TKE Theta-Sigma Chapter at St. Johns University Brings Entire New
York Community Together by Decorating Children's Hospital Rooms
Through Project T.K.E.
(Jamaica, NY) – Transforming an often stale and drab hospital room
into a more pleasant environment for the youngest of patients is the
driving purpose behind why Tau Kappa Epsilon men are brightening the
lives of hospitalized children in the New York area.
"These children are confined to small rooms and constant testing and
treating, so the least we could really do is bring some of that
excitement and energy into them," said Joshua Fifer, Theta-Sigma
philanthropy chair and founder of Project T.K.E. "Just the chance
to get up and walk around everyday and enjoy the basics of our lives
is something that these kids do not have."
With the assistance of several area TKE chapters and various
organizations at St. Johns University, members of the Theta-Sigma
TKE chapter will coordinate Project T.K.E (Transforming Kids'
Environments).
Although the initial scope of the project was to decorate the
hospital rooms of 40 children at St. Mary's Children's Hospital in
Bayside, Queens, an overwhelming response from 21 TKE chapters and
the St. Johns University community has allowed the Theta-Sigma TKE
chapter to expand their plans and include two more hospitals in
Manhattan and Staten Island, respectively.
"I always wanted to organize an event to help children in the
hospital because I feel they are missing out on so many
opportunities that we take advantage of," said Fifer.
Project T.K.E. has truly become a New York community event,
involving volunteers from three of St. Johns University campuses
(Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island), representing over 70
different student organizations. The organizations include
fraternities and sororities, academic and honor societies,
religious, cultural, political, special interest and media
organizations, and St. John's University athletic teams as well.
Each organization will be given a special theme around which they
create artwork to decorate a child's hospital room. Many of the
children in the hospitals are confined to their beds, ranging in age
from one- to 16- years old. The Project T.K.E. program seeks to
provide organizations an opportunity to commit to creating
decorations for the patient rooms and common spaces of children's
hospital wards. Each organization is given a theme, chosen by one
of the students, by which they design the decorations.
Members of Theta-Sigma are encouraging those who participate in
Project T.K.E. to continue volunteering at the hospitals by building
an on-going relationship with their child.
"As much criticism and stereotypes fraternities are tagged with,
people should take the time to learn what these organizations are
involved with," said Fifer. "This project is a perfect example of
how fraternities often offer its members the opportunity to help
improve not only the community they live in, but also develop
essential lifelong skills such as leadership and teamwork."
An organization does not need to be in the immediate New York area
to become part of this monumental event. For more information or to
sign up to make decorations for the hospitalized children and join
Project T.K.E., contact Joshua Fifer at
joshfifer@yahoo.com
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