Featured Image: Instagram @vbphitau|Courtesy
Senior James Johnson, membership orientation officer, volunteers at a garden in Virginia Beach.
On campus, the Virginia Beach chapter of the national fraternity Phi Kappa Tau will be fundraising for a program associated with the fraternity, in which the fraternity donates money to the SeriousFun Children’s Network. The SeriousFun Children’s Network sends children with serious illnesses to summer camps.
“We essentially just fundraise money as a part of our philanthropy program, and all that money goes to the SeriousFun Children’s Network,” senior James Johnson, PKT membership orientation officer, said. “In the past we’ve done Pie at Phi Tau and fruit throws and smaller events like bake sales to raise money for the SeriousFun Children’s Network.”
In an effort to branch out in philanthropy, PKT is planning a charity run. “This year we’re hosting a charity 5k, and we’re kind of playing off the words SeriousFun, like a fun run, so it’s a serious fun run,” Johnson said.
The summer camps themselves attempt to provide kids with experiences similar to those that kids without illnesses get to experience, and to take the emotional burden of the illness off of their shoulders.
Junior Stephen Schneider, the vice president of PKT on campus, previously held the office of philanthropy for PKT and talked specifically about why he was interested in fundraising for the SeriousFun Children’s Network.
“I appreciate how our philanthropic efforts support not only such a unique experience, but an experience in which individuals of our fraternity and community can become involved with numerous volunteering opportunities,” Schneider said.
Schneider was adamant that philanthropy is an important part of PKT nationwide. “Being able to see the product of your efforts and of the efforts of brothers nationwide and what we are supporting is truly amazing and definitely made me interested in being a part of fundraising for SeriousFun,” Schneider said.
Schneider shared his excitement for the organization’s upcoming charity 5k.
“We are looking to make this a big event to involve both the campus community and our local community outside of VWU,” Schneider said.
The 5k will be open to people off campus to encourage a higher turnout, but students on campus are just as invited to participate. “Our event leader, James Johnson, has reached out to running organizations in the local area as well as local school teams to invite them to the event, so we are hoping for a positive turnout,” Schneider said. “It will be right here on campus so our students won’t have to go far at all to participate, and it is open to both walking and running so there’s no pressure on anyone!”
The SeriousFun Run will be held on Sunday, Nov. 19 for any students looking to have some fun while giving back to something bigger.
By Aiden Croghan
accroghan@vwu.edu
