Service
Community Service means that we want to make a difference on our campuses and in our
communities. We know that giving back to
others unselfishly makes the world a better place and makes us better
people. Serving and giving helps to
connect us.
Make-A-Wish Foundation
One of Chi Omega's six purposes is philanthropy and community service. Our founders thought it important for sisters to devote time to causes greater than themselves. Throughout its history, Chi Omega charged each collegiate chapter to adopt a philanthropic project according to their local communities' needs. The Phi Delta chapter supports many local philanthropies. These include tutoring children at Brickfire, giving makeovers to children at the Palmer Home, hosting a fall carnival for the children at the Palmer home, and many more. In the late 1990's, the Governing Council recognized the immense impact of our 300,000 initiates in Chi Omega could have within the world of community service, and they began to investigate possible partnerships with national philanthropies.
In 2002, Chi Omega announced The Make-A-Wish Foundation as thier national philanthropy. 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. 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 many special children.
Chi Omega Classic
Each Spring, Chi Omega hosts a tennis tournament to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Students at Mississippi State, residents of Starkville, and many avid tennis players from around Mississippi and Alabama sign up to participate in the tournament. The entry fees paid by the players and rffle tickets enables the Phi Delta Chapter of Chi Omega to raise a lot of money to give to Make-A-Wish. The donated money helps us to grant wishes to terminally ill children. This tournament shows our campus as well as the community of Starkville the dedication that Chi Omega as to its national philanthropy, The Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Fall "Chi-O" Carnival
Each year, the Phi Delta chapter of Chi Omega reaches outside of their campus environment to help others in need. The children of Palmer Home are invited to the Chi-O carnival located right in the back yard of the Chi Omega house. The Carnival is kicked off by each child being greeted at the front door with a juice box, fresh popcorn, and a great big bag full of candy. The children proceed to different game booths set up all over the house as well as in the backyard. The children enjoy having their faces painted, throwing pies at the faces of a few brave Chi-O's, bobbing for apples, three-legged races, space jumps, hula hoop contests, and much more! If you come around, you will see that our college students enjoy this fun just as much as the children! After a long afternoon of lots of fun, our entire chapter realizes how fortunate we are and how little effort it takes to make someone's life a little bit better, even if just for an afernoon.
Other Philanthropies
Our local chapter has also put together a "Cooking with Chi-O" cookbook. Over 1000 have been sold so far. The book includes recipes put together by our own Chi Omega Sisters.
Many afternoons, girls of Chi-O travel over to the Palmer Home to give the little girls makeovers. The joy on thier faces as they get to hang out with "big girls" is so rewarding!