Philanthropy

Community 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 to those around us.

One of Chi Omega's six purposes is philanthropy and community service. Our founders thought it was very important for sisters to devote time to causes greater than themselves. Throughout its history, Chi Omega challenged 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.

Limelight Song and Dance Competition
In Fall 2010, Chi Omega is hosting Limelight, a song and dance competition that will feature campus organizations. We hope that this will become an annual event on Mississippi State's campus to showcase not only the university, but also the Make-A-Wish Foundation and its mission. Funds raised from this year's competition will be used to sponsor a wish in the Starkville area.

Chi-O 5k (Make-A-Wish Foundation)
Each Fall, Chi Omega hosts a 5K Walk/Run to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Students at Mississippi State and residents of Starkville sign up to run the on-campus race. The entry fees enable the Phi Delta Chapter of Chi Omega to raise funds to support the efforts of Make-A-Wish. The donated money helps us to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses and in the process, giving them hope, strength and joy. This tournament shows our campus as well as the community of Starkville the dedication that Chi Omega has 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 afternoon.

Other Philanthropies
Many afternoons, girls of Chi-O travel over to the Palmer Home to give the little girls makeovers. The joy on their faces as they get to hang out with "big girls" is so rewarding!