Ten-year-old Tess Clark suffers from a genetic disorder that challenges her everyday life. She is one patient who benefits from Children's Miracle Network. On Nov. 14, CU's Greek system is hosting a dance marathon to benefit this philanthropy. (Courtesy of Children's Miracle Network)
Sidewalks plastered in Greek letters, women discussing the merits of pancakes versus nachos and an overall sense of altruism—it’s sorority philanthropy season in Boulder.
“Philanthropy is a major part of being in a sorority,” said Natalie Smithson, a 21-year-old senior broadcast news major and director of public relations on the Panhellenic Executive Board.
Sororities on campus are required to hold at least one philanthropy event per semester. Each sorority holds a unique philanthropy event in order to raise funds for a designated cause, such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association. Most sororities are holding their fall philanthropies in the next two weeks.
One sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, will be hosting their annual philanthropy, “Nacho Fest,” on Thursday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Kelley Haun, a 21-year-old junior political science junior and member of Alpha Chi Omega, said that Nacho Fest supports the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation. According to the CU Alpha Chi Omega chapter Web site, the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation “provides scholarships for members, programming for chapters, and nationally recognized speakers for special engagement.”
“It’s pretty much just a dance party while we all serve food,” Haun said.
Other upcoming philanthropy events include Gamma Phi Beta’s “Caramel Apple Ball” on Wednesday and Delta Delta Delta’s “House of Pancakes” supper on Nov. 5.
Sororities welcome all students, both Greeks and non-Greeks, at their public philanthropy events.
“Our event has a lot of people attend that aren’t in the Greek community,” Haun said.
Chelsea Schaul, a 21-year-old senior marketing major and external vice president of the Panhellenic Executive Board, said she is proud of the contributions sororities make to their respective causes.
“Every chapter on our campus has a core value of service,” Schaul said.
Schaul is organizing this year’s Dance Marathon, a philanthropy event that supports Children’s Miracle network.
“Fraternities and sororities work together for the dance-a-thon,” Schaul said.
While many students on campus are enthusiastic about philanthropy events, others are skeptical of their merit.
“I don’t think sororities are as philanthropic as they could be,” said Miranda Edwards, a 20-year-old sophomore psychology major. “I think with the amount of people involved in sororities they should be able to have more than one or two events a year.”
Edwards said she has never attended a philanthropy event, but she has encountered several sorority members on campus and was not impressed.
“None of the sorority girls seem to care too much about what there raising money for,” Edwards said.
Schaul begs to differ and said that sororities take their philanthropy seriously.
“I love our [Greek] community and the fact that we can reach out,” Schaul said.
For more information on each sorority chapter and their respective philanthropy, click here.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Mary Rochelle at Mary.rochelle@colorado.edu.
