What brings people together better than an old-fashioned barbecue? For Chi Omega sorority, awareness and compassion for a little girl and her wish to go to Disney World.
At the fourth annual Chi-O Cookoff, Chi Omega aimed to raise at least $9,000 to make 3-year-old Paisley’s wish come true. Before the end of the night and the final amount of money had been counted, the sisters raised $10,000 over the course of several weeks.
Every semester, Chi Omega sponsors a Wish Child through the Make-A-Wish Foundation and attempts to raise $6,000 to make their child’s wish come true. This semester, the sorority is sending Paisley and her family to the “happiest place on earth.”
The challenge of the event is worth Paisley’s happiness, according to Kelsey Manning, a third-year marketing and global supply chain operations and management student serving as this year’s philanthropy chair.
“My favorite part is seeing how many people are willing to come together for such a great cause,” Manning said. “It’s also rewarding to see how your efforts as a combined whole can go towards granting the wish of a child with a life-threatening illness.”
Fourteen different Greek organizations came to battle it out over fire and charcoal briquettes, concocting their own versions of hamburgers, hot dogs and miscellaneous dishes for passersby to taste and vote on. Pimento cheese was a popular condiment on many of the dishes. Macaroni and cheese done many ways was also a top choice. One hot dog came with pimento cheese, fried green tomatoes and onions. Another table served up Asian slaw made from ramen.
The concoctions, ranging from a pineapple guacamole burger to a queso burger, to a fried egg, onion and chipotle mayo burger, were all over the board. Many tables offered grilled veggies, and one had grilled corn. The meat supplies ran out right after 6 p.m., and the cook-off was still going strong with cornhole boards, loud music and Cocky doing the “Wop.”
Pi Kappa Phi fraternity took home the overall award and also won for best hamburger. Chi Psi fraternity won for best hot dog, while Sigma Chi fraternity won for best miscellaneous item.
Chi Omega sisters served as coaches and “team moms,” helping their teams prep, cook and serve up food. Every Chi Omega member had a job at the cook-off, and each was required to contact five people or organizations for donations.
Kimberley Savoia-McHugh, a second-year political science student and Chi Omega member, loved the cook-off.
“It brings all the Greek community together,” Savoia-McHugh said. “It’s really fun because all the different teams compete and it’s all about this little girl.”
Raffle tables offered goodies from Salty’s Board Shop, Southern Tide, Johnnie-O and Coast Performance Series. Paisley received gifts like markers, a tiara and bracelets.
Caroline Krcelic, a fourth-year mass communications student, Chi Omega’s president and former philanthropy chair said that Manning did very well with the event and it was a great success.
“Kelsey’s done a great job planning this event, which keeps growing every year,” Krcelic said. “When your Wish Child is here, seeing the smile on her face is so rewarding.”