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August 4th, 2015

Holly Petrovich
The Vidette
Editor in Chief
W. Locust Street
Normal, IL 61761
Dear Ms. Petrovich,
My name is Julia Lange and I am the chairwoman of this years Chi Omega
March Madness philanthropy supporting the Make-A-Wish foundation. This year
on Saturday, March 26th, 2016 Chi Omega will be holding its 40th annual
philanthropy, March Madness, at Braden Auditorium at 7pm. This year, the
women of Chi Omega are attempting to raise more than $30,000 for the Make-AWish foundation, the amount raised for the past two years. Tickets are $14 for
non-students and $12 for students that can be purchased at the Braden Box
Office starting in February.
Being one of the largest charity events on campus, March Madness has raised
over $90,000 in the past three years, which is roughly 20 granted wishes. This
event attracts the support of many students, faculty, businesses and alumni and
a huge part of that has to do with the Videttes coverage of this event each year. I
am writing to you in hopes that you along with the rest of the Vidette team can
help us spread the word about the event and its history.
Because of the fact that this event gets so many students and faculty of Illinois
State University involved in supporting and giving back to a great cause, I believe
that covering this event in your paper would attract the attention of many of your
readers.
Enclosed is a press kit containing a news release, feature story, fact sheet, and
biographies. I would be happy to set up interviews with Krystyn Abbate, president
of Chi Omega sorority, myself, or any other important members of Chi Omega to
discuss the event in detail and answer any more questions that you may have.
Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to hearing from you
at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Julia Lange
708-420-2403
jmlange@ilstu.edu

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Julia Lange, Event Coordinator

Phone: (708) 420-2403
E-mail: jmlange@ilstu.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chi Omegas 40th Annual March Madness Fundraiser at Braden Auditorium
NORMAL, Ill. - On Saturday, March 26th Illinois States Chi Omega sorority will hold its
40th annual March Madness dance competition at the Braden Auditorium at 7 p.m.
This annual event is held to raise money for the Make-A-Wish foundation, which
grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Within the past three
years, participants and donors have raised over $90,000 and granted roughly 20 wishes.
The entire Illinois State community is invited to watch all of the Sororities and
Fraternities compete to win a dance competition. First, second and third place winners
receive a trophy and a monetary donation towards their own national philanthropy.
Tickets will be available for purchase at the Braden Box Office, at
http://ticketmaster.com, or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
Any further questions regarding the event should be directed to Julia Lange,
March Madness Chairwoman, (708) 420-2403, jmlange@ilstu.edu

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Julia Lange
Email: jmlange@ilstu.edu
Phone: 708-420-2403
ISU Sorority Supports Make-A-Wish
NORMAL, Ill.- What could one do with $150,000? Possibly purchase a luxury sports car,
go on an extravagant shopping spree or even pay for four years of a college education. A
registered student organization at Illinois State University, however, decided to put
$150,000 to a greater cause helping others. All the while, having a great time.
Chi Omega, a sorority at ISU, was established in 1974.
We came from a local sorority called Tau Delta Chi, said Lisa Lamb Brummer,
Chi Omegas first president in 1974. To this day I attribute my active sorority days with
teaching me to be very selfless with philanthropy and about how to mesh with many
different personalities.
The chapter, which currently has about 150 active members, formed the annual
Chi Omega March Madness dance competition in 1975. It started as a small and
intimate talent show in the backyard of the Chi Omega chapter home. Initially, the event
was a way to honor the memory of their fellow sister, Jody Swanson. With about five
people participating from each fraternity and sorority, the event raised about $200 within
the first five years.
In 1994, Chi Omega paired up nationally with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a
non-for-profit that helps fulfill the wishes of children with life threatening illnesses. Their
goal? Raise $1,000. Lori Lenahan, then director of March Madness, realized that if they
were going to reach their monetary goal, they would have to make some alterations to the
talent show.
She had the idea of changing the talent show into a dance competition. Not only
that, but in an effort to raise the competitive stakes, she wanted to pit sororities against
sororities, and fraternities against fraternities.
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I wanted to come up with something that could include every member of every single
sorority and fraternity here on campus, not just the ones with a talent, Lenahan said. So
I had thought to myself, What is competitive, requires teamwork and if fun at the same
time? The answer was clear: a dance competition.
As years passed, various March Madness chairwomen would come up with
creative ideas to make the competition more fun and appealing. Kelli Heller, chairwoman
in 1997, added a $10 fee for each member of a participating sorority and fraternity, with
all proceeds going to Make-A-Wish.
It was a risky move, considering most college students are on a tight budget.
However, in 1998 the women of Chi Omega finally reached their goal of raising $1,000.
Interest grew, which increased the amount of money raised. A good thing, right?
Not exactly.
It was decided in 2000 to shift March Madness to its current home, the Braden
Auditorium, which can accommodate 3,000 people.
The event not only has continued to grow, drawing more and more people outside
of Greek Life in attendance, it has become more competitive and, in regards to raising
money, more lucrative. Today, March Madness is a completely sold out show. More than
600 people compete for first-place honors and the prize of having $100 donated to their
own national philanthropy.
In 2012, the event raised $30,000 a record amount.
This philanthropy is nothing short of amazing, said Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority
president, Jillian Hickey. It truly showcases everything that Greek Life is about.
Participants have fun with their brothers and sisters while donating to a great cause. You
can see how passionate the women of Chi Omega are about their philanthropy and how
much hard work goes into organizing such a huge event like this.
So, to answer the question, What could one do with $150,000? Well, Chi
Omega at ISU can grant roughly 160 wishes to sick children across the country.
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CHI OMEGAS MARCH MADNESS

