About
Philanthropy
Sigma Kappa provides many opportunities for members to become involved in community service and philanthropic missions. We do a lot of work with the Public Service Center at MIT to do numerous projects within Boston. In the past, we have built toys with Phi Delts during the holiday season and painted the toys for and with underprivileged children. Every week, sisters tutor children at Fletcher Maynard Academy, an elementary school in Cambridge. Individually, sisters in the chapter are also actively involved in community service pursuits.
Our Chapter's Ultra Violet Campaign
The Ultra Violet Campaign is Sigma Kappa's premiere way to raise money for the Sigma Kappa Foundation. Our Foundation is the second largest private funder of Alzheimer's research. Funds raised through Ultra Violet events are donated to each of our philanthropies (described below), and a small portion goes to national Sigma Kappa programs like the Sister to Sister Disaster Recovery Fund, Alumnae Heart Fund, educational grants, and individual scholarships.
Late Night
Late Night usually happens in October, and is our biggest annual philanthropy event. Open to the MIT community and beyond, Late Night is a talent competition of sorts. Groups on campus audition their acts, and their performances can consist of singing, dancing, comedy acts, live music, acrobatics...pretty much anything you can think of! Performers include MIT fraternity and sorority pledge classes, MIT dance groups, students going solo, student groups, and much more. Sigma Kappa sisters have an act for each class year (from current seniors to current freshmen). Sigma Kappa seniors host the show...something all of us sisters look forward to planning and doing! We recruit judges from around the MIT community (from Greek life presidents to faculty), and the most impressive acts in each category get awards (and sometimes prizes).
How You Can Help:
- Register an act for Late Night about a month in advance, and perform in our show
- Buy tickets from our booth during the week before Late Night, and come to Kresge on the night of the show to enjoy!
Rose Sales
Rose Sales go on for a whole week around the beginning of May, usually the week before Senior Ball. MIT students can send roses to their date, friends, or significant other. (Our prices are much lower than you'd find at any florist, and your roses are delivered for you!)
How You Can Help:
- Buy roses for your girlfriend or boyfriend, your roommate, your best friend, someone you've been crushing on...and buy lots for each of them ;)
All proceeds from both events support one or more of Sigma Kappa's philanthropies (see below).
Sigma Kappa's National Philanthropies
Our national philanthropy, the Sigma Kappa Foundation, provides support in four main pursuits: Alzheimer's Disease, Gerontology, Inherit the Earth, and Maine Sea Coast Mission.
Alzheimer's Disease
In 1984, Sigma Kappa responded to an increasingly critical problem facing older Americans by adding Alzheimer's Disease research and education to its philanthropic activities. Research grants are made each year to universities and other institutions actively engaged in the fight against Alzheimer's Disease. Nationally, Sigma Kappa is the second largest donor to Alzheimer's Disease research. Our chapter sells roses in the spring to raise funds for research. We also host a huge philanthropy event in Kresge Auditorium every fall called Late Night where students showcase their talents for the MIT community. We are excited to contribute even more to this cause by having a team for Alzheimer's Memory Walk in Boston. We raised approximately $2400 last year, and hope to be just as successful this year. For more information, see the Alzheimer's Association website.
Gerontology
In 1954, Sigma Kappa became the first national sorority to recognize the need for continued, comprehensive work on the study of aging and the needs of elderly populations. The Theta Lambda chapter contributes to this cause by helping the elderly community around the Boston/Cambridge area and making greeting cards and crafts for them during the holidays, and just because we love to see their smiles.
Inherit the Earth
Adopted in 1992, "Inherit the Earth" is Sigma Kappa's national service project benefiting the environment. Each year, chapters plan a service project that protects and preserves our local community. Last spring, we had a community service mixer with an MIT fraternity where we cleaned up the banks of the Charles River. In the past, we have done similar projects to clean up the Back Bay Fens.
The Maine Sea Coast Mission
Since 1918, Sigma Kappa has paid homage to its Maine roots by supporting the activities of the Maine Sea Coast Mission. Each November, chapters donate needed funds and goods to families residing on isolated islands off the rocky coast of Maine. The Mission provides comfort, companionship and needed supplies to isolated mainland communities, as well as to lighthouses and islands along the coastline. For more information, see the Maine Sea Coast Mission website.
Community Service
Service projects we've done in the past include tutoring at a local K-12 school, Red Sox Green Team, Charles River and Fens clean up mixers, Boston Marathon water station, MIT Colleges Against Cancer (CAC)/Relay for Life, Walk for Hunger, and more!
Many sisters are also involved in projects such as Women's Initiative, encouraging girls in rural areas to pursue engineering; and Camp Kesem, running summer camp for children whose parents have cancer.