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Greek organizations commit to philanthropy work |
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Thursday, 03 April 2008 |
 (Bottom) Tau Kappa Epsilon members Lawrence Kovalcin (l), Steven Allison, Jason Mills, Spencer Price and Joe Clemmer are participating in their inaugural Mustache Madness philanthropy event. Photo by Derek DeSha
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by LINDSAY DIEDRICH
Intern Lifestyles Reporter
As spring approaches, Greek organizations are blooming with service projects that show their roots.
Greek organizations are often pigeonholed for their social characteristics, but many at Appalachian State University aim to do more.
“All of our organizations are founded on the principle of providing a service to the community,” senior public relations major and president of the Interfraternity Council Mike R. Jones said.
“We are social organizations, but our values are basically focused around providing help to the
community and our brothers and sisters,” Jones said.
All of the organizations give to non-profit organizations locally and nationally.
Kappa Delta Shamrock Pancake Dinner
The flapjacks were plentiful and the syrup was hot for the 16th annual
Kappa Delta sorority all-you-can-eat Shamrock Pancake Dinner.
Kappa Delta planned to surpass last year’s income from the Pancake Dinner. “This year we…set a
goal of more than $14,000 - last years profit,” junior elementary education major and sorority president
Caroline R. Keigher said. “At least a couple, three, maybe four thousand extra.”
Kappa Delta started fundraising earlier this year.
“This year we incorporated a pecan sale. Each sister sold 15 bags during the month of December,
mostly while they were home,” Keigher said. “We profited $2,000.”
Most of the funds go to local charities. “Eighty percent goes to Watauga Youth Council, while 20
percent goes to Prevent Child Abuse America, our national philanthropy,” Keigher said.
This year the sorority reached out to the community at the pancake dinner, setting aside a specific
time for community members to come from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., senior sociology major and chair of the
event Stephanie M. Collins said.
The event also had face painting and a moonwalk for the kids, while sisters handed out pamphlets on
different camps in Watauga County to parents, Collins said.
This year’s dinner also included a raffle and pancake-eating contest, Collins said.
 (Top) Sophomore recreation management major Sarah E. Hord piles on pancakes at the Kappa Delta Shamrock dinner at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center. Photo by Adam Dixon
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As with all sororities on campus, Kappa Delta is striving to promote and become known for
philanthropy.
“I think the same with Chi Omega’s Make-A-Wish and Phi Mu’s charity denim, each sorority has their
own event or philanthropy that becomes established and people expect it,” Keigher said. “I think they
just associate Kappa Delta with the pancake dinner.”
This year Kappa Delta had 1,000 people attend the event and sold 1,300 tickets.
“Philanthropy is just a way for us to all work together and strengthen our sister hood and to give back
to the community. Even more so on a national level, Kappa Delta as a whole is really good about
raising money for these efforts and causes,” Keigher said. “I just think it’s something we can do for
those that are less fortunate than us, and we should.”
Tau Kappa Epsilon Mustache Madness
During the month of April, the brothers of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity are likely to stand out as they
launch a Mustache Madness event to raise money and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association.
“This is the inaugural Mustache Madness philanthropy event,” senior advertising major and fraternity
president Jason K. Mills said.
To raise money, each member will grow a mustache for one month.
“We are growing our mustaches for the entire month of April,” Mills said. “We’ve received sponsorships
and donations...from individuals and businesses.”
The Alzheimer’s Association became the national philanthropy of Tau Kappa Epsilon in 1995.
“President Ronald Reagan was a TKE and when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s the national
chapter of TKE decided that they would make Alzheimer’s Association their national philanthropy,”
Mills said.
The Alzheimer’s Association helps both families and patients.
“The Alzheimer’s Association provides resources to families that recently have loved ones diagnosed
with Alzheimer’s,” sophomore business and finance major and service chair Lawrence J. Kovalcin said.
