philanthropy vs. service
 

Hey Everyone! Happy Holidays! I have a question as the new VP Philanthropy...We are planning out the next semester (and thinking about next year) for our philanthropy events, and I was wondering how your chapters were implementing the new CAR program and what activities you had planned for Read Across America Day. Also, our chapter is very good at Philanthropies...at raising money for different organizations (over $13,000 at Relay for Life last year...the highest in our community) but we are lacking in any type of service activities. We read at a local school once during our Links to Literacy week, but that is about it. I was wondering if other chapters did any actual service events in the community or if most were focused on raising money. Or what kind of balance you have found between them.... Thanks!

My chapter implemented the CAR program through a partnership with a local elementary school. A group of third graders were part of the program (I believe the school designated them for the program) and we went to read with them two days a week for a month.

I think there were probably twenty kids in the program, so each visit twenty of us would go. We'd just each grab a student and read with them, help them with words, etc.

This year, for some reason, the ATOs decided to join us, so each week there'd be about ten of us and ten of them. It was hilarious. At the wrap-up party, the ATOs did this funny skit about how reading is important. :)

I believe we did it in April the last two years. Our VP Moral had some sort of prize program that she implemented with the kids for pages and books read, but I don't know much about it. My class and work schedule didn't allow me to get too involved with the program, but I know the girls who did go every day or week got a lot out of it.

The service event we've always done has been another partnership, but with the local PTA. We baby-sit during their meetings. I can't remember how it all got started, to tell you the truth, but the PTA loves us because we provide a valuable service. It's been good "business" for some of our members because the PTA moms have asked them to baby-sit for their own kids at other times. :)