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Cambrie (white shirt, center) and her sister pose with the sisters from Wittenberg's chapter of Chi Omega. |
Chi Omega and Make-a-Wish have been philanthropic partners since 2001. However, with the small size of the Wittenberg chapter, all funds have previously been given to the foundation for general purposes, rather than to a specific recipient.
Chi Omega Philanthropy Co-Chairs Laura Joseph, class of 2010 from Weston, Conn., and Leslie Chasteen, class of 2010 from Cincinnati, Ohio, set a fund-raising goal of $6,000, the minimum amount required to grant a child's specific wish. Through the chapter's annual fund-raisers, including a Bowl-a-Thon and a Wing Dinner, and generous contributions from community members and organizations, the chapter raised $6,100 to exceed their goal.
The pay-off was the opportunity to send seven-year-old Cambrie from Plain City, Ohio, on her dream vacation to Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Cambrie has been suffering from renal failure and underwent a kidney transplant in May, but the trip with her family lifted her spirits considerably.
"This is such a happy place; I never want to leave!" Cambrie told her mother.
Even on the day of their departure and the day of their return, Cambrie was in the hospital getting treatments and having blood work performed. The sorority-funded vacation was a welcome respite from the rigorous medical treatments.
Cambrie, her mother, maternal grandmother and sister, as well as a representative from the Make-a-Wish Foundation, joined the sisters of Wittenberg's Chi Omega chapter for their first-ever "wish granting ceremony" in Bayley Auditorium in the Barbara Deer Kuss Science Center as part of the Bid Day activities. Local businesses donated generous amounts of food and drink, and Wittenberg's female a cappella group, Just Eve, provided entertainment.
"Today was such a great day for our house; I am just so proud of all my sisters," said Hannah Fox, class of 2009 from Carmel, Ind. "To be able to give such an amazing thing to such a special child felt surreal. Today is a day I will never forget."
Written By: Lizzie Amorello '09
Photo By: Ashley Carter '09
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