To honor President Reagan and his wife, the fraternity decided to call it the Ronald and Nancy Reagan Fund, Kovalcin said.
The Tau Kappa Epsilon men will also wear T-shirts twice a week in an effort to raise awareness.
“We are going to wear these T-shirts that say our mustache is fighting Alzheimer’s - what’s yours
doing?” Kovalcin said. “On the back they have our donors which are listed in gold and silver and bronze
and rank of donations with a very special thanks to the top donor.”
So far the fundraiser has been a success. The group has already surpassed their goal of $4,000 by
$1,300, Kovalcin said.
The fraternity brothers wanted to create a new event that would stand out.
“We knew it had to be something creative because we wanted it to stand out and be memorable, and
be a little outrageous,” Mills said.
Tau Kappa Epsilon hopes it can jump start a change in Greek life at Appalachian.
“Philanthropy on campus is definitely growing. There are more and more philanthropy projects this year
than I’ve seen in any years past,” Mills said. “…It’s good to see that [growth] because that’s what it’s
going to take for the Greek community to grow as a whole.”
Mills hopes the Greek community can also be known for its philanthropy work.
“We’re going to have to prove that we’re capable of more than just partying and making a...mess on
Duck Pond Field before football games,” he said. “...We’re also giving back to the community.”
The fraternity hopes to raise awareness while bringing back an old trend.
“Hopefully they won’t think we are just creepy guys with mustaches. No one really rocks a mustache
anymore. We are just trying to bring that back in a big way to raise awareness for our cause,” Kovalcin
said.
Anyone interested in donating can contact a TKE brother, or drop off cash or a check to the Greek
office, Kovalcin said. Students can also donate by visiting www.tkeoa.org
NPHC commits to service
A smaller Greek community on campus is the National Pan-Hellenic Council, but their size doesn’t limit
their impact.
“Our organizations are rooted in community service,” senior health care management major and
president of the NPHC Jonathan M. Jackson said.
As with other Greek organizations, chapters of the NPHC all have philanthropies.
“Each of the nine organizations has national programs that are mandated that each chapter is required
to conduct,” Jackson said. “You will see us doing service on anything.”
The NPHC organizations have social aspects, but service is their main priority.
“We do party. We have fun but business is first - community service, then business, then we have fun.
You might see us partying - we’ll step,” Jackson said. “[But] no partying ‘til the service is done.”
Jackson’s fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. participates in a project called A Voteless People
is a Hopeless People, a movement that encourages people to vote, Jackson said.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. mentors young women with the organization Project Hers.
IFC & PHC
SORORITIES
Alpha Delta Pi: Ronald McDonald House
Alpha Phi: Eat Your Heart Out, Cardiac Care Week, and Adopt a Campus
Chi Omega: Make-A-Wish Foundation
Delta Zeta: Speech and Hearing Impaired
Kappa Delta: Shamrock Pancake Dinner for Child Abuse America, Watauga County Children’s Fund, and Girl Scouts
Phi Mu: Children’s Miracle Network
Sigma Kappa: Gerontology, Alzheimer’s, Inherit the Earth, and Maine Seacoast Mission
FRATERNITIES
Alpha Sigma Phi: K-9’s For Companions
Kappa Alpha Order: Muscular Dystrophy Association
Pi Kappa Phi: Push America
Sigma Phi Epsilon: Friends for Life
Tau Kappa Epsilon: Alzheimer’s Association
NPHC
FRATERNITIES
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.: Go to High School: Go To College, A Voteless People is a Hopeless People, Project Alpha
Omega Psi Phi: Achievement week, Breast Cancer Awareness
SORORITIES
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.: Non-Traditional Entrepreneurship
Delta Sigma Theta: Project Hers, Breat Cancer Awareness, Relay For Life, Womens Hospital in Kenya, The Heart of ESP: Extraordinary Service Project
Zeta Phi Beta: Can Food Drive, The Storks Nest, Z-Hope
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