Lawrence University’s sororities and fraternities are joining together to host a Greek philanthropy weekend May 21-23, with an additional kick-off event on May 15. The weekend, organized by the Lawrence University Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council (IFC), the governing bodies of campus sororities and fraternities respectively, will include events that raise money for each Greek Life’s organization and the Lawrence Student Food Pantry.
“Everyone involved thinks that it is particularly important to be supporting our philanthropies as best as we can, especially during the pandemic,” junior Erin Jackson, the president of Delta Gamma, said. “All of our organizations have taken a hit this past year, and being able to give back is really important to [Panhel] and IFC.”
While the size of the teams varies from event to event, students come together to form teams of three or more people. Each event will cost a team 10 dollars to enter and compete, except for the car wash and Delta Gamma’s wiffleball and spikeball tournaments, which will cost five dollars. Students who do not want to participate in the games are welcome to come and watch for free.
As the first philanthropic event, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Delta Gamma are hosting a car wash on Saturday, May 15, at the Wriston Turnaround from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. All proceeds from the car wash will be going to a Lawrence-associated organization, KidsGive, an organization that aims to educate students in the U.S. about Sierra Leone and expand educational opportunities for people in Sierra Leone.
“The brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon are committed to giving,” junior Hunter Lanton, the president of Sigma Phi Epsilon, said. “We have recently made KidsGive our philanthropy partner, and we are so excited to raise money for KidsGive this Saturday.”
A week later, on Friday, May 21, an all-Greek hosted cookout will be taking place on the Quad from 4:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Baked goods will be for sale to benefit the Lawrence Student Food Pantry.
On Saturday, May 22, Kappa Alpha Theta is hosting a kickball game on the Quad from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Kappa Alpha Theta’s philanthropy is The National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) of the Fox Cities. According to their website, CASA is an organization that advocates for abused or neglected children. With the help of volunteers, they are placed in safe homes.
Following kickball, a booth will be set up to share more about Panhel and IFC, and a Beta Theta Pi Dunk Tank staffed by members of Beta will be openon the Main Green from 1:30 pm. – 4:30 p.m.
Later in the afternoon, Delta Gamma is hosting a volleyball match from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. on the Quad. The volleyball match proceeds will be going to Service for Sight, an organization that provides assistance for children and adults who are blind and visually impaired.
The next day from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m., Delta Tau Delta is hosting a beach volleyball tournament on the Quad to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Following beach volleyball, Kappa Kappa Gamma is playing the game of cornhole on the Quad from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. to raise money for Reading is Fundamental, which aims to promote children’s literacy.
Ending the night, Delta Tau Delta is hosting tournaments of spike ball and wiffleball on the Quad from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
According to Amellailli Herrera Alvarez, the Panhel president and a Kappa Alpha Theta member, Greek weekend is a time for members of Greek life and the rest of the student body to come together to celebrate and raise money for philanthropies while having fun playing games and participating in activities.
All students on campus are invited to join. Every event will be held outdoors, and the organizations ask all attendees to please wear their masks and social distance.