Flamingos stand outside of the Sigma Chi house Monday evening as part of the Gamma Phi fundraiser for Campfire USA. (Casey Lee)
Fraternity and sorority houses have had a different kind of decoration on their front lawns this week.
Since Sunday, Gamma Phi Beta has been “flocking,” which involves putting up plastic flamingos to raise money for Campfire USA.
Campfire USA, the sorority’s main philanthropy, is an organization that has co-educational programs for children all over the United States. “Flocking with Gamma Phi” is just one of the sorority’s events to contribute to the organization.
The young women have been communicating with all sororities and fraternities since last week about which Greek houses they would like to “flock.” The flocking of 25 flamingos cost $50. Each night, Gamma Phi women place plastic flamingos on the front yard of a house.
This is the first year Gamma Phi Beta has held this event at SMU, and they are planning to continue it, according to Courtney Guenard, Philanthropy Assistant Chair for Gamma Phi Beta.
“It has gone well so far,” said Guenard, who believes it will be a success in the future.
The event is getting positive feedback from the campus, as the pink flamingos take over Greek houses’ lawns. Erin Richards, a sophomore at SMU, thinks the event is a refreshing change.
“It’s a new take on a philanthropy event that definitely gets people’s attention,” Richards said.
Along with surprising Greek houses by sharing new lawn decorations, Gamma Phi Beta sold cookies Thursday and will continue selling through today. Each cookie is sold for a dollar on the West Bridge of the Hughes Trigg Student Center, with all proceeds going directly to Campfire USA.
Guenard believes that the slumping economy is not discouraging the women from raising the most they can.
“I think people probably feel more justified buying a cookie from us rather than Starbucks because the money goes to helping Campfire. Even if people do feel the effects of the economy, we are still seeing excitement about contributing to our cause,” Guenard said.
Gamma Phi Beta has held other events this year, such as “Camp Fear” and “Rockin’ for the Cause,” along with selling smoothies at the beginning of the fall semester.
The sorority raised $500 from the flocking, and they are expecting a good amount from cookie sales to raise that figure. The women planned on not charging “too much” for the flocking, in order to make sure this first-time event went well, according to Guenard.
With as well as the event has gone this week, they “plan [to raise] more in following years,” said Guenard.
