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The
Fraternity Institutes The Helping Hand
Initiative
In 2002, the 60th Grand Chapter charged
the High Council with researching potential
partnerships in order to establish an
international philanthropy and week-of-service
for Sigma Nu Fraternity. When the High
Council reported its findings in 2004,
they recommended to the 61st Grand Chapter
that Sigma Nu Fraternity establish an
international week-of-service and partnerships
with four philanthropic and service organizations. |
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The partnerships include the following organizations:
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CHARACTER COUNTS! |
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College Charity Bowl Foundation |
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Habitat-for-Humanity |
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St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital |
The 61st Grand Chapter approved the establishment
of all four partnerships and agreements, as
well as the establishment of an international
week-of-service, in resounding fashion. From
the decisions made by the 61st Grand Chapter,
The Helping Hand Initiative and the Founders'
Week-of-Service were born.
"The Helping Hand Initiative offers tremendous
benefits to Sigma Nu chapters and members,"
says Justin Wenger, Director of Education and
coordinator of The Helping Hand Initiative.
"Through their involvement, members have
the opportunity to give back to the communities
that have supported the Fraternity for so long."
He also describes the Initiative as a means
to empower chapters to select the organization
they would most like to serve and then take
ownership of the event. "The involvement
from the National Fraternity is minimal,"
says Justin. "We've done the research and
provided the framework, but now we'll take a
back seat and allow the undergraduate men run
with it in order that they may gain the experience
of working with the non-profit and planning
out the details of their desired project."
Numerous chapters have already committed to
participate locally with one of the four partner-organizations
during the Founders' Week-of-Service, which
runs March 27 through April 2, 2005. For example,
Zeta Phi will partner with CHARACTER COUNTS!,
Theta Theta will partner with the College Charity
Bowl Foundation (CCBF), Lambda Alpha will partner
with Habitat for Humanity, and Zeta Kappa will
partner with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
In their partnership with CHARACTER COUNTS!
the Zeta Phi chapter at Bradley University
has decided to conduct a Foundations for
Life Essay Contest. The chapter will work
with a local high school to conduct the contest,
which is designed to enhance critical thinking
and writing skills. They will host and judge
the contest, and they will host an awards ceremony.
The Theta Theta chapter at Eastern Kentucky
University will partner with CCBF to conduct
a campus-wide basketball tournament during the
week leading up to the Final Four. All proceeds
from events related to the tournament will support
CCBF and the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.
The College Charity Bowl Foundation was formed
in 2003 by a group of Sigma Nu alumni from the
University of Mississippi.
In their commitment to The Helping Hands Initiative,
members of the Lambda Alpha chapter at
Wake Forest University will have the opportunity
this semester to "get their hands dirty"
as they assist the local Habitat for Humanity
affiliate in building homes to help eliminate
poverty in their local community.
The Zeta Kappa chapter at Fresno State
University will partner with St. Jude Children's
Research Hospital. Members will institute and
participate in "Sigma Nus Week" in
which the chapter will recruit students and
other campus organizations to join them in finding
inspirational stories in their community and
conducting a letter-writing & fundraising
campaign for the Hospital.
These are just a few examples of chapters that
have begun the process to participate in this
Initiative. "Our goal," says Justin
"is that eventually all chapters would
participate at some level in the program. Since
this is the first year, we hope to have 85-100
chapters participating." Justin also emphasized
the importance of supporting those chapters
that already have strong relationships with
a local non-profit that is not one of the four
partner-organizations. "We don't want to
replace their local efforts, so we encourage
their involvement with that organization to
count as participation in this Initiative."
Beyond the obvious benefits to the local and
national communities supported by the Initiative,
this is one way that the National Fraternity
can help chapters provide a positive experience
and personal growth for their members. In participating,
chapter members will learn first-hand the benefits
of being servant leaders. "Especially today
when there is an abundance of bad press about
fraternities" says Justin "we are
excited to institute a program that will have
far-reaching results in educating the public
about the good things that fraternities do for
the community."
If you would like more information about The
Helping Hand Initiative, contact Justin Wenger,
Director of Education, at 540-463-1869, or by
e-mail
or visit the website.
For more information about Sigma Nu's partnerships,
click below:
Click
for more information about Sigma Nu's partnership
with CHARACTER COUNTS!
Click
for more information about Sigma Nu's partnership
with The College Charity Bowl Foundation.
Click
for more information about Sigma Nu's partnership
with Habitat for Humanity.
Click
for more information about Sigma Nu's partnership
with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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