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Filed under: Fun Ways to Give | Tags: college events, college life, fraternities, fundraising events, Giving, Greek life, Penn State, sororities, University of Florida, University of Kentucky
Today’s guest post is from Alvina Lopez.
A hallmark of all university Panhellenic groups is community service and charity. Every year, thousands of member students across the United States commit their time to furthering hundreds of different causes. Whether big or small, these charity and volunteer programs always make a positive impact in the lives of others and are what make Greek life so vital for a college town and its surrounding area.
Every event is significant in its purpose and deserves to be highlighted. Alas, there are so many, it would be impossible to ever cover them all, so here are three great examples to exemplify what every Panhellenic chapter strives for every school year.
THON at Penn State
THON is the shorthand nickname for The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. This annual charity event is the “largest student-run philanthropy” in the nation and has raised millions of dollars over the years for children’s cancer research and support (over seven million dollars was raised in 2010 alone).Although the charity works a full year to raise funds, the event is capped off every February with a two day, no sitting, no sleeping dance marathon. Over the years, interest in the cause has grown exponentially, and many other universities have mirrored similar dance marathon charity events from Penn State’s.
Panhellenic 5K and Ghouls, Goblins and Greeks at the University of Florida
Throughout the year, the Panhellenic Council at the University of Florida hosts several fundraisers and supply drives for the Peaceful Paths Domestic Abuse Network of Gainesville. In addition to these events, multiple chapters also take part in an annual 5K walk/run to further benefit the domestic abuse cause, as well as other local charity causes. Ghouls, Goblins and Greeks is another event hosted every Halloween that provides a safe trick-or-treating environment for local families. All chapters on Sorority Row decorate their houses and participate in the event.
Greek Sing at the University of Kentucky
Greek Sing is an annual fundraising event at the University of Kentucky that raises funds for the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Kentucky, a charity that helps grant the wishes of children suffering from life-threatening medical conditions. It is essentially a talent show, featuring the talent of all UK sororities and fraternities. Although tickets are sold to raise money, chapters also work to raise additional funds leading up to the show. Over $124,000 was raised at the 2011 Greek Sing event, and participants hope to break that record at next year’s event.
A freelance writer and blogging extraordinaire for seven years, Alvina Lopez now mainly contributes her expertise about online colleges to accreditedonlinecolleges.com. Her ultimate goal is to help future students discover their potential by enrolling in the right program for them. She also writes about trends in education, personal finance and sustainable living. She loves getting feedback from her readers at alvina.lopez@gmail.com.
Filed under: Fun Ways to Give, Volunteering | Tags: family, kids, parents, take action, Volunteering, volunteering with children
Today’s post is a guest article from Kate Croston.
No matter how young or old you are, volunteering is one of the single most rewarding and impacting experiences you can have. Helping those who are less fortunate than us not only puts our own blessings in perspective, making us more appreciative of the lives we’ve been fortunate enough to have, but it also is very emotionally gratifying as well, building us into stronger and more compassionate people. This is why it’s so important to help our kids understand the importance of volunteering early on. You might meet some initial resistance with kids volunteering, as most would rather be out playing with their friends; however, with the right approach you’ll have them engaged in no time.
1) Volunteer together – Instead of sending your children off on their own to volunteer with different organizations, make it a family affair. They’ll be less resistant to attending this way and it will help create a bond between your family as you all grow both individually and together.
2) Let them pick a cause they are interested in – Having your kids pick the cause they want to volunteer for automatically makes them more engaged in the activity, and they’ll benefit the most from doing something with which they personally identify. If they have a passion for animals then try volunteering at the local animal shelter. If they love being around elderly people then take them to the nursing home. There are so many organizations out there that are always looking for volunteers that you’re sure to find the right match in no time.
3) Volunteer regularly – Make volunteering a habit early on in their lives. The more it seems like a normal, everyday activity, the more likely they are to stick with it throughout the years instead of only going once or twice before losing interest.
4) Start small – You don’t have to have them jump headfirst into 20 hours a week of volunteering. Instead have them do a Christmas shoebox that you drop off for the less fortunate children one year, then add on a more intensive volunteering project, and then something else after that… Starting small makes it easier to transition slowly into bigger projects.
