On Friday, April 26, Barry University hosted the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Florida to present the organization with a check for $10,000. Organized by Barry’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Sports and Exercise Science (SES) Department, the funds will be used to sponsor the wishes of two children.
Friday’s check presentation was the culminating event in a year-long fundraising campaign. Student athletes from Barry’s 12 NCAA DII teams paired up with SES graduate students to raise money throughout the 2013-13 school year.
The SES graduate students utilized the opportunity to learn special event organization and planning as part of their course work for a class on facility and event management. Barry’s student athletes raised the money as part of the NCAA DII Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s (SAAC) partnership with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Since 2009, Barry University has been the top wish granter among all of South Florida’s Wishmakers on Campus organizations. Barry Athletics and SES have raised more than $50,000 for the foundation in the past five years, granting the wishes of two children a year since 2011. Since Division II paired with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2003, Barry University has raised more than $70,000 for the program.
This year’s check presentation took place during a Buccaneer softball game against the Eckerd College Tritons. The game’s first pitch was thrown by Luis, a Make-A-Wish kid whose wish was granted in February 2013. Members of the Make-A-Wish Foundation were on hand to accept the $10,000 donation.