granters, fundraisers, special events assistants and in numerous other capacities.

As the Foundation continues to mature, its mission will remain steadfast. Wish children of the past, present and future will have an opportunity to share the power of a wish^®.

In 2002, Chi Omega announced the Chi Omega/Make-A-Wish alliance. In the first four years of service with Make-A-Wish, Chi Omega has raised over $2 million and given over 100,000 volunteer hours. The Make-A-Wish Foundation presented two awards to the Fraternity at the Make-A-Wish Sponsor Recognition Luncheon held in Phoenix, AZ in 2004. Chi Omega received the Wishmaker award for volunteer hours given and the Gold Sponsor Award for funds raised.

Chi Omega’s goal is to have both collegiate and alumnae chapters become increasingly involved in volunteering and fundraising for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and to assist in the granting of wishes to these special children. Through this, all Chi Omegas can understand the importance of service to others as a founding principle of our Sisterhood.

Frats At Bat is an annual softball tournament between TCU Fraternities held each Spring over a two-day period. The tournament is double elimination and allows the Fraternities to enter multiple teams, often the “A” team and the “Fun” team. There is a Tournament Winner, an Overall Frats At Bat Winner, a “Toilet-Bowl” Winner, and Home Run Derby Winner. The Tournament Winner is awarded to the team who wins the softball tournament. The Overall Winner is determined by (1) position in the tournament, (2) money raised through penny jars and, (3) number of t-shirts purchased by the chapter.

Up to four active Chi Omegas are paired with a team and serve as the team “Coaches.” Coaches serve as representatives of their Fraternity team to the Chi Omega Make-A-Wish team. They also cheer for the team and often make team shirts, snacks, or plan team dinners and “practices.”

Spring 2007 launched our First Annual Make-A-Wish Night at the Texas Rangers Game. We partnered with the Texas Rangers for this fundraiser during Frats At Bat Week. Several sections were reserved at Ranger Stadium for ticket sales generated by Chi Omegas. Fifty percent of the ticket price went directly to Make-A-Wish. This night was incredibly successful marked not only by what we were able to contribute monetarily to Make-A-Wish, but also by the immense support by the Fraternities and Sororities at TCU as well as alumnae, faculty, and friends. We are looking forward to making this an annual event.

Each Fall, the Make-A-Wish team works with our Parents Weekend Chairs to plan a wonderful dinner and auction during Parents Weekend. Active members of Chi Omega solicit donations from family, friends, and area businesses that make this auction such a success each year.

During the Spring 2007 Semester, we raised $10,485 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. One wish we were able to grant was for a little girl named Lexi. She chose to go to Hawaii with her mother and aunt and swim with dolphins. Because of the efforts of the Rho Epsilon Chapter of Chi Omega, Lexi’s dream came true. Thank you to all who helped us make Lexi’s dream come true. Please continue to support us next semester in making another child’s wish come true.