Natalie Comba, Delta Delta Delta sorority’s philanthropy chair, realized UCLA students often want one thing after a long night out of partying: food.
So what better way to raise money for their national philanthropy ““ a nonprofit organization that each sorority and fraternity chooses to support ““ than to host a late-night pancake breakfast and invite students to attend.
Tri-Delta’s pancake breakfast is just one example of the numerous Greek philanthropies hosted by sororities and fraternities at UCLA.
Other philanthropy events this year include a basketball tournament and even a pageant with sorority members as contestants.
These philanthropy events not only raise money for nonprofit organizations chosen by each Greek organization, but also provide a very important publicity boost for Greek groups that often face negative stereotyping.
“College organizations ““ like sororities and fraternities ““ can often get labeled or mislabeled and associated with less positive aspects in the public eye,” said Juda Engelmayer, senior vice president of 5W Public Relations. “And if these organizations do community work, it makes the community see that they’re doing a social good.”
And since philanthropy events have the potential to boost a group’s reputation on campus, UCLA Greek groups seek to make their events as creative and popular as possible, said Jesse Rogel, philanthropy chair of Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
“Philanthropy events definitely help PR,” Rogel said. “I think that any group organization, not only Greek groups, benefit from hosting philanthropies because it causes people to see it as a model organization and as a group worthy of respect and admiration.”
The goal of most of the Greek groups at UCLA is to come up with the most creative way possible to raise money for the cause they are supporting, Rogel said.
Delta Tau Delta, for instance, will hold a pageant in which sorority members will compete to be the “Delta Queen.”
Rogel said “Delta Queen” not only will serve the purpose of raising money for City of Hope, the fraternity’s chosen nonprofit organization, but also will engage the Greek system and the entire UCLA community.
Kappa Alpha Theta will hold a basketball tournament, said Erinn Gansel, internal service chair of Theta.
And Delta Delta Delta sorority will host its pancake breakfast.
“All the proceeds from our pancake breakfast will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, our national philanthropy, which provides free medical treatment for patients,” Comba said. “By holding our pancake breakfast, we can raise money for St. Jude’s and include the UCLA community in our efforts.”
By inviting the entire UCLA community to the philanthropy events, UCLA Greek members can demonstrate their social consciousness, Rogel said.
“Delta Queen” for instance, will include not only the Greek community, but also the Office of Residential Life and the Undergraduate Students Association Council.
“We wanted to have the event on the Hill so more students would attend and get involved,” he said.
And a USAC representative has been invited to judge, Rogel said.
Engelmayer said Greek philanthropies also allow campus organizations to show they are serving a social good and to teach the members of their organizations how to be good students and give back to the community.
“Community service events let sorority and fraternity members prepare for life lessons in how to be responsible in the community,” Engelmayer said.
But Rogel said it’s important to remember that the publicity aspect of philanthropies is important, but not necessarily the focus of the events.
“The main point is for the cause,” Rogel said. “And a cause that we think is really important.”