Sigma Phi Epsilon's
Philanthropic and Community Service Program
The brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon Massachusetts Alpha chapter are dedicated to community service and through their endeavors have provided countless hours of service in and around Amherst.
SigEp YouthAIDS 3 v 3 Basketball Tournament
Once a semester the chapter hosts a Basketball tournament to raise money for the Youth AIDS, which is the official charitable organization for Sigma Phi Epsilon National Fraternity. SigEp has held this tournament three times and this past fall was by far the largest attended. The Southwest basketball courts are reserved for the afternoon to host the event; the teams consist of at least 3 players with an entry fee of $5 dollars per person. SigEp brothers are responsible for event operations and regulations. Sponsors from local business and campus groups provide donations and prizes to the winners. In the past local businesses present were; Welcome to the Zoo, Illite Entertainment, GM: give me Axis, and Rockstar Energy Drinks. The fraternity has been successful in raising over $500 dollars per event.
Campout for a Cure
This year will mark the 5th anniversary of this campus campout for cancer, which began by a single brother, is now widely know campus event. Brendan Humphries ’02 initiated the event in response to his mother being diagnosed with cancer, and with the support of his brothers he was able to start a great tradition, which has raised over $10,000 for the American Cancer Society. The event also has special meaning for some of our brothers who experienced the struggle while serving as a member of the chapter.
In September 2008, “The Annual SigEp Campus Campout for a Cure,” will take place on the campus lawn. All brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon have reserved a place on the UMass Amherst common outside of the People’s Market and will pitch tents, roll out futons, and bundle up in blankets and sleeping bags to bear the elements and raise money for the American Cancer Society. The event raised $2,000 last year and we hope to raise more this year since we are going to have media coverage from multiple media outlets. We will also recruit a number of local sponsors who have already donated in the past and have provided the brothers with t-shirts for the event. These businesses include; Antonio’s, Bistro 63, Bueno y Sano, and Beach Club Tanning Salon. This is a clear indicator of the past success of the event and its potential of continued growth.
Habitat for Humanity
Starting this semester the brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon will be participating in Habitat for Humanity. The brothers will be responsible for helping to build homes for those less fortunate than us. Each brother will pick one Sunday afternoon and meet at the work site with 9 other guys. So far this has proved to be a great success, and we are looking forward to future weeks, as we will continue to take part in this throughout the 2008 spring semester.
Relay for Life
Every April the Brothers of SIgma Phi Epsilon proudly come out to the track at Amherst College for the annual Relay for Life. The Relay for Life is an American Cancer Society Event that is filled with music, food, games, and prizes. The object is to always have one team member out on the track walking or "relaying" for the duration of the event. Relay starts at 6pm and lasts until 8am the next day. Last year SigEp won awards for highest donations and most enthusiasm. We have also had continuously one of the largest teams in attendance.
Shelter Sunday
Over 40 SigEp brothers participated in Amherst’s own Shelter Sunday, spending nearly fifty hours in the field collecting the donations and passing out envelopes for mail in donations. Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity was the largest represented Greek organization at the event. Following Shelter Sunday in late October the Massachusetts Alpha chapter participated in the Greek Community’s second annual Halloween family festival. The brother’s set up a table and purchased pumpkins and paint for the children to decorate, that turned out to be a great success.
University Dance Marathon
The Greek Community holds its annual Dance Marathon in November, and in the past Sigma Phi Epsilon has been by far the largest contributor to the event’s successful execution. Brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon were heavily involved in the UDance steering committee with positions of UDance Co-chair, and 2 members working on the UDance entertainment additionally Sigma Phi Epsilon was represented with support from the IFC VP of Activities, IFC VP of Finance, and the future IFC president who all incurred major responsibilities at the event. The entire chapter was present for the duration of the event that proved successful and will be repeated in the fall of 2008 with yet again a large number of SigEp brothers being involved.
Snow Removal
The men of th fraternity also increased their involvement in the Town of Amherst by providing support for the elderly in February. We contacted the Amherst Senior Center to offer support to community citizens who needed help in removing snow from their sidewalks and driveways. We were the first organization to lend help in this area and plan on making it an annual service.
Clothing Drive
Last winter the brothers also collected clothes as part of a clothing drive for the Salvation Army. The brothers were instructed to bring back clothing from home after the winter recess to donate to the organization. The total donation topped 130 pounds in clothing.
Food Drive
Just before the 2007 Spring break the membership of Sigma Phi Epsilon decided to disperse amongst the campus dormitories and collect non-perishable foods. In addition many of the brothers donated money to purchase additional foods to increase the total donation amount. This amount was almost 250 pounds of food that went to the Amherst Survival Center.
Adopt a Preschool in New Orleans
Over the 2007 Spring Break a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon traveled to the gulf coast to do community service work. Keeping SigEp’s ideals in mind, this member made a connection with a local preschool in the 9th Ward of New Orleans. When the member returned home with news of this connection SigEp jumped at the opportunity to adopt this preschool. As a course of first action Sigma Phi Epsilon has been collecting children’s books to make our inaugural donation to the preschool. We hope to establish not only a relationship involving donations but we hope to become pen pals with the young students in New Orleans.
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