A joint philanthropy between Syracuse University greek organizations has the potential to raise an historic amount of money and supplies for charity.

Interfraternity Council has developed a semester-long philanthropy project that will bring together all the fraternities in the council to donate money, holiday presents and needed items to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York, located on East Genesee Street, next to campus. IFC has reached out to the rest of greek life to get them on board, as well, said Greg Flatow, the IFC board member organizing the philanthropy.

‘There’s no limit for it. It could be the biggest event we’ve run on campus,’ Flatow said. 

Ronald McDonald House provides a place for families with a child receiving medical care to stay for an extended period of time, such as at Crouse Hospital or Golisano Children’s Hospital. The house in Syracuse has 16 beds and serves homemade meals to their residents at little to no cost, according to the house’s website.

Though Ronald McDonald House is a national charity funded primarily through McDonald’s Corp., it still needs volunteers and donations to continue operating and to start new projects, Flatow said.

IFC chose to open this joint philanthropy to all of greek life to make the final contribution to the Ronald McDonald House as big as possible. IFC is also hoping non-greeks will get involved with the initiative, Flatow said.

So far, IFC has gotten most, if not all, sororities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council on board and is also reaching out to multicultural fraternities and sororities, he said. 

The method of raising money and supplies has been kept flexible to attract as many groups as possible to the cause.

‘It’s very simply put in the proposal so as many chapters as possible can participate,’ Flatow said. IFC set up three different ways groups can help the house: donate items off its wish list, buy toys for their soon-to-be new playroom and give holiday presents for the children.

To run the day-to-day operations, Ronald McDonald House needs the basic supplies that make up its wish list, Flatow said. 

‘They are items to keep the house running, like food items or office supplies,’ he said. Items on the list include aluminum foil, canned soups, dishtowels, soap and other basic supplies, according to IFC’s proposal.

The charity’s Central New York location is also planning to expand into a new house down the street from its current location, which will mean there will be a much larger play space, but not enough toys to fill it, Flatow said. This is why IFC has made the third part of the joint philanthropy buying toys that range from basketball hoops to dollhouses, he said.

The final option for participating groups is to buy Christmas presents for children of the house and other areas of the city that are in need, Flatow said.

In addition to seeing this as a record-breaking philanthropy project, IFC also hopes the project will bring greek life closer together by working together. 

Fundraising is slated to end after Thanksgiving break. On Dec. 4, IFC plans to rent a U-Haul truck and make a day out of collecting gifts from all the houses, playing music and fostering camaraderie among all the participating groups.

Flatow said: ‘We want it to be as big and successful as possible by getting all these organizations involved.’ 

rastrum@syr.edu

Published on October 6, 2010 at 12:00 pm