5) Make it enjoyable, not overwhelming – Volunteering should be something that your children look forward to doing, so don’t obligate them to so many different volunteer organizations that they become overwhelmed and burned out. Moderation is key in everything, and volunteering is no different.
There really are no drawbacks when it comes to volunteering. Not only will you and your kids be helping others, but you’ll also be helping yourselves. It’s the perfect balance where each side comes out ahead.
Kate Croston is a freelance writer, holds a bachelors degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. She writes guest posts for different sites and loves contributing on internet service related topics. Questions or comments can be sent to: katecroston.croston09 @ gmail.com.
Filed under: Bay Area Events, Easy Ways to Give, Fun Ways to Give, Giving, Inspirational Thoughts, Leadership, Poverty, Social Change, Volunteering
By Andrea Xu, Marketing Intern/Executive Assistant to the CEO
In our busy society, it is so easy to forget how far a small, random act of kindness can go. In an age where everyone is glued to his or her iPhones, emails, and personal planners, we have become so absorbed in our own bubbles that sometimes we forget that we are still surrounded in a community, a community where issues such as homelessness are still prevalent.
And this is where A Good Idea steps in. A Good Idea encourages positive social change that connects people with others who want to help alleviate poverty and homelessness in their local communities. A Good Idea creates solutions through its team of experts and volunteers, using connections through service, education, and technology in order to help accomplish its goals.
Although San Francisco is the home base for A Good Idea, this organization is starting to expand and can now be found in New Jersey. Each year A Good Idea hosts numerous creative events that help fight against poverty and homelessness such as a Good Day in San Francisco, where over 100 volunteers help serve approximately 75 homeless individuals in the community, offering an array of services such as clothing, massages, and a gourmet meal.
What I really love about A Good Idea is its emphasis on compassion and empathy. While it is great that the organization hosts a variety of large-scale events, it does not forget the power of a simple act of kindness to a random stranger.
So, get reconnected with your community. Participate in A Call to Arms on August 18th from 7-9 PM to help combat homelessness. Or, go beyond your neighborhood and connect with the world. UniversalGivingTM offers hundreds of opportunities to donate or volunteer globally; $25 can help educate a girl in Sierra Leone, or you can spend 2 weeks in Cusco, Peru to work with impoverished children in rural households. Just get connected.
Filed under: Easy Ways to Give, Fun Ways to Give, Giving, Leadership, Social Change
By Andrea Xu, Marketing Intern/Executive Assistant to the CEO
As with the rest of the UnivesalGiving team, I love to give back, and have been taught the power of community involvement from an early age. One thing that really drew me to UniversalGiving was the fact that all of these nonprofit organizations that you can volunteer or donate to are top, legitimate organizations from all over the world.
Just like UniversalGiving, SelflessTee has shown a creative yet simple way to give back. Started by Danny B., one of the founders of SelfessTee, Danny raised over $11,000 from selling t-shirts, using the funds to provide 1,000 mosquito nets to families in Kenya. From that project, SelflessTee exploded into a successful organization that now serves to promote other nonprofit organizations and the great work they do.
The process is simple: a nonprofit is featured on SelflessTee’s website for two weeks, and a designer will help create a t-shirt design that promotes the nonprofit organization. Once 100 shirts are pre-sold, the shirts are ready to be printed! Moreover, SelflessTee will donate one quarter of its profits AND time to that specific organization, bringing back footage so individuals can see exactly how they are donating their time. It is a great way to give back and to serve as an inspiration for others to give back as well!
SelflessTee recently received a $50,000 grant from Pepsi and are now able to help domestic causes, whether it be supporting the Boys and Girls club or providing lunches for children who would otherwise go without. SelflessTee is a great organization that combines giving with a fashionable twist; definitely check them out and order a shirt!
If you are looking for other ways to donate or volunteer, check out UniversalGiving’s website.
- $15 can provide one month’s supply of emergency supplies to one person in Africa.
- Spend the summer or winter in Thailand to help educate men about HIV/AIDS.
