Sororities Fundraise to Promote Breast Cancer Awareness
Sororities in different universities have been raising money to promote breast cancer awareness.
One of the most successful sorority fundraisers took place at Northwestern University. Zeta Tau Alpha raised nearly $1,200 by selling 1,000 pink ribbons to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. Many people chose to donate directly to the cause. All proceeds went to the ZTA Foundation, an organization developed by ZTA to support breast cancer research.
http://www.greek101.com/lounge/fundraising.php
At the University of Alabama, sororities all over campus have been competing in a fundraiser competition to raise money for a game between the women’s basketball team against the University of Central Florida (UCF) on February 12.
The Bartow Arena was transformed to a “Pink Zone” to raise awareness for breast cancer and money for the Gene Bartow Cancer Research Fund.
Delta Gamma held a bake sale, selling cookies, brownies, and other delightful treats.
“All of us have a friend or grandmother that’s been affected by this disease. It can affect all women everywhere. As an organization that’s all about women, a sorority, [and] the sisterhood of women, it’s important to us to take that beyond our sorority and out into the real world,” Delta Gamma volunteer, Paige Pizna said.
Alpha Xi Delta, another sorority, has also been participating in fundraising for the cause. Alpha Xi have been gathering items throughout Birmingham to sell at a silent auction. They have been using silent auctions and donations as their main method of fundraising money for cancer research.
“We were approached with the opportunity by the director of the event and thought it would be a great way to get involved. Cancer awareness is extremely important, so the opportunity to increase understanding was something that we could not pass up,” said Johnson, a volunteer from Alpha Xi.
Alpha Gamma Delta, another sorority, also participated in this friendly competition by collecting donations and seling baskets for their silent action.
Many sororities have been raising funds for breast cancer awareness.
Marathon leaps over participant, fundraising records
The 12th annual Rutgers University Dance Marathon rang in the new decade with a record-smashing fundraising and participant high.
The state’s largest student-run philanthropic fundraiser this year raised the most money ever, raking in $378,001.75 for New Brunswick’s Embrace Kids Foundation, which helps the families of children with cancer and blood disorders with their non-medical and financial needs. This was about $55,000 more than last year’s record-breaking total.
The weekend-long fundraiser also had the most participants ever, with 714 registered dancers — about 100 more than last year — pledging to stay on their feet for the event’s full 32 hours straight with no breaks for sleep.
Dancers stayed energized and pumped with the marathon’s theme hours, side entertainment, round-the-clock Dj-ing courtesy of Hurricane Productions, tournaments and five live bands.
With the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver this year, the Olympics inspired the event’s dance hours and activities in the College Avenue Gymnasium.
“The dancer participation is what makes the theme hours what they are. The ideas come from us, but how far they go is really up to them,” said Ashley Sam, community outreach captain.
Assistant Director of Community Outreach Angelica Grimaldi said this year’s dancer increase can be attributed to more first-year student participation, many of whom took leadership roles as captains, as well as an increase of residence halls joining together to form teams.
Grimaldi said alumni dancers also rose dramatically. There were 34 alumni dancers who came out, with four dancing the whole time. Saturday night also saw the event’s first-ever alumni hour to honor past dancers.
“We never had the alumni hour ever, and this year it was huge,” said Grimaldi, a Rutgers College senior. “I think we’re going to have a huge alumni participation from here on out.”
Alyssa Gentile, an alumni dancer from Class of 2009, was involved with Dance Marathon throughout her time at the University.
“I still wanted Dance Marathon to be a part of my life in more ways than just donating money, so I decided to dance,” she said.
As a former director of community outreach, she was nervous coming into this year’s marathon.
“I thought I would be bored, that my feet would hurt, but I’m feeling great,” she said. “I love seeing the families.”
Assistant Director of Volunteer Management Julia Crimi said organizations are matched up with children in the Embrace Kids Foundation. They then travel visit their adoptive children and spend time with them throughout the year. During the marathon, the families visit the dancers.
