GARDEN GROVE, California -- The second year of Division II fund-raising for the Make-A-Wish Foundation may end up yielding twice the results of the first year.

Nicole DeBlois, the Bentley College student-athlete who has been the main organizer for both years of the drive, told the Division II SAAC-Management Council Summit July 16 that Division II student-athletes across the country raised more than $74,000 for Make-A-Wish in 2004-05.

Make-A-Wish provides memorable experiences for children with life-threatening illnesses.

Last year, Division II student-athletes raised $45,317 for Make-A-Wish.

Division II Vice-President Mike Racy said the final total is expected to grow as additional contributions trickle in. Also, Division II last year agreed to direct any fines collected toward Make-A-Wish. Those fines could expand the final total by 20 percent or more.

In announcing the total to date, DeBlois also recognized top-performing institutions and conferences.

Saint Anselm College student-athletes raised $3,100 for Make-A-Wish -- the most of any Division II institution.

With Saint Anselm leading the way, the Northeast-10 Conference led all conferences with $12,322 in contributions. Others in the top five were the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference ($7,486), the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference ($5,293), the California Collegiate Athletic Conference ($5,100) and the Sunshine State Conference ($4,082).

One hundred percent of the institutions in the CCAC and the Heartland Conference participated in the Make-A-Wish fund-raiser in 2004-05.