Philanthropy

"Let me win.
But if I cannot win,
let me be brave in the attempt."
~Special Olympics Oath
Special Olympics

      The Special Olympics, one of our national philanthropies, remains important to our members durring college and long after we graduate. Each year, the Special Olympics touches lives in hundreds of communities across the nation and around the world. Hundreds of Alpha Sigma Alpha members from our chapter and others make a difference to this important organization each year. The Ladies of the Zeta Omicron chapter in the past have helped with Special Olympics Dances, and bowling. For the past three years, Zeta Omicron women have helped with the local Special Olympics bowling event. We keep score, present medals, and cheer on the participants. Also, during formal rush, we invite the women rushing to make labels for water bottles, which we then distribute to the participants. It usually brings a smile to the bowlers' faces, and the rushees get the benefit of knowing they in some way contributed to the Special Olympics. For more information on Special Olympics you can visit the Special Olympics web site at www.specialolympics.org.

The S. June Smith Center

       Alpha Sigs also contribute our time and talents to the S. June Smith Center. The S. June Smith Center is a private non-profit agency, founded by Alpha Sigma Alpha alumna, Dr. S. June Smith, that provides early identification, education, training and therapy to infants and children in Lancaster County, PA who have developmental disabilities. Our chapter has adopted this important organization as one of our beneficiaries. Each year the ladies of the Zeta Omicron Chapter have been able to donate our time and money to the S. June Smith Center through fundraising events such as our annual Rock-a-Thon and candy rose sales. In the past Alpha Sigs from across the country have raised enough money to build a computer facility for the center.

Other Philanthropies

      Apart from our national philanthropies, members of Zeta Omicron also give our time and money to local causes. In the fall semester of 2001 alone, our girls sold candy roses, had a bake sale, and, with the Ulster fraternity, brought Santa to campus and took pictures for donations. The money raised from these efforts assisted Ron Mazeroski, Muskingum College's Director of Alumni, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. We, along with the rest of Muskingum's Greek community, raised money for the Red Cross for the Septmember 11th attacks. Many of us attended a Red Cross blood drive that day and waited in line for over six hours to give our blood. Also, our girls raffled off Muskingum sweatshirts, with the proceeds going to adopt a boy and girl for Christmas. Last year, Alpha Sigma Alpha raised over $750 for Up 'Til Dawn, an organization that benefits St. Jude Children's hospital. St Jude is a hospital for children with cancer. While the child is in the hospital, the family is taken care of in Nashville as well, for the hospital believes it is important to keep the family together in their difficult time. Those families who cannot afford to pay for the child's medical care never receive a bill. In fact, there is not even a billing department within the hospital. To raise money, the women of Zeta Omicron held a candy cane sale during finals week, and spent a weekend at Camp Kon-o-kwee, in Pennsylvania, assisting a group of adult blind campers. Another trip to the camp is planned for early March, 2002.

     Alpha Sigma Alpha believes in giving back our time and money to those around us, not only with our national philanthropies, but where we see a need around us.