Many people associate the focus of Greek life as parties and exclusivity, but that stigma may not always be the case.
Pepperdine’s eight sororities and five fraternities are each dedicated to fundraising for various charities. This fits Pepperdine’s mission of “service, purpose and leadership,” and the overall campus ethos, where 65 percent of undergraduate students volunteer compared to a national average of 25 percent, said Sarah Ellis, the administrative assistant of the Volunteer Center.
Members of Greek life said they have benefited in return.
“Pepperdine is a different kind of school just because of its focus on service and affecting others,” said Jack Sherrer, Psi Upsilon chapter president. “We are united as a campus by service.”
Greeks primarily serve various foundations and nonprofit organizations by hosting fundraising events. These fun events form a key part of the Greek social calendar and many entertain students campus-wide. In the 2012-2013 school year, the chapters collectively raised more than $100,000. Several of the chapters do additionally volunteer for the causes they champion.
Many of the fraternities have a personal connection to the charities for which they work. Psi Upsilon, for instance, partners with the Sam Schmidt Foundation, an organization that researches the cure for spinal paralysis, that was started by one of the founding fathers of the Psi Upsilon chapter at Pepperdine, Sherrer said.
Schmidt was a professional NASCAR driver that got into a bad accident during a practice run and sustained major injuries that caused spinal paralysis.
The focus of Pepperdine’s Psi Upsilon is to show the need to cure spinal paralysis and educate those who come to the chapter’s events. In 2013, Psi Upsilon raised $4,000.
“I have been there when we deliver the check to Sam Schmidt due to his hope for a cure,” Sherrer said, “and it is always very emotional to see the hope he carries for this cause.”
Sigma Chi supports City of Hope, a research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases, said Devon Ciby, Sigma Chi’s philanthropy event coordinator. Over the past seven years Sigma Chi has raised more than $300,000. In 2013, the chapter raised $21,582.
“Being in charge of all of this has honestly been one of the most memorable experiences of my life,” Ciby said. “Everybody knows someone one way or another who has been affected by cancer and it is very rewarding working toward helping this cause.”
Sigma Chi hosts a weeklong fundraising event in which the sororities race to raise the most money by the end of the week. The sororities also participate in an auction and a powder puff football game.
Pepperdine’s Alpha Tau Omega’s philanthropy is called Gladiators and all of its funds go straight to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Chapter President Connor Tien said. One of the founding fathers of Pepperdine’s Alpha Tau Omega had Cystic Fibrosis, and it was a cause everyone wanted to get behind.
Levi Davenport, an 8-year-old boy that suffers from cystic fibrosis, has touched the lives of the chapter.
“It’s a blessing for us to give back,” Tien said. “We have been involved with a young guy named Levi that we are championing for, he comes to all our events and it’s been so rewarding getting to know him.”
Sigma Phi Epsilon partners with the Can Do MS Foundation, an organization that rehabilitates patients and families that are dealing with multiple sclerosis, senior member Brad Ludlow said. This chapter raised $9,000 in 2013.
“The (Can Do MS Foundation) helped out a brother a few years back,” Ludlow said. “That’s where the idea first came from and it’s just branched out from there.”
The sororities on campus host similar events to raise money. The Alpha Phi Foundation is devoted to raising money for a cure and awareness for the benefit of women who suffer from heart disease, said Justine Ferry, vice president of marketing for Pepperdine’s Alpha Phi chapter. Cardiac disease is the No. 1 killer of women in America, and several members of this chapter have dealt with family members suffering from this disease.
Alpha Phi hosts an annual philanthropy event called Sing Your Heart Out each spring semester that is open to all students. This past year, they were able to raise almost $11,000 to benefit the Alpha Phi Foundation and cardiac disease, Ferry said.
“Throughout my time here with (Alpha Phi’s) philanthropy, my heart developed for service, which has now carried over into my career goals,” Ferry said. “My passion for this cause has made me realize that I want to help those in need anyway I can. I am hoping to do this by becoming a social worker.”
Delta Delta Delta’s philanthropy has partnered with St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital since 1999, said Syrii Daniel, service leadership chair of Pepperdine’s Tri Delta chapter. St. Jude’s raises money to find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.
