Greek Gives Back: Over a dozen philanthropy events in October

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Visitors are scared by Farmhouse fraternity members as they enter the haunted house hosted to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. (Photo courtesy of Farmhouse fraternity)

Editor’s note: In the print version of this article, Maya Corley name was incorrectly spelled as “Corely.” This error has been fixed for the online version. We apologize to Corley for this error, and any confusion this may have caused.

Alpha Gamma Delta: Alpha Gam Gives Back with Cheese and Mac

Alpha Gamma Delta raised money for their philanthropy, Fight Against Hunger, by hosting an event where attendees could build their own mac and cheese bowls and enjoy McAlister’s sweet tea, cookies and yard games, Maya Corley, Alpha Gam’s philanthropy chair and junior in agriculture communications, said.

“I would say it’s always really fun to have a lot of people from the community at our events,” Corley said.  

All proceeds raised from the event were donated to Feeding America and Meals on Wheels.

Alpha Omega Epsilon: Football and Fetch

The women of Alpha Omega Epsilon hosted their fourth annual Football and Fetch event at Fairmont Dog Park, Ally Molnar, AOE philanthropy chair and senior in biology, said. The event challenged six teams to a flag football competition and raised around $130 for the Riley County Humane Society. All donations from the event helped buy blankets and supplies for cats and dogs still waiting to be adopted or fostered.

“It is a good way to get to know other people on campus regardless of whether they’re in Greek life or not,” Molnar said. 

Molnar said she encourages anyone in Manhattan to support Greek life events when they can. 

Alpha Xi Delta: Guac and Roll

Lauren Jarvis, sophomore in business, said the Alpha Xi Delta sorority women hosted their annual Guac and Roll event to raise money for their new philanthropy, The Kindly Hearts Initiative.

The Kindly Hearts Initiative helps support children and teens in foster care or experiencing homelessness.

“It’s a place where we provide the things needed for families, such as clothes, toiletries, shoes, socks and underwear,” Jarvis said. 

Members of the community were able to support their philanthropy at the event, where the women created an all-you-can-eat nacho bar.

Alpha Xi Delta members serve nachos to visitors at their Guac and Roll event benefitting the Kindly Hearts Initiative. (Photo courtesy of Alpha Xi Delta sorority)

Chi Omega: Pitches for Wishes

The sorority Chi Omega hosted Pitches for Wishes, a slow-pitch softball tournament for fraternity and sorority chapters at Kansas State University, Cami Dalton, the Chi O philanthropy chair and senior in public health, said.

This was part of their week-long event, Week of Wishes, which the sorority put on to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. 

“We raise money to grant the wishes of children battling critical illnesses,” Dalton said.

The women of Chi O raised $4,842 during their Week of Wishes. Dalton said they will continue to raise money through their next philanthropy event in the spring called Wings for Wishes. 

Gamma Phi Beta and Sigma Alpha Epsilon: Grilled Cheese with Gphi and SAE

Members of Gamma Phi Beta and Sigma Alpha Epsilon hosted a grilled cheese drive-through with music and games to raise money for their house’s charities, Clarissa Kiefer, Gphi’s philanthropy chair and senior in marketing, said.

“You would buy a ticket and then come to the house and we served grilled cheese, cookies, drinks and then everyone could just hang out after,” Kiefer said. 

Gphi raised $2,359 for Girls on the Run, an organization that encourages girls to get active, recognize their inner strengths and create connections in a team setting.

Kiefer said SAE is donating their profit to the Children’s Miracle Network, a nonprofit organization that raises money for children’s hospitals.

Kappa Alpha Theta: WildKat Chase 5K

Jenna Thronton, Kappa Alpha Theta’s philanthropy chair, said the Theta sorority hosted their annual WildKat Chase 5K to raise money for the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation and National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association.

“This is the longest-running philanthropy at Kansas State,” Thronton said. “We have been doing it since the 90s.” 

The theme this year was to be a hero for the kids, community members and local CASAs dressed up and walked to support and raise money for the philanthropy. Theta raised a total of $6,082 from this event.

Pi Beta Phi: Take Self Defense 

Marika Davis, Pi Beta Phi philanthropy chair and senior in mass communications, said Pi Phi sorority hosted their fifth annual Take Self Defense course at the rec, available to all members of the community.

