ULV sororities give back to the community

Campus Times
December 6, 2002

by Rebecca Cooper
Staff Writer

Many people outside of Greek life perceive it as being a big slumber party every night, just like the MTV show "Sorority Life" - superficial girls who will do anything to get their way.

While sorority life may be that way at some schools and for some sororities, this attitude does not apply to the University of La Verne's own sororities - Iota Delta, Phi Sigma Sigma and Sigma Kappa.

"Many people see sorority girls as being privileged, but not everyone came from a privileged background," said Christy Roberts, secretary of Phi Sigma Sigma. "I think we are all privileged just to be able to attend college, and that privilege lends itself to the need to give back."

Giving back to the community through philanthropy work is one of the main activities of sororities throughout the country and is required by each sorority's national chapter. Each sorority has a national foundation that it supports, but each also participates in local charities and various fund raising activities and campaigns.

One of Phi Sigma Sigma's national foundations is the National Kidney Foundation.

In October it held its annual Rock-a-thon to support this cause. The sisters collected money and sent it to the national headquarters, which then sent a large check from the chapters around the country.

The other national foundation it raises funds for is the Phi Sigma Sigma National Foundation. This foundation gives undergraduate and graduate scholarships to members who excel in academics, are founders of new programs, or of certain heritages or religions, Roberts said.

"Included in our mission is to perpetuate the advancement of womanhood and personal advancement of every member," Roberts said. "We want everyone to learn to be charitable and to have an outlet to give back. Whenever a girl comes up with an idea, we try to help that cause as much as possible."

Phi Sigma Sigma is currently collecting used toys for the newly formed Eddie Project.

The Eddie Project is named after Roberts' grandmother, Edwin Roberts, who recently passed away. Edwin spent weekends at thrift stores, garage sales and swap meets collecting used toys to donate to orphanages and children's homes.

"One person can do a lot to help the world, but a whole group can do so much more," Roberts said.

Each year Iota Delta members hosts Bowl for Breath. The bowling raises money for the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which was chosen as the national philanthropy because a brother of one of Iota Delta's founding mothers had cystic fibrosis.

During spring semester Iota Delta will host the campus version of the National Clothesline Project. Clotheslines will be set up in the quad with shirts and puffy paints hung up to "air out their dirty laundry" about domestic violence.

After the paints dry, the shirts will be taken down, boxed and shipped to the National Clothesline Project to be displayed in Washington D.C.

"Doing philanthropy work is important because it gives us a look at what life is like for other people in the world," said Iota Delta President Ajit Pruall.

Sigma Kappa spends much of their time doing philanthropy work for the Alzheimer's and Gerontology Foundation.

They also work with the Maine Sea Coast Mission to help provide medical aid, food, clothing, toys and other material to families in need.

Each year Sigma Kappa sells lollipops to make money for Alzheimer's. The sorority participates in walks for the cause as well.

They also participate in the Inherit the Earth project with elderly patients from Hillcrest. This year they held a car wash and donated the money to the Maine Sea Coast Mission.

The local philanthropy they focus on is the Kelly Salamone project. Salamone was a ULV Sigma Kappa who died 10 years ago in a drunk driving accident.

Each year Sigma Kappa holds a vigil and participates in alcohol awareness programs around campus.

"Our sorority holds the value of service and citizenship in high regard, and provides us with a venue to be involved with the community," said Elissa Salas, Sigma Kappa philanthropy chair. "It's a very important part of being in a sorority."

ULV sororities give back to the community

by Rebecca Cooper Staff Writer

Many people outside of Greek life perceive it as being a big slumber party every night, just like the MTV show "Sorority Life" - superficial girls who will do anything to get their way.

While sorority life may be that way at some schools and for some sororities, this attitude does not apply to the University of La Verne's own sororities - Iota Delta, Phi Sigma Sigma and Sigma Kappa.

"Many people see sorority girls as being privileged, but not everyone came from a privileged background," said Christy Roberts, secretary of Phi Sigma Sigma. "I think we are all privileged just to be able to attend college, and that privilege lends itself to the need to give back."

One of Phi Sigma Sigma's national foundations is the National Kidney Foundation.

In October it held its annual Rock-a-thon to support this cause. The sisters collected money and sent it to the national headquarters, which then sent a large check from the chapters around the country.

The other national foundation it raises funds for is the Phi Sigma Sigma National Foundation. This foundation gives undergraduate and graduate scholarships to members who excel in academics, are founders of new programs, or of certain heritages or religions, Roberts said.

"Included in our mission is to perpetuate the advancement of womanhood and personal advancement of every member," Roberts said. "We want everyone to learn to be charitable and to have an outlet to give back. Whenever a girl comes up with an idea, we try to help that cause as much as possible."

Phi Sigma Sigma is currently collecting used toys for the newly formed Eddie Project.

The Eddie Project is named after Roberts' grandmother, Edwin Roberts, who recently passed away. Edwin spent weekends at thrift stores, garage sales and swap meets collecting used toys to donate to orphanages and children's homes.

"One person can do a lot to help the world, but a whole group can do so much more," Roberts said.

Each year Iota Delta members hosts Bowl for Breath. The bowling raises money for the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which was chosen as the national philanthropy because a brother of one of Iota Delta's founding mothers had cystic fibrosis.

During spring semester Iota Delta will host the campus version of the National Clothesline Project. Clotheslines will be set up in the quad with shirts and puffy paints hung up to "air out their dirty laundry" about domestic violence.

After the paints dry, the shirts will be taken down, boxed and shipped to the National Clothesline Project to be displayed in Washington D.C.

"Doing philanthropy work is important because it gives us a look at what life is like for other people in the world," said Iota Delta President Ajit Pruall.

Sigma Kappa spends much of their time doing philanthropy work for the Alzheimer's and Gerontology Foundation.

They also work with the Maine Sea Coast Mission to help provide medical aid, food, clothing, toys and other material to families in need.

Each year Sigma Kappa sells lollipops to make money for Alzheimer's. The sorority participates in walks for the cause as well.

They also participate in the Inherit the Earth project with elderly patients from Hillcrest. This year they held a car wash and donated the money to the Maine Sea Coast Mission.

The local philanthropy they focus on is the Kelly Salamone project. Salamone was a ULV Sigma Kappa who died 10 years ago in a drunk driving accident.

Each year Sigma Kappa holds a vigil and participates in alcohol awareness programs around campus.

"Our sorority holds the value of service and citizenship in high regard, and provides us with a venue to be involved with the community," said Elissa Salas, Sigma Kappa philanthropy chair. "It's a very important part of being in a sorority."

by Rebecca Cooper
Staff Writer