Greek organizations have been a vibrant part of campus life at the University of Nevada, Reno since they were first established in 1913 with the Delta Delta Delta sorority.
Philanthropy is central to Greek life, giving fraternities and sororities an opportunity to support causes that are aligned with their chapters’ values and missions. Each chapter is connected to a specific charitable organization or a cause for which members raise money and spread awareness in their communities.
These efforts give Greek organizations a purpose beyond just social events, creating opportunities for members to work together and make an impact. Sporting events have become one way for Nevada’s Greek organizations to raise money for their philanthropies while competing against other chapters. While the competition brings people to the field, the main goal is to raise money and support the cause behind every event.
Every year, Sigma Kappa holds the Dove Bowl, providing an opportunity for members of all Greek life chapters to compete in a flag football tournament, supporting the Sigma Kappa Foundation. The Sigma Kappa foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance the lives of Sigma Kappa sorority members.
Leah Hammond, vice president of philanthropic services for Sigma Kappa, said the tournament brings chapters closer together through friendly competition and allows members to bond over shared interests in sports.
“I feel like there’s more of that drive to win; you actually want it,” Hammond said, “I feel like so many people on our campus either do sports now or did sports in high school and it’s just a fun thing that a lot of people have a connection to.”
That familiarity with sports can make philanthropy events appealing to a wider demographic. Rather than relying solely on traditional fundraising activities such as fundraisers or percentage nights, tournaments give participants a chance to compete.
Delta Gamma uses a similar approach with Anchor Slam, their basketball tournament. According to Ava Jones, vice president of foundation for Delta Gamma, they use the event to raise awareness for the organization’s philanthropy, Service for Sight.
“Delta Gamma’s philanthropy is Service for Sight, and that means we raise money for those who are low vision or blind,” Jones said. “I think something that’s really special about our philanthropy. It’s funded by our own foundation that we raise money for.”
The competitive element is central for both sororities’ events, but the tournaments also create opportunities for members to interact outside of their own chapters. At Anchor Slam, Delta Gamma members coach teams made up of different fraternities and sororities, allowing members to take on leadership roles while encouraging participation throughout Greek life.
“I think for us, it definitely brings us closer, coaching our different teams. Girls from our chapter get to coach each fraternity and sorority and it’s super fun,” Jones said. “It’s a good way to get close with the other chapters, as well as get competitive with each other.”
“Seeing the girls that played on the Sigma Kappa team was literally so much fun, because I got to see them all work hard together and connect and just have fun and play the game. It was so cool,” Hammond said.
Hammond enjoys being involved in the event, but said participating in the tournament is different from organizing it.
“[When] participating, you’ll either be a fan whether you’re cheering, a coach whether you’re coaching one of the teams that have entered, or a player, which is obviously just playing flag football against any of the other teams. But I feel like planning the event is a little bit different because you kind of have to control all of that at once,” Hammond said.
Jones mentioned that keeping the philanthropic mission at the focal point of the event can become more difficult as the teams grow more invested in winning. She emphasized the importance of coaches reminding participants why the tournament is being held in the first place.
Since Delta Gamma’s philanthropic purpose is connected with Service for Sight, Jones said the chapter wants their participants to understand the challenges faced by people who are blind or have low vision and why supporting them matters.
“I really want them to take away why we held the event in the first place and knowing that Service for Sight is important. And honestly, understanding all the stuff they are able to do during the week can be hard for people who are low vision or don’t have vision at all, and understand why it’s important to help out those individuals,” Jones said.
Jones also said sports philanthropy events can change how students view Greek life as a whole by introducing them to the causes that are supported by fraternity and sororities.
“Yeah, before I joined a sorority I had no idea what Greek life was even about,” Jones said. “I wasn’t even really interested in joining a sorority until I kind of got to know their philanthropies and what their purpose was.”
Sports provide a way to combine an activity that members enjoy with a larger philanthropic goal. Not only does the competition give students a way to participate and represent the chapter, it helps Greek life organizations raise money and awareness for organizations that are important to them.
“It’s such a good cause but it’s also so much fun to do,” Hammond said.
