University’s Greeks form community service initiative

To help improve neighborhoods near the University and bolster its commitment to improving the community, the Greek community has formed a partnership with University City East, a nonprofit development agency for local youth.

In addition to running the “Loop in Motion” parade and several fund-raising booths Oct. 1, members of the Greek community will be volunteering throughout the year with U. City East to help with health screening, tennis clinics and a summer youth program.

“I think this is a wonderful project that is going to pull the Greek community together and will also form a very meaningful and productive relationship with a local service agency,” said Karin Johnes, director of Greek Life. “It’s also helping the students create a new identity for the Greek community that they can truly be proud of.”

After the Greek community created a new vision statement last year reaffirming the values of being Greek, two students, Karen Shefland and Joe Rizzo, approached Johnes with an idea for the partnership.

“They wanted to form a Greek-wide community service initiative,” Johnes said. “Not just a one-time event, but a long-standing relationship with a local agency with opportunities for more consistent involvement. I was very impressed with how thought-out their plan was.”

After searching for a local organization they could assist, Shefland and Rizzo soon found what they consider to be the perfect fit — U. City East. The organization is dedicated to creating a healthy community in the eastern section of University City.

“U. City East is a great organization to get involved with because it is located just a block north of Delmar and the Loop and really touches the community immediately surrounding the University,” said Rizzo, vice president of campus and community outreach for the Interfraternity Council. “Through U. City East, students can do a lot to impact the community with which we interact every day, yet often overlook.”

The first priority has been to organize the planning of the Loop in Motion parade. The event has traditionally been organized by U. City East, but due to a lack of staffing resources this year, volunteers from the Greek community will be running the parade, sponsoring a float and manning fund-raising booths along the parade route with proceeds going to U. City East.

Fittingly, the parade takes place during the University’s annual Greek Week, which this year is being dubbed “Greeks in Motion” to reflect the new direction of the Greek community.

Greeks will continue to help the charity by volunteering their time and efforts throughout the year, including the annual Summer Youth Program.

“The U. City East Summer Program serves nearly 400 children each summer, providing them with breakfast, lunch and arts programming for eight weeks,” said Shefland, vice president of campus and community outreach for the Women’s Panhellenic Association. “It keeps them engaged, active, fed and healthy — something that can be hard to do when families are struggling to keep food on the table in many homes.

“All of the money we raise during the parade will go to helping fund this program and feed U. City children.”

Shefland hopes the Greek community will continue to support the effort.

“I think working with U. City East will allow us to reach out, connect with the broader community and make an impact where one is truly needed,” she said.

“We are hoping to put on this parade, join in the community celebration, raise money for the summer program and more importantly, form a long-term relationship with U. City East where we can actually staff the monthly health screenings, provide summer camp leadership and resources, and put on programming with the kids throughout the year.

“There is a great need in this neighborhood, and we have the manpower to help make an impact for this parade and long term.”