Associate AD Jamie Carrig honored by Make-A-Wish

Barry University Associate Athletic Director Jamie Carrig was honored on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2015,  at the Make-A-Wish Southern Florida's annual donor celebration at Jungle Island.

Carrig oversees Barry's athletic department involvement in Make-A-Wish® efforts to grant wishes to local kids suffering from life-threatening medical conditions. Two years ago, Barry University, spearheaded by the athletic department, raised $20,220.50 to support Make-A-Wish®. Over the last decade, Barry has been one of the top NCAA Division II schools in the country to support the fundraising initiative.

"It's a Barry University award," Carrig said. "I'm just representing Barry. It's an award to the university."

Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida selected Barry to receive its Young Philanthropist Innovation Award. Norman Wedderburn, the organization's president and chief executive officer said the school is being presented the award for its dedication to Make-A-Wish®. 

"It is truly remarkable," Wedderburn said of Barry's commitment.

Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida grants the wishes of children with medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to Wedderburn, the organization has granted over 500 wishes to kids in the region in the past fiscal year.

Over the years, Barry has held fundraising events and auctions, including yard sales at basketball, baseball and softball games on campus, as well as at off-campus sites such as the PGA Tour's World Golf Championship-Cadillac Championship, Lucky Strike bowling alley, while also hosting other theme-related events to generate funds for the cause. The last couple years, Barry hosted Make-A-Wish® reveal celebrations at a home athletic event to grant a Wish kid his wish in a special celebration.

"Over the last 10 years, Barry University athletics, and specifically the student-athletes, have consistently raised a significant amount of money for the Make-A-Wish® foundation of Southern Florida," Carrig said. "I love to see our student-athletes how excited our student-athletes get involved with Make-A-Wish®, particularly the relationships they build with the Wish kids. It's a lot of work, but the nice thing about it is when you have hundreds of student-athletes and a university that is involved, the amount of work pales in comparison of what you get in return to helping out the young kids."

For more details about Barry's Make-A-Wish® cause, please contact Carrig at jcarrig@barry.edu or 305-899-4823.