Phi Delta Theta Philanthropy Week Raises Funds for ALS Association

Westminster’s Missouri Beta chapter of Phi Delta Theta hosted a week-long Philanthropy event April 10^th through 14^th, 2017, to raise research funds and awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The ALS Association is the national philanthropy of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

The chapter chose a SpongeBob SquarePants theme in honor of the show’s creator, Stephen Hillenburg, who announced his diagnosis of ALS earlier this year. A Krabby Patty Barbeque kicked things off, followed by a knockout basketball tournament, skits based on Spongebob Squarepants episodes, a Miss Phi Delta Theta talent show, and serenades. Other Greek organizations made donations to take part in each of the events and were encouraged to donate on top of participation fees. In all, the chapter raised $790 for the ALS Association.

The week also included a canned food drive. “Each sorority was encouraged to stop by at any point throughout the week and drop off canned goods,” explains chapter president Carlos Tellez. “Each canned good counted as a point for their overall week score. We donated all of our canned goods to SERVE, Inc here in Fulton.” Approximately six hundred canned food items were donated throughout the week.

“I believe that it was a pretty successful week,” says Tellez. “There is always much more that we can do to raise more money and be able to give more to the cause. But it was still a great week, and we are already looking forward to next year.”