FACT SHEET
EVENT:

Chi Omegas 40th Annual March Madness Dance

Competition

DATE:

Saturday, March 26th 2016

TIME:

Doors open 7 p.m.

Show begins 7:30 p.m.

LOCATION:

Braden Auditorium
100 N University Street
Normal, IL 61761

EVENT DESCRIPTION:

As the evening unfolds, come watch as

ISUs Fraternities and Sororities battle it
out for first place dancing to raise money
for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

TICKETS:

$10 for ISU students with valid ID

$14 for non-students
Tickets are available for purchase at the
Braden Box Office or on ticketmaster.com

DONATIONS:

To donate to Make-A-Wish, visit

http://friends.wish.org/Chi-OmegasMarch-Madness

EVENT CHAIRWOMAN:

Julia Lange

EVENT CO-CHAIRS:

Lori Lenahan
Stephanie Carlo

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CHI OMEGAS MARCH MADNESS

BIOGRAPHIES

Lori Lenahan Chapter Advisor

Lori Lenahan is a Chi Omega and ISU Alum from Normal,
Illinois. Lori has been an advisor of the Rho Kappa chapter
since 1992. Within the organization, Lori is responsible for
maintaining personnel, advising recruitment, overlooking
finances, scholarship and new members. With March
Madness, Lori oversees everything that the assigned
Chairwoman plans and executes. She has been an advisor for
over 20 years and says she, doesnt see that changing
anytime soon, my love for Chi Omega and this chapter is
infinite.

Julia Lange Event Chairwoman

Julia Lange is a senior Public Relations major and Business
Administration minor here at Illinois State. In Chi Omega, she
has served the positions of Junior Panhellenic Delegate,
Personnel Chair and now March Madness chairwoman. Her
duties include working with the Bone Student Center and the
Make-A-Wish foundation to organize the event. She is also
responsible for maintaining communication with all of the
Greek Chapters on campus to gain participants while working
with several businesses around the Bloomington-Normal area
to collect donations and promote the event.

Alexa Carr Event Treasurer

Alexa Carr is a senior International Business major here at
Illinois State. She has been a member of the Chi Omega Rho
Kappa chapter since 2012. Aside from being March Madness
Treasurer, she has also served as Personnel Chair and Social
Chair. With March Madness, Alexas duties include keeping
track of all funds and donations coming in and going out. She
is responsible for collecting participation checks from chapters
and money from businesses buying advertisements for things
such as the Event Playbill. She works very closely with the
event chairwoman and chapter advisor to make sure that all
finances are accounted for to raise the maximum amount of
money for Make-AWish.

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