Ashrey Sharma, Delta Sigma Iota vice president, said when his fraternity started dancing Saturday, they were pumped. Once the night hit, they started to feel the pain of not sleeping or sitting.
“We were starting to feel really tired, but then our child came by,” he said. “Since then, everyone’s just been jumping around. Our spirits were down, but now it’s just we’re ending on a good note today.”
Sharma, a School of Arts and Sciences senior, said they visit their adoptive child, three-year-old Jacob Buccos, once a week at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
“It’s just fun watching him. And he makes you feel happy when you go and meet him everyday. That’s the best part about it,” he said.
Jacob’s mother, Tammy Buccos said Jacob was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic lymphoma, a form of leukemia, last summer, and the Embrace Kids Foundation helps the family immensely.
“They help us financially, like with an electric bill that we found ourselves falling behind with, embrace kids has helped us out with that,” Tammy Buccos said. “Just the everyday of helping [Jacob] get through the transition of him being in the clinic weekly, helping us with it as a family and dealing with his cancer.”
While greek organizations are heavily involved with Dance Marathon, this year saw an increase in non-greek organizations and individual dancers not tied to a group.
“I know there’s a misconception on campus that Dance Marathon is all-greek, and a lot of other organizations do get involved,” Sam said. “There are a lot of non-greeks making their way into it and really making it a mix of non-greek organizations and greek organizations.”
Sam said this increase in participation was due to the recruitment team.
“They were out giving presentations on all of the campuses starting back in September as soon as school started,” said Sam, who also noted an increase in media and press relations.
Crimi, a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore, oversaw everyone who volunteered their time for Dance Marathon, including dancers, committee members and captains.
“We had a more selective process in hiring captains and committee members,” Crimi said. “We wanted to get the best of the best this year.”
As a result, Dance Marathon had never run more smoothly, she said.
“Dance Marathon is all of the most passionate people around one cause coming together,” Crimi said. “College students have such a bad stereotype, that they just drink and party and don’t go to class, but here you have 1,000 people in this gym for these kids.”
Although it lasts 32 hours, Dance Marathon starts planning for the next year about a month after its conclusion, said Sam, a School of Arts and Sciences first-year student.
“It’s a very long process,” she said. “It takes a lot of time on everybody’s part. It’s hours and hours a week every week leading up to the marathon.”
One month prior to the event, Dance Marathon hosts its Spirit Week to drive up competitor and fundraising spirit.
“We do it about one month before the marathon to get everyone ready for the final stretch,” Sam said.
The participating organizations compete for spirit points and the winner is announced at the concluding ceremony of the marathon. Sorority Alpha Chi Omega maintained its tradition of winning spirit week this year, but fraternity Chi Psi won the award of being the most spirited fundraisers throughout the year.
Jennifer Kantor, a Rutgers College senior and member of Alpha Chi Omega, danced for the first time this year after participating for the past three.
“Even though standing for 32 hours is difficult, it’s definitely worth it when you see the kids and what this means to them,” she said. “I feel tired but I feel like I accomplished something good.”
Source: http://www.dailytargum.com/news/marathon-leaps-over-participant-fundraising-records-1.2204550
Throwing Parties as Fundraisers
For organizations such as a sorority, fundraising should be an easy task, with members already having a common bond or interest to begin with. Circles within sororities usually have common interests and/or hobbies, which can help in deciding the theme of a fundraising activity.
A party fundraiser is a common activity that sororities can easily undertake given the warm camaraderie and automatic cooperation between participants. Sororities can hold parties to raise funds and have fun at the same time. In fact, it is a great plan that kills two birds with one stone—improving the relationships of the members of the sorority and raising funds for a cause that means a lot to the organization. The following are some great tips for a successful and meaningful fundraising party for sororities.
