Alison Hornung is a 24 year old graduate of the University of Rhode Island, with degrees in Global Business Management, German, and Human Development and Family Sciences, and a sister of Sigma Delta Tau. Ali is Miss Rhode Island 2024! She has been a passionate childhood cancer advocate since the age of 12. Ali is also the Founder of Glimmer of Hope Foundation, a 501c(3) nonprofit organization that shows girls and boys their strength and beauty through the donation of bald dolls and provides HOPE to families battling childhood cancer.

Her biggest inspiration remains her honorary “little sis,” Ella, who battled leukemia for 3 years. Ella lit a spark for Ali and all those around her that inspire them to fight for what they believe in. Ali has advocated multiple times to Congress members in D.C. and virtually for more funding for pediatric cancer in honor of Ella and all of the other fighters, survivors and angels. ⁣

Ali has raised over $500,000 for various organizations including LLS, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, The Izzy Foundation, Talia’s Legacy, The Tomorrow Fund and more. She is the founder of Miracle Masks, a small business where she has created over 2,500 face masks and donated all of the proceeds to childhood cancer foundations.

Join inspiring 24 year old Founder and Executive Director, Ali Hornung on a transformative journey of resilience, hope and empowerment. Drawing from her deeply personal experience of losing her friend, Ella, to leukemia, she shares her poignant story of grief and finding hope in your healing.

At the heart of her narrative lies the founding of Glimmer of Hope Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit she founded in her friend's honor. Through heartfelt storytelling and raw vulnerability, she takes audiences on a profound exploration of the human spirit's capacity to rise above adversity and find purpose amidst pain.

As she shares her insights, she invites participants to delve into their own experiences, fostering a space of empathy, understanding and connection. Through this engaging and thought provoking program, attendees will not only gain valuable communication skills but also discover the transformative power of turning tragedy into triumph. Dive into an unforgettable journey of courage, resilience and the profound impact of honoring a loved one's legacy.

Learning objectives:

- Engage in reflection on the themes of loss, grief and resiliency and explore how these concepts relate to their own lives and aspirations.
- Evaluate the strategies used by Ali in founding and managing a successful nonprofit, exploring themes of leadership and social impact.
- Analyze Ali's journey of resilience and finding purpose in the face of tragedy, gaining insights into the processes of grief and healing.
- Explore the connections between personal experiences, social impact and activism and reflect on how students can harness their own struggles to create meaningful change within their communities and beyond.

Embark on a journey of empowerment and social change with our dynamic speaker, Ali Hornung, as she shares her remarkable story of leveraging Greek Life on her own campus and her influential role on Panhellenic Council to spearhead transformative fundraising initiatives. Through her passionate leadership and unwavering dedication, she mobilized the collective strength of Greek organizations on her college campus, channeling their energy and resources towards making a tangible difference in the lives of others.

In this inspiring program, our speaker delves into the strategies, challenges and triumphs behind her efforts to fundraise over $350,000 in one year for a diverse range of causes. From organizing philanthropic events to fostering collaboration among Greek chapters, she offers invaluable insights into the power of community, collaboration and purpose driven action.

Learning objectives:

- Analyze the strategies Ali used in mobilizing sororities and fraternities and leveraging connections to achieve successful fundraising outcomes.
- Evaluate the role of leadership, collaboration and effective communication in motivating groups within Greek Life towards a common philanthropic goal.
- Reflect on the challenges and successes encountered by Ali, forming insights on resilience, adaptability and problem solving in the face of obstacles.
- Develop strategies for creating a culture of philanthropy and social impact within their own organizations.
- Explore the significance of community engagement in creating impactful fundraising initiatives and consider ways to apply this within their own organizations.