Phi Mu, a sorority at The University of Southern Mississippi, recently hosted their annual Milkshakes for Miracles fundraising event to help raise money for the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, Blair E. Batson.
Students and families in the Hattiesburg area gathered during the event to purchase milkshakes that were made by members of Phi Mu. Each milkshake cost a total of $5. Buyers were given an option of chocolate or vanilla and an array of toppings.
Cloé Knight, a junior special education major from Beaumont, serves as the philanthropy chair for Phi Mu. Through this position, she acts as a liaison between the sorority and Blair E. Batson and plans philanthropy events such as Milkshakes for Miracles.
Milkshakes for Miracles was started by a USM Phi Mu alum and has spread into a national Phi Mu initiative. Through this event, every dollar raised goes straight to Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children.
Each year, a miracle family comes to the event and helps judge the milkshake making competition between the sororities and fraternities on campus.
“It’s cool to have a fun event like this,” Knight said. “To have some miracle kids and their families come is always fun for them.”
The money from Milkshakes for Miracles helps to fund different things at Blair E. Batson. Phi Mu has helped to donate a room, toys and even helped to fund an entire building.
This past August, the sorority got to visit the hospital to see the impact they have made.
“It’s cool to go and visit now and interact with the children and the families,” Knight said.
After a long period of time without getting to visit the hospital due to Covid, she says that they were still able to see how they have helped.
“So many of our chapter members have connections to Blair E. Batson or Children’s Miracle Network in general,” she added. “We have seen it in our families to know that we’re making an impact.”
Another member of Phi Mu is Julian Farmer, a sophomore speech pathology major. This was her second year participating in this event. As a freshman, Farmer got to be the one making the milkshakes and this year, she got to greet members of the community as they walked into the Phi Mu house.
“Not only are you building a relationship with your sorority sisters, but you’re also building relationships with the community by welcoming them to see a glimpse of what we do for our philanthropy” she explained.
Through Milkshakes for Miracles, community members got to help Phi Mu make an impact on Blair E. Batson, while getting to enjoy a milkshake made by the members themselves.
“I love that it has become such a community event,” Knight said. “So many people, not only on campus, but in the Hattiesburg community come, and I think that’s so cool.”
