(Courtesy of St. Baldrick's Foundation)
Sean Porter, a 21 year-old junior history major, has a full head of curly, dirty blonde hair—but not for long.
Porter is the philanthropy chair for the fraternity Alpha Phi Delta, and will be joining his fellow brothers in becoming bald for St. Baldrick’s Day, an event where people shave their heads in support for finding a cure for childhood cancer. The event takes place April 3.
Among the several cornerstones of Greek life, philanthropy is an essential element. Most organizations set out to host two big events a year to benefit a charity of their choice. They try and get their community involved by generating interest among the area.
The events are frequent throughout the semester. Many usually include food, music, and games, like Tri Delta’s upcoming ice cream social, which will donate its proceeds to St. Jude’s Children Hospital.
Alexandra Caropino, a 20-year-old sophomore marketing major, is an organizer for the event, which takes place March 4 from 8 to 12 p.m.
“We’re going to have ice cream sundaes with every topping imaginable, a DJ, root beer flip cup, pie eating contests,” Caropino said. “It’ll be a lot of fun.”
Planning ventures like these serve to get more people involved, Caropino said.
Coropino said Tri Delta girls do charity races, make Valentine’s Day baskets for cancer patients, and even visit Children’s Hospital in Denver once a month to do crafts with the kids.
“I think it’s really important as a sorority to give back because it’s the least we can do, especially for St Jude’s, where all the kids are going through so much,” Caropino said. “We want to do something fun for them.”
For students looking for even more philanthropy, Alpha Phi Omega may be able to offer it.
April Pedersen, a senior speech and language major and president of Alpha Phi Omega, said APO is a coed service fraternity, and has a mission dedicated to its three principals: leadership, friendship and service.
APO does community service with the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Boulder Shelter for the Homeless and the Boy Scouts of America, among others.
Pedersen said she originally joined because of how easily accessible APO made community service, which she says is very important to her.
“Making the connection with the community adds so much more to the college experience,” Pedersen said. “It’s the sort of involvement that you don’t really get from doing anything else. It gives you a broader perspective of the world.”
Porter said he doesn’t mind shaving off all his hair.
“We don’t do charity work because we have to, we do it because we love doing it,” Porter said. “And if that means losing our hair, so be it.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Amanda Moutinho at Amanda.moutinho@colorado.edu.
