A week of events bring Greek members together for charity

Gina+Jefferys%2C+sophomore+business+major%2C+and+Anna+Tremblay%2C+sophmore+business+and+communications+major%2C+draw+on+the+sidewalk+with+chalk+in+preparation+for+Mom%E2%80%99s+Weekend%2C+Thursday%2C+April+10.

Gina Jefferys, sophomore business major, and Anna Tremblay, sophmore business and communications major, draw on the sidewalk with chalk in preparation for Mom’s Weekend, Thursday, April 10.

Thousands of WSU Greeks united this week, participating in several fundraising activities as a way to serve the local community and benefit a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the homeless with transitional housing.

Thirteen teams comprised of fraternity and sorority members took part in various events ranging from “penny wars” to Olympic-themed events to picking up litter off the streets of Pullman. All proceeds will go to Sojourner’s Alliance, a private non-profit organization based in Moscow.

“Greek Week is all about uniting the Greek community to remind everyone why we participate in activities together and why it’s important to raise money for different beneficiaries,” said junior Tracey Kraemer, one of the co-directors of Greek Week. 

This year’s Greek Life Day of Service involved garbage bags.

“For our Greek Life Day of Service, we decided to do something that would affect the community more locally so every team and chapter found a designated street around the Pullman area to pick up trash,” Kraemer said.

Kraemer said her Greek Week experience has been gratifying and yet another success.

“To be benefiting an organization that’s close to home, I think brings the rewards more close to home because when you see how you’re contributing to people and life near you, it makes you realize how blessed you are,” Kraemer said.

Interfraternity Council President Adam Crouch emphasized the atmosphere of the week.

“This is probably one of our biggest community-based, positive events,” Crouch said.

The “penny war” raised almost $4,000 on Tuesday, a financial feat Crouch believes represents the positive spirit of Greek members. He congratulated the executive committee in charge of putting on Greek Week. The committee researched over the past several months which beneficiary ought to receive donations, Crouch said.

“Tracey, Kim and Riley, who are the three co-directors of the entire committee, were selected after last year’s Greek Week and they have been researching how our money can best suit the Pullman area,” he said. “I think that they’ve definitely taken a very good positive direction for the whole event.”

Crouch’s time at WSU is coming to an end, but he said his years with IFC have enlightened his vision for future Greek Weeks.

“Next year is going to be my last year as an undergraduate here, so I’m really excited to see how far it’s come from two years ago to next year,” Crouch said.

Carly Othman, public relations spokesperson for Greek Week, said this year’s series of events have attracted much more attention than previous years. She said this time of the school year shows what it means to go Greek at WSU.

“You’re joining a sorority and fraternity to see the big picture and be greater than yourself, and I think this is what Greek Week really exemplifies,” Othman said.