April 17, 2018
Alexander Galvin
Clubs and organizations around campus, namely fraternities and sororities, are working to raise money to donate to Habitat for Humanity as part of a competition set up by the Office of Student Activities.
Jordan Watkins, the president of sorority Phi Sigma Sigma, one of the organizations on campus raising money for Habitat for Humanity,
“We have a pretty tight relationship with Habitat for Humanity,” Watkins explained, “We’ve done one home build in the past, and Audrianna (Gilmore) approached me with the idea to put chapter efforts into it.”
Gilmore works as the community service and civic engagement coordinator in OSA. According to Gilmore, OSA does not require clubs to inform them that they are donating, but will know when the competition ends.
“Clubs will donate directly to the Habitat for Humanity website, and in the comments of their donation, will put their club name, and then a contact at Habitat for Humanity will let us know who donated the most,” she said.
The competition seeks to raise the most money and donate it to Habitat for Humanity. The winner will receive a pizza party hosted by OSA.
Building homes is not an inexpensive enterprise. One of the ways Habitat for Humanity subsidizes the cost per home is for outside organizations to donate money to help pay for resources.
“We decided to incorporate a competitive aspect to the donation drive to help build excitement and increase participation,” said John Bogh, coordinator of Civic Engagement, in an email.
Even though it is a competition, Watkins does not see it as any sort of rivalry, even between other Greek Life organizations.
“I wouldn’t call it a rivalry; I would call it friendly competition. I think that both organizations are good at leaning on each other to promote what’s best for the community, helping those in need,” explained Watkins
With the donation competition, the organization is spreading the word through their social media outlets, informing students through Facebook and Instagram pages.
The competition started on March 13, and ends on April 19, the same day as the Habitat for Humanity home-building volunteer day, where students can help build houses in the Colorado Springs community.
The home-building volunteer opportunity will have two shifts, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For more information on the home building, email the Office of Student Activities at [email protected], or visit their office in UC 204.