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Friday,
April 23, 2004 |
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Greeks
raise money and give time to good causes
More
than $121,000 and 25,000 hours of community service were
donated to charities by Greek organizations in 2003.
By
Stacey Grant
Fraternity
and sorority members may have to work extra hard this
year if they hope to surpass the successes of 2003’s
philanthropic events.
According to the directors of service for the Interfraternity
Council and Panhellenic Council, more than $121,000 was
donated to various charities through philanthropies in
2003.
Tiffany Abbott, director of fraternity and sorority affairs,
said each fraternity and sorority is required to do philanthropies
by its national chapter, but that is not the only motivation.
“Many students participate because it’s a chance
to give service to a wonderful cause and have fun with
their organization at the same time,” she said.
Spencer Blevens, IFC director of service, said TCU fraternities
donated more than $44,000 to different charities last
year.
Blevens, a sophomore advertising/public relations major,
said Pi Kappa Phi raised the most money overall with about
$12,500. Sigma Chi came in second with a total of $6,000,
and Sigma Phi Epsilon raised $5,200 for the third highest.
Pi Kap President Charlie Stephan, a sophomore advertising/public
relations major, said he thinks they were able to raise
so much money because the members are very interested
in service.
“We have members who join our fraternity specifically
because they are so committed to service,” Stephan
said. “It’s a big goal we have every year.”
Stephan said the amount of money raised is not a contest
among chapters, but rather an opportunity to raise money
for great causes.
“It’s all a matter of focus,” Stephan said.
“If philanthropy is a big focus in your organization,
then you’re going to raise more money for charity.”
Pi Kap’s main philanthropy is Push America, which
helps people with physical and mental disabilities. The
fraternity also donates money to the TCU KinderFrogs School,
the preschool on campus for children with Down syndrome.
Blevens said philanthropies are a great way of giving
back to the community.
“Philanthropy is one of the things Greek organizations
were founded on, and we take pride in giving back to the
community,” Blevens said.
Delta Gamma President Laura Elliott, a sophomore nursing
major, said it’s important to participate in philanthropies
because it shows people that there’s more to being
Greek than just parties and social events.
“Philanthropies are what sororities were based off
of in the beginning,” Elliott said. “We weren’t
founded on parties, we were founded on service.”
Every fall, DG hosts Anchorsplash, an event where fraternities
compete and raise money for charity, Elliott said. DG’s
main philanthropy is Service for Sight, in which sorority
members read stories to blind people on a weekly basis.
Elliott said what she loves about philanthropic service
is the unity it provides to her sorority.
“I love how it unites all sororities,” Elliott
said. “All Delta Gammas do Anchorsplash and Service
for Sight. It gives us a common bond.”
In addition to the money donated in 2003, more than 25,000
hours of community service were completed by Greek organizations.
Emily Hollenbeck, Panhellenic director of service, said
Greek sororities raised $77,300 for various charities
and participated in more than 9,300 hours of community
service.
Hollenbeck, a junior communication studies major, said
Alpha Chi Omega raised the most money, which was used
to help fight domestic violence. The sorority’s 2003
annual fashion show raised more than $21,000, which is
slightly less than this year’s total of $25,000.
In 2003, TCU’s Greek organizations raised money and
provided service for such causes in 2003 as the Muscular
Dystrophy Association, Children’s Miracle Network,
Tarrant County Food Bank, Toys for Tots, Susan G. Komen
Breast Cancer Foundation and Big Brother of Fort Worth.
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