FSU Greek Organizations Celebrate Spring with “Ready, Set, Spring!”

On Saturday, May 5, the rain had nothing on Ready, Set, Spring!, an open event between Frostburg State University’s (FSU) Greek organizations and the local community. Hosted by Josh Mallow, Vice President of Programming for FSU’s Greek Council, Ready, Set, Spring! was moved to the Lane University Center (LUC) ARMAH, where various Greek organizations set up tables and booths to raise money for their philanthropies.

Finishing up her last term as Greek Council President, Ashley Smith said, “Greek Life is a community, a support system, and a family. Greek Life molds you into a better leader and provides you with endless opportunities.”

Smith added, “we hope to make Ready, Set, Spring! an annual event. It’s a great way to show the community what we do.”

In particular, the Omicron Pi chapter of Delta Zeta at FSU participated in their annual Heart for Hearing event, working to raise money for the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Jordan Day, president of Delta Zeta, Omicron Pi chapter said, “the Starkey Hearing Foundation is a global organization that provides the hearing impaired with hearing aids. They travel to third-world countries and other places in need, including some regions in the United States.”

Day mentioned that Delta Zeta (Omicron Pi) raised $203 over the course of three days with their tables in the LUC and their fundraiser at Ready, Set, Spring!

“We have raised slightly over $4,000 this school year. Delta Zeta really cherishes our relationship with the Starkey Hearing Foundation because we believe strongly in its causes and love to see the impact we have on these people who are hearing impaired. Sisters are able to travel with Starkey to see the results first-hand; it’s truly a life changing experience,” remarked Day. 

Day added, “all of our philanthropy events are open events and anyone is able to attend and support if they choose to do so. We never discriminate on whether you are a member of a Greek organization or not. We actually encourage people to attend to see what Delta Zeta is all about. Philanthropy is important because it makes Greeks more than just a group of people; it gives them a purpose and a goal to work towards. Without philanthropies, it would be easy to fit the stereotype of ‘typical’ fraternity and sorority members, but when people see us raising money and doing community service, their mindset changes. It is also beyond rewarding to see the impact that such a small chapter can have on such a large cause.”

Delta Zeta (Omicron Pi) has also participated in other organizations’ events while hosting their annual Womanless Beauty Pageant for domestic violence awareness. In the past, they have raised over $1,000 for the Women’s Shelter in Cumberland. “We also participate in Relay for Life. Unfortunately, most of our sisters have been affected by cancer in one way or another, so we do our best to raise a lot of money to support the American Cancer Society.”

Aside from the Starkey Hearing Foundation, Delta Zeta also works to raise money for The Painted Turtle Camp, a stayaway camp in California where children with serious medical conditions celebrate “just being kids.”

Day encourages everyone to support important causes and welcomes the community to future philanthropic events.