The Badger Herald: News: Greeks partake in holiday fundraising

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Greeks partake in holiday fundraising

PATRICK STATZ-BOYER/Herald photo

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By Alexandra Rogers
Monday, December 4, 2006 12:00 a.m.

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University of Wisconsin fraternities and sororities are working to boost holiday spirit this winter season, as Greeks began contributing to seasonal charities on campus over the weekend.

According to Shannon McChesney, community service chair of the Panhellenic Association, UW sorority members held the event Project Dream Dress Saturday.

Through Project Dream Dress, sorority members donate formal dresses, as well as fashion accessories and makeup, to Madison-area high school students just in time for the spring prom.

Project Dream Dress is the Panhellenic Association's last community service event of the fall semester.

Megan Kurzeka, public relations chair for the Panhellenic Association, said this particular charity is about women helping each other.

Kurzeka also said one goal of the event is to forge a strong connection between the UW Greek system and the greater Madison community.

"It shows that community service is definitely something the Greek system cares about," Kurzeka said.

The brothers of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity are also partaking in community service this holiday season. According to ZBT President Danny Spirn, the fraternity began its holiday charity Friday with a six-hour shift of Salvation Army bell ringing outside the Walgreens on State Street.

"We found that the Salvation Army was having a hard time finding bell ringers this holiday season, so we thought it would be a good idea to help out," Spirn said.

ZBT Philanthropy Chair and UW sophomore David Lapidus said the Salvation Army has been suffering from a shortage of volunteer bell ringers this year, and holiday bell ringing is a major profit source for the organization.

"It was an event that went well, and we were happy with it," Lapidus said. "It was one of many that we do throughout the semester."

Spirn added that because of the importance of bell ringing to the Salvation Army, the fraternity is planning on continuing to volunteer.

"We view the Salvation Army as a very worthy charity that does a lot of valuable work," Spirn said. "We want to make this a long-term commitment."

Lapidus said the community service should also help dispel the general criticism that the Greek system is isolated from the rest of the UW campus.

"I think this shows that the Greek system has compassion and a drive for community service," Lapidus said.

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