Boost the team spirit. A sorority fundraising party is a fun way to get together and build lasting relationships. As team effort is required for a meaningful fundraiser to take place, cooperation from each member is a must. Working together for the fundraising party will give everyone a chance to help out and selflessly give their time and efforts for a great cause.
Define objectives. Set clear objectives as to where the proceeds will go and what charitable or medical research institution will benefit from the fundraiser. By setting clear objectives (monetary or otherwise), sorority members will be more aware and can also spread the word to peers, thus pulling in more people to participate in the fundraiser.
Organize a planning committee. Larger sororities should take time to come up with an organizing committee that will be in charge of planning the party details. Have one committee to handle food, another to handle the venue and decorations and another for logistics. While these committees will rely heavily on volunteers, planning activities can be carried out efficiently when there is a leader who will monitor the group.
Set a theme. Depending on the occasion (the party may take place near holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas) and the cause itself, the fundraising party should have a uniting theme to give it an identifying factor. If the fundraising party is for an animal rights cause, organizers may opt to serve cat and dog themed cookies and pastries.
Make it interesting. What’s a party without great music? Organizers may opt to invite local musical artists to perform for free (it is a fundraising party, after all!). Take note of local, independent artists who would welcome free publicity and a large audience.
Get participants involved. Piquing the interest of the fundraiser’s participants factors into the success of any fundraiser. The more they are interested or passionate they are about the cause, the more they are willing to give their time, efforts and money. Never ask for their money once they step into the party. Acquaint them with the cause and raise their awareness—this will lead to a more informed decision of charitable giving.
Jello Wrestling Fundraiser
Jell-O wrestling is one of the more common fundraising activities but for sororities, it is a fun activity that can done during college fairs or fundraising parties. Sororities can get their best looking members to dress in bikinis and take on the challenge of Jell-O wrestling. This will most likely attract more students to come to the fundraising event and possibly participate for a reasonable price. Raising money through jell-o wrestling will be fun and entertaining with these tips and tricks.
Strategize and organize. Define the monetary goals and how it should be achieved. Organizers can hold small bets on who will win each round of jell-o wrestling and a portion of those bets will serve as proceeds for the fundraiser. Organizers can also give out tickets to those who want to attend the jell-o wrestling event. More interestingly, they can sell participatory tickets for those who want to battle it out on the jell-o pool. If the visitor wins the fight, he can opt to donate a small amount of money to the cause.
Crank up the sounds. A fundraising event as fun as a jell-o wrestling activity should have great music to go with it. It will not only attract more passers-by but also get people hyped up for the match. Make sure that the jell-o wrestling activity is held at a safe and appropriate place in which no one will complain about the noise.
Use the right jell-o. Regular gelatin can stain clothes and other materials. Make sure to use non-toxic and biodegradable jell-o designed for jell-o wrestling. This way, the jell-o will be easily discarded without harming the environment, Choose gelatin that is easy to set up and discard, but will also last throughout the fundraising event. Some manufacturers already provide jell-o that is specifically designed for such activities.
Have a blast. Jell-o wrestling can also take place in a fundraising party as an added activity. An inflatable pool can easily be set up at the backyard of the sorority house, where guests can also participate for a small amount. Organizers can also set up teams within the sorority to battle it out in the jell-o pool. Observers can pay to watch and even place their bets on which team will win. A little competition will definitely go a long way in jell-o wrestling fundraisers.
Jail and Bail Fundraiser
Jail and bail puts the fun back in fundraising. It’s an innovative way to raise funds, simply by “incarcerating” people who are willing to be put in a make-believe jail and allowing them to bail out by giving a small amount of donation money. This type of sorority fundraising is great for college events like fairs and festivities. The organizing sorority can set up a make-believe jail booth and have acting “police women” (preferably dressed in nice cop uniforms!) to “catch” passersby who are willing to get cuffed and jailed for a small period of time. To add some spunk, fundraising organizers may opt to have their acting “police women” wear fun and sexy police uniforms and use fuzzy handcuffs. Make sure, however, that the costumes are in line with the fundraiser’s theme. For a meaningful fundraiser that is sure to gather money for a great cause, take into consideration the following.
