Philanthropy

Campfire USA

The Zeta Iota Chapter supports the international philanthropy Campfire USA. During the fall, we visit a local Campfire USA chapter and donate our time and energies to make the camp look better than before. Last fall we visited Camp Tannadoonah in Vandalia, MI; we helped close out the camp for the summer by painting cabins and cleaning up the camp-grounds.

Our annual Mr. Valpo talent competition supports Camp Fire USA. College men participate in the contest while representing a wide variety of organizations; each organization raises money so that its representative may enter the contest. The contestants compete in a variety of categories including: sash, formal wear, surprise category, talent, and then a final interview, all of which determine who will be crowned Mr. Valpo. It's an entertaining afternoon that builds campus community, uniting students together with a common goal.

All the event proceeds help fund scholarships for underprivileged children to attend summer camp. In the past couple years, Gamma Phi Beta International has supported our earnings with matching funds, allowing us to double our donation and touch even more lives through Camp Fire USA.

Community Service

Gamma Phis are required to complete ten hours of community service per semester, but many of our sisters go above and beyond this goal. Our women use their gifts to serve others in a plethora of ways: they participate in missions trips, fix up neighborhood homes during Rebuilding Together, tutor and mentor youth at Walt's place and area schools, volunteer to serve meals to the less fortunate, raise money for Relay for Life, and much more. Gamma Phis also do their best to support other Greek organizations' philanthropies by participating in sports benefit tournaments, chasing derbies, playing bingo, throwing pies, and, well, doing a lot of unique things to support a good cause!

 

If you have questions regarding our philanthropy or have a philanthropic opportunity, e-mail our Philanthropy Chair, Kaitlin Forke, at kaitlin.forke@valpo.edu and we will be more than willing to help out!