Greek life gives back
Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) partnered with Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) for the month of October to raise money for breast cancer education and awareness.
Breast cancer education and awareness is ZTA’s national philanthropy and every Wednesday during the month of October (breast cancer awareness month) their chapter hosts a bake sale. This year, TKE is wearing bras around campus every Friday in October to “stuff the bra” with cash and support ZTA’s fundraising efforts for breast cancer education and awareness.
ZTA has been raising money for breast cancer education and awareness through community and national partnerships, activities on campus and in the community and the distribution of pink ribbons since 1992. In 2004, the organization trademarked “Think Pink,” which they use to create awareness and support for breast cancer survivors and those who have lost their battle with the disease.
Le’Darrieus Dunlap, TKE’s current vice president, organized the partnership and the “stuff the bra” fundraiser.
“It’s important to try to build good relationships in Greek life today because a lot of us are so disconnected,” Dunlap said. “Instead of working against one another, we need to work together to build something better than what we walked into.”
Their goal is to raise $800 by the end of October. After the first two Fridays in October, they have already raised $174.
Along with the bake sales and stuffing bras, ZTA hosted “pie an eta chi” on Oct. 2 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Fine Arts breezeway. This gave students the opportunity to pie sisters in the face for the price of $3, $5 and $10. All the money raised was donated to help breast cancer education and awareness. ZTA also hosts an annual 5K on campus in the spring called the “Crown Run” to fundraise for their philanthropy and celebrate survivors.
Kaleb Knotts, a member of TKE, explained that he enjoys participating in events that bring the Greek life community together.
“I feel like these events are a great way to bring attention to great causes,” Knotts said. “I think it’s important that Greek life come together and we all try to work to build a more charitable community that everyone can participate in.”
The TKE brothers have enjoyed walking around campus in their bras. Abhay Patel has been a member of TKE for almost a year, and he said he’s having fun with it.
“I feel like the fundraiser is pretty cool and fun,” Patel said. “I like wearing the bra. I like working with ZTA because it is a good, selfless deed we are doing to help them reach their goal and that is what Greek life is about; helping each other out.”