“Take Self Defense is a national organization started because of a member of our Pi Phi chapter at Kansas State, who passed away 20 years ago because of an assault,” Davis said. 

Every year the sorority celebrates the anniversary of their sister Ali Kemp’s passing to honor her life and educate community members on self-defense. They raised $2,314, and all proceeds went to the Ali Kemp foundation. 

Sigma Kappa: Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Sigma Kappa sorority hosted its annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s event on Oct. 15 at City Park, Shea Larson, Sigma Kappa philanthropy chair and senior in management, said. The women of this sorority raised $7,000 that will go to their philanthropy, the Alzheimer’s Association.

“We are raising money to help fund Alzheimer’s research and to find a cure,” Larson said.

During the event, Sigma Kappa hosted a kid’s table with face painting, pumpkin painting and games and cheered on participants as they walked.

Members of Sigma Kappa sorority participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at City Park
on Nov. 15 to raise money for research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. (Photo courtesy of Sigma Kappa sorority)

Acacia: Pawsitive Vibes 

Acacia fraternity men put on a week-long philanthropy event called Pawsitive Vibes to raise money for the T Russell Reitz Manhattan Animal Shelter, Witt Williams, sophomore in biology said. Sororities at K-State also participate in events to help raise money. The events included powderpuff football, a shoe design competition, bingo donation boards, pictures with Pogo the Acacia house dog and Pupalooza. As a member of Acacia, Williams said he encourages more people to come out to Greek life events.

“It’s a great way to meet people, gain connections, and they are a lot of fun and go towards a good cause,” Williams said. 

Acacia raised over $2,300 from their event.

Acacia members pose with their house dog,
Pogo, during their PAWsitive Vibes event to raise money for the T Russell Reitz Manhattan Animal Shelter. (Photo courtesy of Acacia fraternity)

Delta Sigma Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma: Delta Sig Diner with Kappa Kappa Gamma.

The Delta Sigma Phi fraternity and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority made pancakes and french toast to raise money for the Flint Hills Breadbasket, Rece Buckmaster, Delta Sig philanthropy chair and senior in biology, said. 

“We helped to provide underprivileged families with meals, especially with the holidays coming around,” Buckmaster said. 

The Flint Hills Breadbasket is a Manhattan-based organization that serves Riley County Community members who are food insecure.

Delta Sigma Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma raised over $500 for The Flint Hills Breadbasket. “Kappa were great partners in this event, and they helped bring lots of people,” Buckmaster said. 

Delta Upsilon and Alpha Xi Delta: Pancake Fest

Delta Upsilon and Alpha Xi Delta teamed up and hosted an all-you-can-eat pancake fest, where they served pancakes, bacon and sausage and let guests sing some songs at their karaoke station, Lauren Jarvis sophomore in business said. They received donations from the Milling Science Club and Hyvee to put this event on. They split the proceeds between each house’s philanthropy. DU is donating the money to their international philanthropy, The Global Service Initiative. Alpha Xi is donating the money to The Kindly Hearts Initiative. 

“This was a fun opportunity for us to come together and bond over pancakes,” Jarvis said. 

FarmHouse: Fright Night

The men of FarmHouse turned their house into a haunted one to raise money for their philanthropy, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Tanner Koch, FarmHouse’s philanthropy chair and junior in architecture, said. They decorated their house with Halloween decorations and created a different theme for each room. Guests received homemade cookies and hot chocolate after walking through their house. “Whenever we put on a philanthropy, we try to make it as engaging as possible, and something that you know your money will be going towards a good cause,” said Koch. FarmHouse raised $3,087. This money will be used to help fund research to find cures for leukemia and lymphoma

Theta Xi: Scare Maze 

Theta Xi continued their tradition of a Halloween scare maze at Britt’s Farm the last two weekends of October to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Brady Hart, senior in entrepreneurship, said. 

“It’s great because not only do we get to raise money for a great charity, but it’s fun to make connections with community businesses and small businesses in Manhattan like Britt’s Farm,” Hart said. 

Theta Xi supports two charities, with the fall semester dedicated to multiple sclerosis and the spring semester supporting Habitat for Humanity. 

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