By Sophie Lange, Staff Writer
Gettysburg College’s Greek Life consists of seven fraternities and six sororities. Each organization has at least one specific charity they raise money to support. The philanthropy chair for each organization keeps track of events that are held and how much money is raised.
Fraternities:
Alpha Chi Rho
According to Philanthropy Chair Sam Hartjes ’25, Alpha Chi Rho raised over $2,000 in the fall semester for Habitat for Humanity.
“Alpha Chi Rho is very proud to have supported Habitat for Humanity for our philanthropic events last fall, and we will continue to support Habitat this semester,” said Hartjes.
In the fall semester, they cohosted “ScareCrows with Sigma” with Sigma Sigma Sigma and Pub Trivia with the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC). They also volunteered with the local branch of Habitat for Humanity and contributed to the new house that was recently completed.
In the spring semester, the organization worked with the Fellaship for Black History Month Pub Trivia in February, and the money raised went to the Black History Museum in Gettysburg. Additionally, they hosted Spring Splash after spring break and worked with Alpha Phi Omega, the co-ed national service fraternity, to host the Anything is PAULssible 5K on March 25.
Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega focused its philanthropic activities on the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Adams County.
Philanthropy Chair Jason Chase ’24 said that the organization has “a deeply rooted connection with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Adams County, an organization that pairs underprivileged children in Adams county with older sponsors such as [local] college students.”
In February, they held their annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake event in partnership with the Center for Public Service (CPS) to support BBBS. They raised over $2,500. They also invited the children of BBBS to their campus house for a “field day” with food, kickball, and music. In the upcoming fall semester, they plan to hold a charity golf outing open to all students for BBBS.
Lambda Chi Alpha
According to Philanthropy Chair Arthur Keegan ’24 Lambda Chi Alpha supports Feeding America, the Movember Foundation and Adams County SPCA. In the fall, they hosted the Antica Napoli 5K which raised $3,500. They also hosted a Movember fundraiser which raised $2,000.
In the spring, they hosted a wiffle ball tournament with Sigma Sigma Sigma in support of the SPCA, as well as a Watermelon Bust and a dine-in fundraiser at a local restaurant to support Feeding America.
Phi Delta Theta
Philanthropy Chair Cameron Deiuliis ’24 said that Phi Delta Theta supported Adams County Youth Services and BBBS of Adams and York counties through their philanthropy. In the fall, they hosted their annual haunted mansion to support Adams County Youth Services, raising $3,400. In March, they held an event contributing to the Michigan State University shooting victims’ families.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
In the fall, Sigma Alpha Epsilon held “Shaveathon,” which raised $4,123 for the American Cancer Society. They also hosted a private silent auction, which raised $2,430 for the Children’s Miracle Network of Philadelphia.
In November, they contributed $125 to the Mr. Alpha O Pageant for Arthritis, and they raised $1,305 for Movember. In the spring, they hosted Benchathon, cosponsored by Gamma Phi Beta on March 17. The proceeds went toward Girls on the Run and Children’s Miracle Network. They also hosted the Paddy Murphy Car Bash for Adams County Sexual Assault Services on April 14.
Philanthropy Chair Caden Simmons ’24 shared that the organization also participated in the annual Walk a Mile event.
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi focuses their philanthropic activities on the fight against cancer. Annually, they host the mac-and-cheese cook-off with Alpha Delta Pi, splitting the proceeds between the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the Ronald McDonald House. This past fall, they raised $1,150.
In the spring they hosted Derby Days in partnership with several other Greek organizations and the Black Student Union. The proceeds from this event went to the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Philanthropy Chair Connor Vienneau ’24 shared that Sigma Chi raised $30,964.79 during Derby Days.
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu’s Philanthropy Chair Patrick Corcoran ’23 explained that the organization has held philanthropy events in support of the American Cancer Association and the Alzheimer’s Association.
In the fall, Sigma Nu hosted a basketball tournament in March.
“The chapter is also very involved in the Relay for Life event, and regularly participates in other organizations’ events on campus,” Corcoran said. “We generally raise [over] $800 each semester [for the American Cancer Association and the Alzheimer’s Association].”
Sororities
Alpha Delta Pi
Alpha Delta Pi supported the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).
