Each spring, Greek Week gives West Virginia University fraternities and sororities an opportunity to collaborate and give back to the Morgantown community through service projects.
This year’s annual Greek Week was no exception, as the festivities held on the WVU campus April 6-10 featured several philanthropic efforts by Greek organizations at WVU.
Philanthropy and service-based projects performed during this year’s Greek Week included collecting 10 boxes of donations of art supplies for the Shack Neighborhood House and making 250 cards for the residents of Morgantown’s Unity Manor.
Highlighting the philanthropic component of Greek Week was a blood drive, where the Greek community collected 77 pints of blood for the American Red Cross.
According to Panhellenic Council Vice President Alyson Adams, the Greek community prioritizes the blood drive each semester when discussing potential service projects.
“We take this on every semester because we want people to understand how important it is to donate blood,” Adams said. “There is no better way to help people as a Greek community than by saving lives through blood donation.”
While Greek Week showcases the community’s service initiatives, the commitment to philanthropy isn’t limited to only one week each semester—it is a core value of WVU sorority and fraternity life that is promoted year-round, says program advisor Jessica Li.
“Greek organizations work throughout the year with various local organizations—nursing homes, hospitals, schools and foundations to complete thousands of hours of community service,” Li said.
Li said that each fraternity and sorority partners with a national or international philanthropy – such as the Alzheimer’s Foundation, the Wounded Warrior Project and the Arthritis Foundation – and organizes fundraisers to provide support to their chosen philanthropy’s core mission.
“Greek organizations do a lot of great things,” she said. “The sororities and fraternities fund the wishes of children through the Make-a-Wish Foundation, partner with organizations that support military veterans and mentor school children in the Morgantown area.”
In light of the fall semester’s fraternity incidents, the WVU Interfraternity Council is emphasizing the importance of civic engagement and ensuring that all pledges and members prioritize it as part of their core values.
“Promoting service projects to our members allows us to build inter-fraternal bonds through community-wide planned events and friendly competition,” said IFC President Jonathan Thurston. “It helps to bring us together for the common goal of philanthropy in our community.”
One noteworthy cause is the Fireman’s Challenge orchestrated by Pi Kappa Alpha which is hosting three events to raise money for the Firefighters Local 313, specifically for the purpose of funding their supply and equipment needs.
The Fireman’s Challenge included a chili cook-off on April 16, where firefighters from Local 313 served as judges. The Challenge will continue April 19 on the Mountainlair Green with a 5K race beginning at 10:30 a.m. The challenge will conclude with a Fireman’s Field Day from 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
According to Li, these types of service efforts enhance not only the fraternity and sorority experience, but their overall experience at WVU, too.
“I truly believe the service and philanthropic work these students take on helps them to have a more meaningful collegiate experience.”
-WVU-
hr/04/17/15
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