Every year SMU’s Greek community sponsors philanthropyevents that bring together both members of Greek chapters and theSMU community to raise money for their specific charities. Aphilanthropy event differs from community service in that it is anevent that raises money for an organization instead of donatingtime. On the SMU campus, philanthropy events are broken up into twomain categories, those involving sporting events and thoseinvolving food.
Some of the sororities and fraternities sponsor organizations ona nation wide basis, and the majority donate to.more than onecharity. The Delta Delta Delta sorority nationally sponsors SaintJude, a hospital benefiting kids with cancer. Every year they holdan event called Delta Diner, in which participants get all-you-can-eat pancakes and orange juice for $5. “It’s adifferent way to help charities other than communityservice,” says Casey Wetz the Tri Delta philanthropy chair.She says, “It’s our purpose.” The Tri DeltaSorority was composed specifically for philanthropy. By the year2000, $1 million had been donated to Saint Jude’s.”Some people have the misconception that we are raising moneyfor personal luxury but our money goes immediately to SaintJude’s,” said Tri Delta member Katy Blakey. This yearthe event raised more than $3,000 for the Saint Jude foundation.”Working for something like Saint Jude is one of the mostbeneficial parts of being a Tri Delta” said Blakey.
Gamma Phi Beta holds an annual event called “Diamonds area Girls Best Friend,” a softball tournament in which teamspay a $100 entry fee to play. All proceeds and donations go to theCampfire USA for Children, a non-profit organization that plansevents for underprivileged children. This year their eventsuccessfully raised about $3000. Philanthropy chair Maya Mahoneysays, “It’s a great organization to support. There isone on Mockingbird Lane so it benefits the local community aswell.” The Gamma Phi Betas also have a clothing drive thatdonates clothes to the Campfire USA for Children.
Many of the fraternities and sororities help local organizationsthat help the immediate community. Lambda Chi Alpha holds an annualspring Watermelon Bash in which games are played with watermelons.These games include eating watermelon, throwing them throughperson’s arms and hitting them like a baseball. The LambdaChi Alphas take can-food donations for the North Texas Food bank.Lambda Chi member Hulsey Smith says, “It’s a great wayto give back to the people of Dallas and help our fellowcitizens.”
For two years the Interfraternity Council has hosted MustangMarathon, a 28-hour dance marathon that benefits infants andchildren diagnosed with HIV and Aids. Seventy percent of theproceeds go to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation andthirty percent goes to Bryan’s House of Dallas. Last year theevent raised 250,000 and received The Regional Award for communityinvolvement in 2002.
Philanthropies
The Interfraternity community: Beta Theta Pi -SPCA of Texas,Kappa Sigma-Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Kappa AlphaOrder-Muscular Dystrophy Association, Lambda Chi Alpha –NorthTexas Food Bank, Phi Delta Theta –varies, Phi GammaDelta-Herbert Marcus After School Program, Pi Kappa Alpha-LeukemiaFoundation, Sigma Chi –Children’s Miracle Network.
The Panhellenic community:Alpha Chi Omega – Alpha ChiOmega Foundation, Chi Omega- Make A Wish Foundation, Delta DeltaDelta – Saint Jude Foundation, Delta Gamma-Service For Sight,Gamma Phi Beta – Camp Fire USA for Children, Kappa Alpha Theta-Court Appointed Special Advocates, Kappa Kappa Gamma-Kappa KappaGamma Foundation, Pi Beta Phi-Links to Literacy.
The Multi-Greek community: Alpha Psi Lambda-American CancerSociety, Kappa Delta Chi-American Cancer Society, Sigma LambdaGamma-TRIO Program, Omega Delta Phi-Adelante EducationalFoundation.
The national Panhellenic community: Alpha Kappa Alpha-Educational Advancement Foundation, Delta Sigma Theta- DeltaResearch and Educational Foundation.
