For many college students, joining a sorority means finding community and a home away from home. But for USF’s Panhellenic community, it is different. Members are also using their sisterhood to give back to various organizations and make an impact.
For students who are involved in Greek life, philanthropy is more than just another campus activity; it is a way to make a difference in their community and beyond.
Sigma Delta Tau’s VP of Philanthropy and Service, Kelita Glaesmer, shares what that looks like.
“So starting from the beginning, Panhellenic sororities all support different philanthropies, Glaesmer said, which are organizations that raise money for a certain cause.”
Sororities across USF spend the year raising money, volunteering, and bringing awareness to organizations and causes that are important to them. Some organizations supported by USF sororities are Prevent Child Abuse America, Jewish Women International, Girl Scouts of America, St. Jude Research Hospital and many more.
“A majority of the values that sororities were based on when they were created were service and philanthropy.” Glaesmer said
The Panhellenic community brings together multiple sororities, each with its own philanthropic focus. Each sorority supports and raises money for at least one organization throughout the school year and beyond.
While the causes may be different, the goal is the same. To raise as much money as possible for their philanthropies and make a difference in the community.
“Having these separate organizations that we are also tied to and always supporting, said Glaesmer, I think building upon the values that we were started on, but also builds individuality.”
Giving students a way to use their time, resources and connections to help support people who need help.
“Last year we raised over $50,000… $52,000 if you want to be exact, Glaesmer said, and that’s over the course of just about five to seven days.”
For the students involved, philanthropy is more than a requirement of sorority membership.
It is a way to build connections, raise awareness and turn their time in college into an opportunity to help others.
There are times on campus where these organizations are spreading the word for their events, sometimes through posts on social media or through various symbols of their philanthropy.
Breast Cancer Awareness ribbons and Prevent Child Abuse America pinwheels, for example, are readily seen across campus, in support of those philanthropies by their corresponding sororities.
For more details on how sororities raise money for philanthropies and which sororities support what philanthropies at USF, please visit https://www.panhellenicusf.com/chapters and for information regarding chapters not at USF, visit https://npcwomen.org/