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| Choose Children | First Place School | Community Events |  |
Choose Children lpha Xi Delta’s interest in children and their special needs led us to adopt Choose Children, an initiative that emphasizes voluntary service in all areas of child well-being. Choose Children isn’t an organization – it’s an idea.Unlike many other Greek organizations, Alpha Xi Delta is not exclusively linked with one philanthropic organization. Alpha Xi Delta gives members the flexibility to look to their own communities and decide how they can best benefit children. For some chapters, it’s sponsoring a football tournament to raise money for a local organization; for others it’s spending time tutoring children at an after school program. Some chapters choose to work with children at a women’s shelter, while others entertain patients in the pediatric wing of a hospital. No matter what activity a chapter chooses, the impact Alpha Xi Delta’s have on children in their communities is unmatched and the impact children have on Alpha Xi Delta’s everywhere is immense! In 1998 Alpha Xi Delta joined in supporting the goal of America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth (see http://www.americaspromise.org/ for more information) by promising to give more than 75,000 hours and $250,000 yearly in contributions and donated goods to children. Alpha Xi Delta chapters, associations and individual members have met or exceeded our promise every year. Beginning in 2006, Alpha Xi Delta’s college chapters and alumnae associations will share two exciting new components of Choose Children with youngsters in their communities. Reading Day will introduce children to books and help them start a lifelong love of reading. Chapters and alumnae associations can also team up with First Book, a national nonprofit organization that gives children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. Want to know more about First Book? www.firstbook.org.
First Place School or the past two years, our chapter has been committed to working with First Place School, a local organization committed to “Hope, home, and school for children in grades K-5 facing homelessness or other family crises.” Their services include having a “Teaching for Understanding” curriculum, small class sizes, tutoring and mentoring, counseling as needed, and providing daily meals. There are also a number of essential resources available for families, including help with providing basic needs, family management, on-site play, art and movement therapies, employment counseling, and a Family Stabilization Program (which aids families involved with transitional housing).Want to know more about First Place School? www.firstplaceschool.org. How do we help First Place School in their mission? Our chapter has a number of members who volunteer on a weekly basis as teacher’s assistants, tutors, after school club leaders, and mentors. Also, we work to provide financial support to the school through several philanthropy events held during the school year, such as our annual Halo 2 Tournament in Winter Quarter, which is open to all students, whether they commute or live in the Greek system or residence halls. We are actually in the process of developing a new Spring philanthropy that will benefit First Place School, in which we will be raising funds to send First Place students to the camp-in at the Pacific Science Center. If you are interested in learning more about our philanthropy efforts, please contact Julia Hamilton, Philanthropy Chair, at juliagu8@u.washington.edu. Check out our Photo Album for pictures of our very successful Halo 2 Tournament this year!
Community Events e also participate in a number of fraternity philanthropies that raise money for many wonderful organizations. Some of these philanthropies include Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s “Feed the Lions,” Delta Tau Delta’s “Miss Greek,” Beta Theta Pi’s “Dragon Cup,” Alpha Tau Omega’s “100 Hours of Volleyball,” Sigma Nu’s “Springfest” and many more.Another unique opportunity to participate in philanthropy takes place when the entire Greek system comes together during Greek Week. Relay for Life is often the culminating event that concludes Greek Week and we have a very active "Team Wonder Xi" to take on the challenge. In 2005 we raised over $1,000 for the American Cancer Society and we have set an even higher goal for this year! Want to know more about UW Relay for Life and/or contribute to "Team Wonder Xi"? http://students.washington.edu/acsuw/index.html.
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