December 5, 2017
Eric Friedberg
Before the holiday season, many students may consider how they can give back to their community. Sigma Alpha Epsilon is one organization of students that has done just that.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon, a fraternity that promotes service, friendship and scholarship on campus, partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to raise money for children impacted by terminal illness Nov. 27 –Dec. 2.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation in Colorado Springs is a nonprofit organization that works with terminally ill children by raising money to help fund their dreams.
SAE has raised roughly $2,500, which is nearly 25 percent of the way toward reaching their goal of $10,000. Money raised from the Make-A-Wish Week events will be put on their online donation page.
Junior Eric Metcalf, president of SAE, hosted SAE’s first Make-A-Wish Week on campus as a way to help raise money for the cause.
Alongside SAE, Greek Life commenced Make-A-Wish Week on Nov. 27. Events included a restuarant fundraisers on Nov. 27 and Nov. 29, a talent show featuring a child associated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation on Nov. 28 and a Make-A-Wish walk on Dec. 2
The fundraising events served as an important stepping stone for the fraternity that could lead to more opportunities with Make-A-Wish in the future, according to sophomore communication major Milan Rojas, philanthropy chair and vice president of community relations in SAE.
“This is our first year at UCCS working with Make-A-Wish, and we have to show them that we are a school that can raise money [for their cause]. If we do hit our $10,000 goal, then we will get a kid [to sponsor] next year,” says Rojas.
Rojas believes that the events help students see the bigger picture, which he says is reminding everyone of how fortunate they are in their lives and how their small contribution can go toward funding a greater cause.
“Part of it is to see the impact it has on the community, and for one week we can all forget about our problems and go ahead and help one kid who is going through something we can’t even imagine,” he says.
For more information on Sigma Alpha Epsilon, visit saeuccs.com.