Make it fun. Never arrest people who don’t want to be arrested. Organizers do not want to receive a bunch of complaints from people who do not want to participate or donate money to the fundraising body. Select people who are willing to give and participate in the fundraising activity. Opt to give out small knick knacks or giveaways to those who enthusiastically participate in the jail and bail. The lady police can also give them a nice kiss on the cheek (with bright red lipstick that sticks—for full effect!) after they bail out.
Be creative. Use fancy costumes to add some spunk to the fundraiser. Those who will go about hunting for captives can dress like police officers or pirates. Play some music to attract attention and get the energy going. Make sure however, that the fundraising event is held in an appropriate place where no one will complain about the noise.
Have a relevant theme. Make sure that the fundraising activity has a unifying theme that reflects the cause of the fundraiser. The more informed people are, the more they will want to participate in the fundraiser. Point out the importance of the cause and how the proceeds will help the benefitting organization or individuals.
other sororities and fraternities decided not to participate in another sorority’s philanthropic fundraiser
Christmas break is always a time for me to put away school books and bring out books I want to read. The past few years I have grown to enjoy non-fiction books, particularly Christian non-fiction. Most of the time they are just interesting books, but do not really challenge my thinking any, probably in part to the fact that I’m reading books that people have recommended who think a lot like me as it is and those people would probably never recommend a book that they disagree with.
The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne is what I am making my way through right now. I have known a few people to have read it, but they never said much about it other than that it was a pretty good read. I picked it up a few months ago, but never got around to reading it because of school and work. I am glad I never got to read it during those busy months because it would have been read quickly and not taken in adequately.
Maybe you could read it and not be torn, confused, and even slightly upset by it. I can’t. Shane takes all these things that we (I’m taking some liberty in using “we” and assuming you’ve grown up with these things and beliefs in America just like me) have grown up with and heard and calls them out. Charities, church, the war, politics.
Charities are good, but they allow the rich to stay a safe distance from the poor, from the down and out and still allow us to feel good about ourselves for giving money. He says,
“Tithes, tax-exempt donations, and short-term mission trips, while they accomplish some good, can also function as outlets that allow us to appease our consciences and still remain a safe distance from the poor…I’m not convinced that Jesus is going to say [when we get to heaven], ‘When I was hungry, you gave a check to the United Way and they fed me,’ or, ‘When I was naked, you donated clothes to the Salvation Army and they clothed me.’ Jesus is not seeking distant acts of charity. He seeks concrete acts of love: ‘you fed me…you visited me in prison…you welcomed me into your home… you clothed me.’”
The charities thing got to me a little bit, because I know exactly what Shane is talking about. While I do not think that charities are wrong, I think they are great ways for resources to be distributed, I also believe that Shane makes a good argument. I am in no position to call out people for not helping the poor in a more direct way, because I’m right there with them. My helping out goes with the Operation Christmas Child, tithes, prayer, the adopt a child monthly giving, giving money to the missionaries who come and talk at church. I’m not saying these are wrong, I think we need to do what we can, but is that all we’re supposed to be doing? This morning I woke up thinking about a conversation my best friend and I had several months ago. Her sorority, and several other sororities decided not to participate in another sorority’s philanthropic fundraiser. She said it was because that sorority never helps out with any of their fundraisers. So it was kind of a “stick it to them” act. Up until today I thought it was a totally respectable reason. But today I realized it’s not about if they help you out or not. The point is for the money that is being raised for whatever charity that fundraiser helps. It’s because our whole way of thinking has become this, “If you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours” thinking that we’re in the position we are. I know I just used a charity as an example after talking about how charities aren’t direct, etc., but it was for the sake of the argument that we have become so focused on how someone is going to help us out with what we are doing, that we refuse to help them out on what they’re doing if they don’t return the favor. We really just need to forget favors. Doesn’t the Bible talk about that? The whole don’t lend money, just give it to them type of thing.
