Kansas Chapter Beautifies Community, Strikes Out Cancer
Picking up litter and picking up spares are keeping Phi Theta Kappa members
at Independence Community College in Kansas busy as they promote community
betterment through two Phi Theta Kappa programs.
Phi Theta
Kappa has partnered with Keep
America Beautiful for the 2006-08 International
Service Program, Operation Green: Improving Our Communities.
Relay
For Life, a current Phi Theta Kappa civic
engagement initiative, is an important fundraiser for the American
Cancer Society.
After working on various activities with their
sister chapter at Kansas City Kansas Community College, members were looking
for a fellowship, service and leadership opportunity outside their region.
The two chapters decided to travel to Mohawk Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for
an "Operation Green" project and spent the day picking up bottles, cans
and various pieces of litter along the park's trails and lakeside.
A
few weeks later the Independence chapter joined the college's biology
department in a campus cleanup.
During lab period and class
time the two groups worked together to clear litter and tree limbs from around
the college's pond. Flowers and bulbs were also planted in sections around
campus.
Heather Sutton, the chapter's executive officer,
found it rewarding to participate in the service project with her biology
classmates.
"Most of the students live on campus so this project
was very personal for them," said Sutton. "This campus is like their 'second
home' so they worked hard to make as much of a difference as they could."
To
raise funds for Relay For Life, members recently hosted their second annual
"Strike Out Cancer Bowling Benefit."
Chapter members and local
businesses formed teams of six and were asked to raise $180 in order to participate
in the tournament. On the day of the event, teams raising more than the required
amount were given a chance to win door prizes.
A "Passionately
Pink for a Cure" contest was also held with prizes going to the team who decorated
themselves and their tables using the most pink.
With sponsorships
from local businesses paying for a majority of the event, the chapter was
able to donate extra money to Relay For Life. At the end of the day, a total
of $2,400 was raised, a 100 percent increase from last year. The chapter
has since set a goal of $3,000 for next year's benefit.
"The teams
were excited about the $2,400 raised and we are looking forward to next year,"
said chapter advisor Karen Roush. "I believe we will have even more participation."
Learn more about the new International
Service Program, Operation Green: Improving Our Communities
and Relay
For Life online.
