One little girl will embark on the trip of a lifetime thanks to more than $6,000 raised by Cal Poly’s Chi Omega Sorority through its Make-A-Wish Foundation fundraiser.
Chi Omega fulfilled the wish of Julissa Esparza, an 11-year-old girl from Santa Maria, who has leukemia. Esparza will leave this Thursday for Walt Disney World in Florida.
The sorority adopted the wish from the Tri-Counties Make-A-Wish-Foundation. They raised the money through a Casino Night, the first charity event held by the Omicron Mu chapter. The sorority made a few small-scale fundraising attempts prior to Casino Night, but none raised enough to fulfill Esparza’s wish.
Psychology sophomore and philanthropy chair for Chi Omega Vanessa Dowell decided they would put more preparation into this year’s event to heighten its success.
“I had so much help,” Dowell said. “Sometimes when you plan things you feel like you’re doing everything yourself and this was not the case. I had overwhelming help from everyone.”
Disney is a large supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and donates more than $11 million worth each year. The corporation also helps arrange visits to sporting events, television and movie sets for gift recipients.
The Tri-Counties Make-A-Wish Foundation has been active in the area since 1985, granting wishes of children who have life threatening medical conditions. It is staffed with only five people but has more than 100 volunteers and has granted over a thousand wishes in the last 28 years in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
Presentation parties are held for every gift recipient. Esparaza’s was held at Rancho Bowl in Santa Maria last Sunday and members of Chi Omega went to the party to join the family and the Wish Granters in the celebration. There, the sorority got to meet Esparaza for the first time.
“It was a success,” said presentation-coordinator for the Tri-Counties foundation Heather Bennett. “We had a great turnout and the sorority was there to help with the presentation.”
“We bowled for the first hour and got to talk to the family during that time,” Dowell said. “I didn’t know until later, but during the presentation her grandma started crying and it was nice to see how it really impacted people.”
With much help from the community and student life, Chi Omega met their goal of adopting a wish. The sorority plans to make “Chi O Casino Night” its annual philanthropic event for Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“All our work paid off,” Dowell said. “ It was nice to know we made a difference in her life and give her and the family something they might not otherwise get to experience.”