By Tara Thoel
Special to The State News
Eleven teams representing different greek organizations showed up for some music, food and a soccer tournament at Munn Field on Sunday.
But the real purpose of this event was not to see who won the tournament — it was to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan through Chi Omega sorority's 6th annual Karen King Kickoff.
"Usually over 200 people are here and actually it's looking to be a lot more people showing up this year," said Laurel Conrad, philanthropy co-chair for Chi Omega.
Chi Omega usually raises about $2,500 with this fundraiser and expects to raise about that much this year as well.
King was an MSU psychology freshman who aimed to eventually counsel and mentor young children when she was murdered seven years ago. Her best friend, a Chi Omega member, began the kickoff in her honor one year after her death.
Every year, King's parents attend the kickoff, said Kelli Russell, who is the sorority's philanthropy co-chair.
The money has been donated in her name to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan, which grants the wishes of children battling life-threatening diseases.
The event was just part of the year-round fundraising that takes place on and around campus for the foundation.
A group called the MSU Stars was the first collegiate organization formed to support the foundation.
The group was started more than three years ago by MSU student Jonathan Rosenthal, a former member of Alpha Tau Omega.
Last year, MSU Stars was able to grant the wishes of four children after raising more than $14,000.
The group is planning a date auction again and even more fundraisers than last year. It's also looking to raise more than $15,000 this year for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan, said Colleen McGraw, an MSU alumna and former board member of MSU Stars.
The group has earned strong support from many members of the greek system — about 50 percent of its members are in sororities and fraternities. The MSU Stars have 20 board members and about 150 volunteers.
"The Make-A-Wish Foundation is very unique in what they do," said Mahfouz Ackall, president of the Interfraternity Council, when explaining why so many fraternities and sororities donate to this particular organization. "It draws people in."
Many greek organizations around campus want to get involved because of the large representation of greeks on the MSU Stars board, McGraw said. The group has personalized the way they talk about Make-A-Wish Foundation to others by showing pictures and talking about the children being helped.
In 2003, a greek "penny wars" fundraiser granted a wish to a terminally ill boy who wanted to meet Eminem.
That year the penny wars raised about $6,700.
Chi Omega raises money year round for the foundation through car washes and other events.
But the Karen King Kickoff is the sorority's main fundraising event of the year.
The sorority hasn't granted a wish before but has contributed to the foundation, Russell said. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is the national philanthropy for all Chi Omega chapters.
"It takes $5,000 to make a wish and this year we are going to try to grant the wish of a little boy named Joshua," Conrad said.
The 11-year old boy wants to go on a cruise and be the captain of the ship.
For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan, call (734) 994-8620 or visit www.wishmich.org.