The next few things are what really make me uncomfortable and make take a good look at myself and what I believe. Do I believe how I believe because it is what I have been told my whole life or do I actually have a good reason?
One year Shane Claiborne was able to be an intern at a church and he used that church in a lot of examples. This church did not have a single cross displayed, but had the American flag displayed. After preaching a sermon, the pastor came up to him and told him the pulpit is not a place for politics and that’s when he noticed the American flag hanging there. What’s more political than a country’s flag? For a church that is supposed to be universal, joining every member of the body of Christ together to form that body, to hang a flag that separates it from other Christians worldwide, isn’t that pretty political? Isn’t the cross supposed to be the symbol that unites us all? It is because of what happened on that cross that we are even able to call ourselves children of God.
There are churches on every street corner. If you live in the south, you’re used to driving down streets where there’s 3 or 4 churches on that street alone. Churches split because of fickle arguments that they refuse to work out. Denominations have come into being because of use of relics, praying to anyone other than God, the proper way to baptize, if you can lose your salvation, how to be saved. Even as I sit here and write this, I am trying to decide if these are really that big of a deal. I mean, I guess they constitute having different churches, but I KNOW they should not cause riffs between the members of those churches. In the end, we should all be able to sit down and agree that Jesus is the reason we have any hope here on earth or in life to come and that we are all called to love and are members of the same Church.
A few years ago I had the opportunity to work at the Southern Baptist Convention. My friend and I were passing our flyers for a meeting later on that day. The song, “Lord, You are Good” was being played in the meeting that we were standing outside of, and my friend was tapping her foot to the beat and bobbing her head. Hardly what anyone would call dancing. An older pastor comes up to her, puts his arm on her shoulder and says, “We don’t do that here.” He was completely serious. Churches have been split because of something as stupid as if you can dance, raise your hands when you’re singing, clap, if you can have a guitar or drums on stage or if only old hymns with a piano and organ are acceptable in church. It’s when we allow such stupid arguments as these to cause dissension that we get ourselves into even more trouble.
My dad is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserves. For 3.5 years I lived in Alaska next to an army post and an air force base. My church was probably 60-75% military. Every single military holiday was celebrated with the military branches’ songs played, a HUGE American flag displayed as the backdrop to the stage, and recognition to all our former and active duty military watching by television or in the audience and anyone related to them. Our pastor took a major stand for the war in Iraq, my school was a ministry of my church and the chief administrator of my school was active duty in the military and went on 2 or 3 deployments to Iraq while I was attending. The principal was in the military for 20 or 30 years…you get the picture. When I moved my senior year of high school, our next church also supported the war in Iraq, and used the pulpit to urge the congregation to support it as well. I think my church here in college supports it as well.
Then I started reading The Irresistible Revolution. I’m still on the chapter talking against the war. Talking about how we don’t need the military if we were all to live a Christian life. Christians shouldn’t be for the war, any war, for violence of any kind. Valid arguments are made. The verse, “Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword” is used and examples of how Jesus never used violence. Shane went to Iraq and the Iraq people would ask him why his government was doing this. With each page I read, I get a little angry. Partly because I have friends over there who firmly believe in what we are doing and I have friend’s parents who have died while fighting over there and partly because all I have ever heard from any “respectable Christians” is that this war is good. It has only been those “crazy Democrats” who have said this war is wrong and it seems like half of what I hear is that Democrats can’t be Christians, or at least not good Christians and that their thinking needs to be changed.
