Make-A-Wish
The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980 after a little boy named Chris Greicius realized his heartfelt wish to become a police officer. Since its humble beginnings, the organization has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon, reaching more than 250,000 children around the world.
Although it has become one of the world’s most well-known charities, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has maintained the grassroots fulfillment of its mission.
The Division II National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee led the NCAA in 2003 with its first national community service initiative by embarking upon a fundraiser with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. This initiative began in 2003 when the Division II national SAAC set a goal to raise $5,000. With the support of the Division II membership over $48,000 was raised during their Inaugural year. This national fundraiser supports one of the NCAA core values: the role that intercollegiate athletics plays in the higher education mission and in enhancing the sense of community and strengthening the identity of member institutions. Over the years, the Division II SAAC has collected more than $1.5 million, constituting one of the largest grass-roots contributions to Make-A-Wish.
In the 2010-2011 year, the ACU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Raised $7908.34 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® being among the top 3 schools in NCAA Division II to benefit Tatum Kate Flaming who was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia in July 2009, just a few months after her 3rd birthday.
