Welcome to our Philanthropy page!

Whether helping our national philanthropy (Make-A-Wish Foundation), the University community, or the local community, Chi Omegas make a difference.  Each year, The University of Texas Chi Omegas commit to both fundraising and volunteering to help make a difference in the lives of others.  Through this, sisters can understand the importance of service to others as a founding principle of our Sisterhood.

Nationally, Chi Omega focuses a majority of their philanthropic efforts towards the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  The Make-A-Wish Foundation was established to grant wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Make-A-Wish is the largest wish-granting organization in the world, with the most common wish being a trip to Disney World.

Here at The University of Texas, we too contribute most of our philanthropic efforts to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  Our largest fundraising event, the Make-A-Wish Extravaganza, is held every fall raising $37,000 in 2007.  This exciting accomplishment allows our chapter to grant six deserving wishes to children in our area.  Our next annual Make-A-Wish Extravaganza will be held in the Fall of 2008.  If you would like to contribute to the Make-A-Wish Extravaganza, please contact Elizabeth Barajas, our Make-A-Wish Director, at elizabeth.barajas@bba.mccombs.utexas.edu.  With your help, we can make the Make-A-Wish Extravaganza more successful than ever before! 

In addition to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Chi Omegas at The University of Texas participate in other University events such as Dance Marathon, Phi Psi Field Day, Cowboy’s Spring BBQ benefiting ARC and Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s Cooking for Kids. Locally, Texas Chi Omegas support Tie Dye For Tomorrow, Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure, Highland Park Elementary HOOT and Sorority Girl For A Day through Hill Country Middle School. 

2008 Make-A-Wish Extravaganza

The 7th Annual Make-A-Wish Extravaganza was held on Friday, October 24 at The Belmont in downtown Austin. Five hundred guests attended the event, including actives in the Iota chapter, their families, alums, corporate sponsors, and other friends of Chi Omega. Everyone enjoyed an evening of cocktails, hors d'houevers, dancing to the band London Calling, and bidding on 200+ items in the silent auction. After expenses, Chi Omega donated $35,457 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and South Texas to fund seven wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. This year's Extravaganza was bigger than ever before thanks in part to $7,525 in corporate sponsorships, a great new venue, and the tremendous support of the Austin community. The event was honored as "Most Outstanding Event of the Year" by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and South Texas. Special thanks to the Make-A-Wish committee: Kayce Hawkins (Corporate Sponsorships), Marianne Siebert (Decorations), Emily Lyon (Correspondence), Elizabeth Barajas (Silent Auction), Kendall Burns (Silent Auction), and Lindsay McClendon (Food); our corporate sponsors: T.A.O. Greeks, Ford Development Corp, University Towers, Dennis O'Banion M.D., Westlake Orthopaedics Spine & Sport, Rare Magazine, 512 Reality, Kingwood Pipe, Ltd, Jefferson 26, IKON Document Efficiency at Work, Jefferson West, MIX 94.7, Solis Constructors, and FeatherTree Invitations; and the actives and advisors of Iota. If you are interested in donating an auction item and/or serving as a corporate sponsor for the 8th Annual Extravaganza in 2009, please contact Elizabeth Barajas, our Make-A-Wish Director, at elizabeth.barajas@bba.mccombs.utexas.edu.