My church here in college talks about voting for people who are running on campaigns that match up with our Biblical beliefs. This really always ends up just being about abortion and homosexuality and everything else falls to the wayside. My old church allowed any political candidate to come to our church on certain Sundays and say their name and the position for which they are running. This always ended with the pastor saying about the same thing as the church I go to now. My churches have never talked bad about our Presidents, granted it’s not until now with President Obama that they have had a “reason” to, and I don’t mean that he’s a bad president, but because he’s a Democrat, and my churches have only ever endorsed Republican candidates. I am glad I can say that my present pastor does not talk ill of our President and tells us almost weekly that we need to respect him. He is our President and even if he takes stances on things we don’t agree with, he is in a position of God ordained authority,
Romans 13:1-7 “Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
In the end, I’m completely thankful for this book. It has become an eye opening read, taking me from automatically thinking the American Christian way is correct. Christianity has been utterly Americanized here in the US. It’s not an American religion. It didn’t start here. We have warped it into something not very much like it was in the beginning.
Sorority hopes Ebony Fashion Fair will return
This has been a great holiday season, but if you sensed that something was missing from the usual schedule of events, you were right.
It was the Ebony Fashion Fair you missed.
The traveling fashion show, which features professional models showing American and European designs, didn’t tour this year.
This is the first time in the 28 years I’ve been at The Eagle that I didn’t hear from a member of Delta Sigma Theta, the local organization that has sponsored the show as a scholarship fundraiser the past 49 years. Usually the show is around Dec. 10.
Edith Knox, who has been a Delta Sigma Theta member since 1966, says she was disappointed the show was canceled by Johnson Publishing Co., the company that produces it.
“This would have been our 50th year and we’ve raised more than $250,000 in scholarship money,” Edith said.
Sorority members want to make sure the community knows how much their support has meant to them.
“We are so appreciative. We haven’t replaced the show with another event and we hope Ebony Fashion Fair will be back next year,” she said.
Show producers say the economy was the reason the show went on hiatus.
But we hope by next year, the trunks of gorgeous haute couture can be packed up, the willowy models loaded onto a bus and the Ebony Fashion Fair makes its way here again. And it will be brought to us for the 50th time by the ladies of Delta Sigma Theta.
Resolutions redux _ I had to laugh when I came across a list of New Year’s resolutions I had written in 2006.
Some things never change. I accomplished one thing on that list — and that happened just this year.
Let’s see, if I can mark one thing off every couple of years, I’ll have a clean slate by age 75. But wait, by then some resolutions will have to be added. Oh, well.
Once again on New Year’s Day I’ll sit down with pen and paper to write out my resolutions. I’ll put it somewhere where I can’t find it and won’t come across it for years.
And the last item on the list will be the same thing I’ve written since fifth grade.
“Do better, Bonnie.”
Have a safe, happy New Year’s Eve and a great 2010.
Read more: http://www.kansas.com/living/fashion/story/1114372.html#ixzz0bmUUf7SV
Kappa Delta Sorority at USC raises $40,000
COLUMBIA, SC – December 3, 2009 - The Children’s Trust of South Carolina announces philanthropy is alive and well in South Carolina thanks to the dedication and generosity of the Beta Zeta Chapter of Kappa Delta sorority at the University of South Carolina. Kappa Delta past President Lindsey Hudepohl and fundraising Co-Chairs Dannah Pittard and Nina Mazullo presented a check for more than $20,000 to The Children’s Trust Board of Directors, resulting in a total donation of $40,651 for the year 2009.
Photo: USC Kappa Delta members present a check to The Children’s Trust of South Carolina (CTSC). Cindy Nixon-Witt, CTSC director of development; Kappa Delta members, Nina Mazullo and Dannah Pittard, CTSC Board Chair Justin Strickland, Vice-Chair David Yezbak and Sue Williams, CTSC chief executive officer.
Through “Shamrock Events” which included a golf tournament, a national letter writing campaign, bake sales and other special events to raise money, 250 Kappa Deltas raised funds to benefit the prevention of child abuse in South Carolina.. “We donate to The Children’s Trust of South Carolina because it is aligned with Kappa Delta’s national philanthropy, Prevent Child Abuse America,” said Lauren Hart, Kappa Delta president.
