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March 02, 2023
UT’s Greek Week Breaks Fundraising Record for Fourth Consecutive Year
Last week, The University of Tampa’s Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) organizations raised more than $85,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The amount surpassed last year’s Greek Week total of more than $76,000 and marked the fourth year in a row of record fundraising.
The University of Tampa’s Fraternity and Sorority Life organizations raised more than $85,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Photo of last year's event by Lily Cruse
Last week, The University of Tampa’s Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) organizations raised more than $85,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The amount surpassed last year’s Greek Week total of more than $76,000 and marked the fourth year in a row of record fundraising.
Greek Week, held this year from Feb. 19-25, is a fundraising event that promotes unity and emphasizes FSL’s mission of service and wellness to the 1,400 students involved. Through competitions and educational events, each Greek chapter raises money to help support community nonprofits. Some of this year's challenges included bubble soccer on the softball field, sidewalk chalk art in the Vaughn Center courtyard, “Greek Jeopardy” and a variety show in Falk Theatre.
“The donation for the AFSP Tampa Bay chapter will be used to put on more programs such as Talk Saves Lives and training programs,” said Teresa Daniels, a board member for AFSP Tampa Bay. “The donation will also promote AFSP's Healing Conversation, LGBTQ education, Community Out of the Darkness walks, campus walks and so much more.”
Greek Week also supports Gift of Life, an international public bone marrow and blood stem cell registry that matches blood cancer patients in need of a transplant with compatible donors. More than 500 cheek swabs were taken for Gift of Life in one day, allowing students to give without any financial commitment.
FSL coordinator Madi Bridges said the student-driven event focuses on bringing the UT community together. “Our students center the week around building each other up and getting to know people outside of their own chapter while channeling their competitive spirit into a great cause that they choose. We are amazed at our students’ fundraising efforts this year for suicide prevention education,” said Bridges.
Greek Week participants are from UT’s three FSL governing councils: Interfraternity Council, College Panhellenic Association and Unified Greek Council. Members are divided into seven teams to compete, with this year’s team theme being “Heroes vs. Villains.” Each daily challenge is worth a certain number of points, and the team that earns the most points by the end of the week is the winner.
Team Harry Potter vs. Voldemort, which included participants from the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, Chi Phi fraternity, Gamma Eta Sorority, Inc., and Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) fraternity, won first place with the highest number of points. The top fundraising team was Team Dorothy vs. The Wicked Witch of the West, made up of Delta Zeta sorority, Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., which raised more than $24,000.
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