Despite the stigmas and stereotypes, Greek life has several benefits. Whether you’re in it for the networking, making friends, or doing something to keep you busy, everyone involved in Greek life has one thing in common: philanthropy. Those of us involved with Greek life on campuses across the nation work towards one goal: To better the life of others by giving our time and our money. We spend weeks fundraising, selling T-shirts, wrist bands, and event tickets to raise funds for various philanthropies. Whether it’s Autism Speaks, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, women’s heart health, or Make-a-Wish (just to name a few), we are all working to raise money for really good causes. We could make an even bigger difference if Greek life had the support of the rest of the college community. Here are some reasons why non-Greek students should help:
1. All of the philanthropies that we support are for good causes.
If you are interested in helping a certain group of people who might be suffering in the United States, chances are that there is a Greek organization that raises money for them. You know where your money is going.
2. Those of us in Greek life burn out fast when we have to keep raising money for each organization on campus.
We want to help everyone, but sometimes being a broke college student prevents that. People in Greek organizations are constantly fundraising, one group right after the other.
3. If every undergraduate at Kent State donated $1 to each organization’s philanthropy, we would raise about $23,607 for each organization.
Honestly, that’s pretty impressive.
4. Our philanthopies are something that we value a lot.
Most people may not know this, but Greeks value philanthropy…a lot. Helping others is in most of our creeds or values. People in Greek organizations spend months planning philanthropy events.
5. The competition between organizations is very real.
Those of us who are in Greek life know how challenging it can be to support an oganization that is not your own because we get too tired. We always want to do more to help than the other organizations.