“I’ve always wanted to be a doctor in pediatrics,” Daniel said. “I have become even more passionate and decided I want to study oncology. To be a part of something that makes people’s lives better is very rewarding.”
The Delta Delta Delta philanthropy event is Delta Dodgeball. The event costs $100 to register for a team and is open to anyone on campus. In fall 2014, this event raised almost $15,000, Daniel said.
Delta Gamma’s national philanthropy is Service for Sight. Pepperdine’s Delta Gamma chapter works closely with The Blind Children’s Center, a non-profit organization that reaches out to blind and partially sighted children.
Every year, Delta Gamma holds an event called Anchor Splash, according to the chapter’s website. They also have an online donation option. In 2013, Delta Gamma raised $10,084.
The Gamma Phi Beta Sorority has partnered with two organizations to help girls and young women achieve their goals and aspirations, Chapter President Alexa Corbin said.
Camp Fire USA provides various programs aimed to help young girls who have family members with HIV AIDS and provides an escape where they feel accepted, discover their unique talents and build up self-esteem, Corbin said. The other organization is Girls on the Run and the focus is to encourage and build strong girls through physical exercise. Although the chapter only raises money for Camp Fire USA, several members each year participate in the Girls on the Run nationwide 5k marathon.
Gamma Phi Beta hosts Gamma Games, which includes Gamma Phi Rodeo, a barbeque and various games. This event is campus-wide and raised $6,000 in 2013.
“The mission is to show these young girls how to be strong women through encouragement,” Corbin said. “Women go through so much hardship in terms of society and the media telling us who we should be, that we should always be competing and it is so devastating for young girls.”
Alpha Kappa Alpha nationally partners with Heifer International, an organization that gives livestock to those in need in rural areas so they can provide for themselves, Chapter President Nicole Nash said.
“It is always rewarding to know you have done something to help someone else out,” Nash said. “However, I have learned that there is always more to be done and I always try to keep that in mind to motivate myself to do better and think bigger each time.“
The Pi Beta Phi Foundation is an international organization that raises funding, resources and awareness for literacy in the United States and Canada, according to the chapter’s website. The foundation funds various organizations including First Book, Arrow in the Arctic and Champions are Readers.
Pi Beta Phi’s at Pepperdine raised more than $10,000 in 2013 for the foundation through Pie with Pi Phis, a campus-wide event in which students come to enjoy a homemade all-you-can-eat buffet in the cafeteria with the added plus of pie-ing their favorite Pi Beta Phi in the face.
Pepperdine Greek Life Philanthropy Accomplishments:
| Chapter | Foundation/Organization funds are going to | Amount Raised after Costs | Year |
| Sigma Chi | City of Hope:
A research and treatment center for diseases |
$15,000 | 2013 |
| Alpha Tau Omega | Cystic Fibrosis Foundation:
Raises money to fund research and drug development for CF |
$21,582 | 2013 |
| Psi Upsilon | Sam Schmidt Foundation:
Researches the cure for spinal paralysis |
$4,000 | 2013 |
| Sigma Phi Epsilon | Can Do MS Foundation:
Rehabilitates patients and families dealing with multiple sclerosis |
$9,000 | 2013 |
| Alpha Phi | Alpha Phi Foundation:
Raises money for the cure and awareness of women with cardiac disease |
$11,000 | 2013 |
| Pi Beta Phi | Pi Beta Phi Foundation:
Raises money for resources and awareness for literacy |
$10,000 | 2013 |
| Gamma Phi Beta | Camp Fire USA and Girls on the Run:
Non-profit organizations that help young girls with self-esteem |
$6,000 | 2013 |
| Kappa Kappa Gamma | Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation:
Raises money for chapter members for scholarships, aid and education |
$6,000 | 2013 |
| Delta Gamma | Service for Sight and Blind Children’s Center:
Non-profit organizations that reach out to blind and partially sighted children |
$10,084 | 2013 |
| Delta Delta Delta | St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital:
Raises money to find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases |
$15,000 | 2013 |
Lauren Leekley completed this story in Dr. Christina Littlefield’s fall 2014 Jour 241 class.