“As the Delta Rho Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi, we also do our best to support other organizations on campus,” said Community Service Chair Rachelle Dale ’25. “We [had] every member registered for Relay for Life; participated [in], and consecutively won for the past 3 years, Chi O Night Live; Big Brothers Big Sisters’ “Bowl for Kid’s Sake” which was co-hosted with ATO; Scarecrows with Sigma; Delta Gamma’s Anchor Splash; Mr. Alpha O; and more.”
In the fall, Alpha Delta Pi’s largest philanthropy event was their Mac and Cheese Cook-off, co-hosted with Sigma Chi. They raised more than $1,500.
“We visited our local RMHC house to volunteer our time and drop off handwritten letters by our sisters as well as items from their wish list. We are also continuously collecting can tabs to support their charity throughout the year,” Dale said.
In the spring, they hosted their annual Airbands event at which they sold merchandise to benefit RMHC of Central Pennsylvania in Hershey, PA. They hosted an event where the competing teams in Airbands wrote letters to the children at RMHC. Teams also took part in “can tab wars,” a competition to see who can raise the highest amount of tabs to be donated to RMHC.
Alpha Omicron Pi
Alpha Omicron Pi supported several organizations, including the Arthritis Foundation, Feeding America, Feeding America, the YWCA Safe Home in Adams County and Blessings in a Backpack.
In the fall, Alpha Omicron Pi hosted the inaugural Mr. Alpha O Pageant in which the sisters coached eight men representing different sports teams or Greek organizations. They raised $8,329 for the Arthritis Foundation through this event. They also co-sponsored the Antica Napoli 5k with Alpha Chi Rho and Lambda Chi Alpha.
On World Arthritis Day in October, Alpha Omicron Pi hosted a CUB table to raise awareness about the cause, including why they are known as the “Panda People.”
Philanthropy Chair Addy Lomax ’23 explained that this was because “nationally, the sisters of AOII stuff thousands of toy pandas to donate to the Arthritis Foundation’s juvenile arthritis camps every year.”
In the spring, the organization hosted their Valentine’s Day Rose Gram Fundraiser to raise money for the YWCA Safe Home. They also hosted their pancake breakfast AOIIHOP in March, and the proceeds went to Blessings in a Backpack, an organization that provides meal kits for food-insecure children in Frederick, MD.
Delta Gamma
Philanthropy Chair Avery O’Neill ’24 said that Delta Gamma focused its philanthropic activities on Service for Sight, which funds five schools for the visually impaired, helps educate the public about protecting their sight and advocates for the visually impaired.
In the fall, they hosted Anchor Splash and raised $3,027 for Service for Sight.
O’Neill said that in the spring they planned “to host some charitable events that are not for our foundation.”
Gamma Phi Beta
Philanthropy Chair Keara Skae ’25 said that Gamma Phi Beta did not host any philanthropy events in the fall.
In the spring, they co-hosted the Bench-A-Thon with SAE. Additionally, they hosted a 5k to raise money for the local Girls on the Run team at Franklin Elementary School and a “Pie a Phi” event with Phi Delta Theta.
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Sigma Sigma Sigma is most closely linked to the Tri Sigma Foundation, an extension of March of Dimes, which helps prematurely-born infants and their families.
Philanthropy Chair Erin McGrath ’23 said that “these are the two organizations that we work the most with but we also love to participate in other organizations’ events and support all of the amazing causes.”
In the fall, they co-hosted ScareCrows with Sigma with Alpha Chi Rho, which supported both the Tri Sigma Foundation and Habitat for Humanity. They also sold Candy Cane Grams during the holiday season and held an event for students to make cards to support families who either have or will have a child born prematurely. Overall, they raised $500.
In the spring, Sigma Sigma Sigma held a bake sale to support the Tri Sigma Foundation and co-hosted a wiffle ball tournament with Lambda to support the Adams County SPCA. Later in March, they held their annual Cupcake Wars with smaller events leading up to it to increase the visibility of their cause.
“Philanthropy is something that all of us Sigma sisters hold close to our hearts and we love to support one another,” McGrath said.
Chi Omega
Chi Omega did not respond to a request for a comment.
