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Hey...this is Corina here, I can't figure out how to log out Liz so I'm on her screen name. Anyway, this is all of our philanthropy work so far, and this is what I plan on sending in to AZD, just to update them on our progress. Please respond with comments/questions, etc!
In the short time that Nu Beta Omicron has been in existence, we have done a remarkable amount of philanthropy work. Our efforts have benefited our school (University of California, Santa Cruz) and our communities. Since October of 2001, we have assisted many worthwhile organizations, by donating our time, money, and efforts. During the holiday season of 2002, each Nu Beta Omicron member was given twenty dollars from the sorority budget. They were instructed to do something charitable with that money- whether it be donating to a worthy cause, using it to buy food or supplies to donate, putting it towards transportation so that one could donate time, or any other use that was for the good of the community. Some of our members returned home for the holidays, and they used their money to benefit their home towns. The following is an overview of all of the community service that Nu Beta Omicron has participated in, both during this past holiday season, and in the entire year and a half that we have been in existence.
· CASA: Court Appointed Special Advocates. This organization works to provide assistance for children who are somehow involved in the legal system. These situations include custody, adoption/orphan, child abuse, and related court cases. CASA appoints a trained volunteer to each child they can assist, and this volunteer works with their child throughout all stages of the legal process. CASA helps to ease the trauma and confusion that often befalls children in these situations, by providing them with a constant, reliable source of information and support. The court appointed volunteer also serves to protect the child’s best interest, and provide a voice for them in legal matters. Nu Beta Omicron has assisted CASA with putting up flyers for their events, and using word of mouth advertising to garner support and interest in their plans. We specifically were involved with their “Light of Hope for a Child” event, which involved fundraising and awareness raising for abused and/or neglected children. Members of Nu Beta Omicron participated with setting up and staffing the event.
· Western Service Workers Association: This organization helps to provide food, clothing, and assistance to migrant farm workers who may otherwise be without basic necessities. Nu Beta Omicron collected canned food for them, in an effort to ensure that even those who live in poverty could have some cheer during the holiday season.
· Toys for Tots. Each year, this organization collects new, unwrapped toys to donate to underprivileged children. Members of Nu Beta Omicron donated toys to this organization, and several members also worked to help organize and staff the collection events.
· MEND: Meeting Each Need with Dignity. This organization, based in Pacoima, California, provides food, clothing, presents, and other useful items to those less fortunate. Members of Nu Beta Omicron donated clothing to assist women living in poverty.
· Russell Elementary School, Los Angeles, California. While home for winter break, some of our members were able to contribute their time to this inner city school. We have several members who are originally from Los Angeles county, and they are also interested in potentially becoming teachers later in life. This philanthropy activity gave these members the opportunity to experience teaching first hand, and to see the challenges that inner city children have to face. Each member who participated felt very strongly that this charity work was just as beneficial to them as it was to the children who benefited from extra educational attention.
· Holy Cross Church, Los Angeles, California. During the same winter break, members of Nu Beta Omicron were able to donate gifts to low income, minority families. Each family had the opportunity to register at the church, and then community members could assist them with gift buying this holiday season. With funds raised by Nu Beta Omicron, over twenty families were able to provide their children with toys and clothing for Christmas. In addition to this accomplishment, sorority members also donated their time, and dressed up as elves at the gift collection event.
· Macy’s More Community. Each year, Macy’s card holders are offered a simple way to aid their community. By charging a monetary donation to their Macy’s card, their funds donated benefit four worthy organizations. Funds raised by Nu Beta Omicron were split equally between:
o American Cancer Society: a nationwide, community based voluntary health organization which focuses on cancer prevention and treatment. It is one of the oldest and largest volunteer organizations in America today.
o America’s Second Harvest: the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, which provides communities with a network of over two hundred food banks and food rescue programs.
o Boys and Girls Clubs: a program offering volunteer based children’s activity centers to communities across the United States. Each Boys and Girls Club offers a broad range of activities and programs (including academics, technology, leadership, gang prevention, fine arts, athletics, and self esteem workshops) to children who may otherwise slip through the cracks.
o United Way: an organization comprised over of fourteen hundred independent organizations, with a focus on community assistance for the most important human needs. A large portion of their time and assistance is directed towards helping children, youth, and families succeed, particularly those facing adverse situations.
· Homeless population of Santa Cruz, California, and Los Angeles, California. Several Nu Beta Omicron members banded together to purchase food for the homeless members of their communities. Although the donations were as simple as ordering or making pizza and sandwiches, the appreciation was evident when we distributed them.
· Current Nu Beta Omicron Philanthropy Work:
o Members of our sorority are currently collecting clothing and supplies (such as bottles, strollers, toys, etc.) to donate to the women and children living in local battered women’s shelters.
o Members are also providing tutoring to underprivileged children at the local Walnut Avenue Women’s Center.
o A beach cleanup is being planned, and Nu Beta Omicron hopes to involve other Greek organizations on the campus of UCSC, in an effort to promote Greek unity as well as community assistance.
o Several Nu Beta Omicron members are gathering information on the Santa Cruz suicide hotline. We hope to have members volunteering at the hotline, and we are going to offer our assistance in terms of raising awareness and flyering for their organization.
o Most recently, Nu Beta Omicron has become interested in assisting the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. This organization supports an event called “Caring For Kids 101”, which raises awareness and funds for Pediatric AIDS research. We hope to sponsor their visit to the UCSC campus, and plans are being made to accomplish this goal.
o Members of Nu Beta Omicron are currently collecting Yoplait Yogurt Lids for Breast Cancer Awareness, and General Mills Box Tops for Education. Collecting these items helps benefits both the community of Santa Cruz, and women nationwide.
So GC, how does that sound? More later!
<3, Corina
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