Adopt-A-School
What is the difference between a philanthropy and community service? Many Greek organizations engage in philanthropy events. These usually last a day, sometimes up to a week. They usually involve some fundraising and sometimes involve making a special one-time trip. But do you get to see the impact of the work you've done? Do you get to find out how that money was put to use? What did you actually learn from the experience?
When Delta Tau Delta began asking itself these questions, we realized that there needed to be a commitment to the people living in our community. We really needed to make sure that this was a better place for us having been a part of the city where we lived. So we looked for a program that would give us several benefits.
- It must benefit on the local level, yet have an international scope.
- It must be implemented equally effectively in both small and large chapters.
- It must be ongoing throughout the school year, not just a “one shot” event.
- It must allow Delts the opportunity to see direct feedback from their efforts.
With these criteria in mind, Delta Tau Delta started to focus on education, literacy, and youth. After much thought and investigation, the Fraternity chose Adopt-A-School, an existing program of the National Interfraternity Conference (NIC). The goal of Adopt-A-School is to provide for the formation of one-on-one relationships between college students and elementary school children. Shrinking school budgets, poor teacher-student ratios, and a lack of positive role models contribute to the need for a program such as this.
We are proud that the Fraternity has joined an existing program, one in which nearly 150 campuses, Interfraternity Councils, and chapters are already participating. The goal of the program is to be inclusive and collaborate with other groups on campus. Delta Tau Delta is proud to be a part of this collaborative network.
Whether you live in an urban city of millions or a rural college town, there is a school in your community that can use your chapter’s help.
If you would like more information, please visit: http://www.delts.org/leadership/adopt.html
