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Founders'
Week of Service to Lend a Helping Hand
Imagine working for an organization whose
sole purpose is to benefit others. . .
Every day you go to work and your only
responsibility is to do something that
will help those around you. The organization's
mission is not to "increase profits,"
but, rather, to treat a debilitating disease,
to help the homeless become homeowners,
or to aid today's youth in defining and
understanding their personal ethics and
values.
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For many of our undergraduate members, living
such a purposeful life in today's world, especially
while balancing the day-to-day demands of academia,
is something they find elusive. However, during
our Founders' Week of Service (March 26th through
April 1st), our undergraduate members will have
the opportunity to "Serve in the Light of
Truth" and give something back to their communities.
In 2004, the 61st Grand Chapter's direction
to the organization was twofold. First, establish
an annual Founders' Week of Service and encourage
all chapters to participate in some form of community
outreach during that time period. Second, strategically
align with four charitable organizations to provide
a natural outlet for those annual chapter efforts.
Collectively, these organizations would be known
as partners in Sigma Nu's Helping Hand Initiative
(CHARACTER COUNTS!, College Charity Bowl Foundation,
Habitat for Humanity and St. Jude Children's Research
Hospital).
Ultimately, Sigma Nu's Helping Hand Initiative
exists to encourage the participation of all its
members in the improvement of our communities,
and to promote the Fraternity's imperative to
"Serve in the Light of Truth." Not surprisingly,
our Helping Hand Partners are also proponents
of those same ideals.
In the inaugural year of Sigma Nu's Helping Hand
Initiative, twenty-five chapters participated
in the effort, raising more than $136,000 and
volunteering more than 500 hours of hands-on service
to their communities. Of the participating chapters,
more than one-half of them hosted a philanthropy
or community service event during last year's
Founders' Week-of-Service (March 27-April 2, 2005).
Thus far, 74 chapters have committed to participating
in this year's Helping Hand Initiative and 71
are planning those efforts to coincide with our
Founders' Week of Service at the end of the month.
Additionally, more than $20,000 has already been
raised this academic year by Sigma Nu chapters
in support of the Helping Hand Initiative. We
will continue to monitor chapter involvement and
provide updates in future publications about the
projects completed.
For more information on Sigma Nu's Founders' Week
of Service, please click
here. Or, if you would like to learn more
about individual partners in the Helping Hand
Initiative, please click the organization's name
below.
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