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| Wittenberg students find many innovative ways to promote their philanthropic efforts. |
In 1866, Wittenberg installed its first fraternity chapter — since then there have been 21 different sororities and fraternities on campus. Today, there are 15 Greek organizations on campus dedicated to leadership, service, scholarship and philanthropies, which have a tremendous impact upon the local community.
“Over the past three years the Greek chapters have averaged around $14,000 per year for all their philanthropic efforts combined,” said Shelley Reynolds, Wittenberg’s director of fraternity and sorority life. “There are hundreds of service hours that are not represented in this money total because so far we do not have a good system for tracking them.”
Wittenberg fraternities or sororities, each affiliated with national organizations, have designated charities for which they raise money with such events as spaghetti suppers, pancake breakfasts, cookouts, throwing pies at professors, Bowl-a-thons, basketball tournaments, cookouts and clothing drives. Members of the Greek organizations support one another in a collective effort to make a difference on Wittenberg’s campus, the charitable organizations and the Springfield community.
“Any time we can help those in need, whether financially or by rolling up our sleeves, it is a positive experience for all concerned,” said Reynolds. “I believe it is most rewarding and educational for our students to interact or provide a service to people who may be different.”
Some examples of successful annual fundraisers are Delta Gamma’s books for the blind in support of Service For Sight, Sigma Kappa’s Memory Walk for the Alzheimer’s Association, Gamma Phi Beta’s teeter-totter-thon for Camp Fire USA and Alpha Delta Pi’s car wash for the Ronald McDonald House.
“Greek life contributions demonstrate that Wittenberg’s students are good and caring citizens,” Reynolds said. “By positively and actively impacting the Wittenberg campus and community, these students develop skills and interests that can be carried on after Wittenberg or be applied in future jobs.”
- Written By: Dani Nicholson '07
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