Kappa Delta Sorority nationally has donated more than $7.1 million to help prevent child abuse in the United States, partnering with PCA America since 1981. “The principles and ideas of these young women are a great contribution to the communities which they are engaged in,” said Sue Williams, chief executive officer of The Children’s Trust. “Clearly demonstrated through their work, the Kappa Deltas at USC are committed to improving overall child well-being in South Carolina, where we rank 45th nationally.”
About The Children’s Trust of South Carolina
The Children’s Trust of South Carolina is a statewide non-profit organization committed to the prevention of child abuse and neglect by promoting health, nurturing relationships between children and adults. Our vision is that every child will grow up in a safe, loving and stable environment. The Children’s Trust of South Carolina is the state’s designated 501(c)3 organization leading efforts to make sure child abuse and neglect never occurs. Visit us at www.scchildren.org.
Sorority selling holiday disc to benefit medical research
The UT Phi Alpha chapter of Delta Delta Delta still has a few copies of its 2008 CD, “Hope for the Holidays,” for sale.
The sisters released their own full-length holiday disc last fall; 100 percent of the proceeds go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
According to John Andosca, UT 2007 graduate, producer and project manager, the album contains a variety of sounds — Motown, country and jazz. “It has something for everyone,” he said.
The disc has 12 Christmas classics along with an original song created exclusively for the CD.
The UT Phi Alpha chapter has more than 70 members, and all participated in one way or another on the holiday charity project.
In order to finance the studio time, licensing of songs and retail production, Tri Delta developed a donor program and conducted numerous fundraising projects.
Recording took place at Studio in the Woods in Woodville, Ohio.
To hear some of the holiday disc and to purchase it for $11.99, go towww.trideltamusic.com.
Sorority Fund-raising Ideas
As you’ve probably been told several times by your advisers, alumnae or big sisters, there is a whole lot more to being in a sorority than partying and wearing your paraphernalia on campus. You have a responsibility to your sorority and your community as a whole to raise funds to help people in need, pay for sorority trip, and build up your chapter’s bank account. Don’t wait to be asked—be proactive about brainstorming innovative fund-raising ideas.
Back to School Supplies
If you sell what they need, they will come. At the beginning of the college year, students (especially freshmen) might be scrambling to gather back-to-school supplies, including notebooks, pens, highlighters, binders, portfolios, folders, paper clips and calculators. Save them the trip to the school bookstore or pharmacy by setting up a table at your student union to sell back-to-school packages that include all of these items. Charge a modest markup of about 10 percent to 25 percent to make a profit; there is a good chance that the convenience of having everything in one place will persuade the students to buy the supply package from you rather than running around to various locations. Organize a price list so that you can offer a la carte choices. Find everything you need at dollar stores, office supply stores, online,and look for bulk discounts at wholesale clubs such as Sams Club, Costco or BJs. Make sure you set up your selling table neatly and professionally with banners and paraphernalia related to your sorority.
Tutoring Session
If a good portion of your sisters are top-rate students, hold a group tutoring session once or twice a month. Each sister will offer tutoring on all subjects that she is familiar with for $10 to $15 per hour. Students can bring a homework assignment from the class or a specific question. All of the proceeds will go to the chapter or a community service objective.
Dorm Room Design
Keeping with the theme of giving students what they need, you can offer dorm room interior design services to incoming students. If one of your sisters has a special knack for home decorating, make her the project lead. Charge a flat rate, no more than about $100 to $200 to decorate the student’s room on a budget with specially chosen rugs, curtains, and small, inexpensive pieces of dorm furniture. Find a discount store where you can buy items for a good deal or shop online. Prepare a small catalog for each student to choose what he likes or you can just ask about the student’s general style (such as favorite colors) and ask him to trust your judgment.
