A long tradition of service
CAMPUS LIFE
Every year, Lambda Chi Alpha chapters around the U.S. mark the beginning of fall with a Watermelon Bust. Students pay a few dollars for a watermelon, which they throw to the ground or smash open with baseball bats. The money raised goes to food banks.
“Philanthropy is one of the biggest staples of fraternity and sorority life here at Richmond,” said Hunter Bonton, assistant director for 15 social Greek organizations and their governing councils. “They have the bandwidth to raise a great amount of money for good causes.
“But something we’re trying to do is put more emphasis on the next step. Yes, it’s great to have a basketball tournament and raise thousands of dollars for Ronald McDonald House. But what’s even better is getting members to go to Ronald McDonald House,” he said.
Bonton said this process starts by challenging students to recognize the nuanced differences between philanthropy and service, and encouraging long-term relationships where members gain a deeper understanding of a nonprofit’s mission.
In the case of Richmond’s chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha, that meant putting a new spin on the nationwide Watermelon Bust.
“They were raising thousands of dollars, and it was objectively a good thing to do,” Bonton said. “But they were also smashing perfectly good food to raise money and awareness for ending hunger in America. I asked them, is this the best way to live our mission and values?”
Last year, the chapter leaned into Halloween and traded the watermelons for pumpkins, which aren’t commonly distributed by food banks. They also gave participants the option to decorate a pumpkin instead of smashing it. The event attracted the same crowd and raised even more money for Feed More, a local hunger-relief organization.
Senior Jackson Marconi, president of Richmond’s Lambda Chi Alpha, said the chapter will be involved in several hands-on projects for other area nonprofits. Several times a year, they help with restoration efforts at historic Black cemeteries and clean rooms at the Reinhart Guest House for families of patients at St. Mary’s Hospital.
Fundraisers have long been a part of fraternity and sorority life, and most organizations place philanthropy alongside other values like scholarship and leadership. In some cases, the national organization chooses a particular issue or nonprofit that every chapter works to support, year after year. For others, individual chapters direct their fundraising efforts toward a local cause or organization the membership finds meaningful.
“Fraternities and sororities are a pretty influential part of campus life,” Marconi said, “and I think using that platform to raise money, volunteer, and mobilize people to help others is important.”
On the national level, Kappa Delta sorority has a longstanding relationship with the Girl Scouts. At Richmond, that meant inviting local troops to campus to sell cookies in the Tyler Haynes Commons, with the help of chapter members. But since Girl Scout troops also invite opportunities for mentorship, Kappa Delta members are now looking into hosting a leadership development workshop for them or an event to make friendship bracelets.
“I was a Girl Scout, and I know a lot of our members were,” said Jillian Alexander, a senior and president of Richmond’s Kappa Delta chapter. “It’s meaningful to give back to an organization I was a part of, and it’s special to build those connections with the girls.”
While Richmond’s Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, doesn’t have a large membership base to mobilize, the chapter is highly engaged with local issues and well-connected with an area graduate chapter, Black-owned businesses, and other student organizations. Last year, the Rho Mu chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. won the University of Richmond’s Chapter of the Year.
“While they are smaller in chapter size, service is a top priority for their organization and they often participate in more service than some of our chapters that have over 100 members,” said Bonton.
The sorority’s mission since its inception in 1908 includes being of “service to all mankind.”
This fall, they ran a voter education drive on campus and worked with a graduate chapter on a young artist showcase. In the spring, AKA is partnering with other student-run organizations to host a breast cancer fashion show and fundraiser.
Junior Shelby Richards, secretary of the Rho Mu chapter, said she grew up in a community that prioritized volunteering and giving back — something she carried with her to college.
“I feel like I have to give back to the surrounding communities because of our privilege in going to the University of Richmond, an institution that has resources that can benefit others,” Richards said. “AKA has given me the platform to do so because of its outreach and connections to the city.”
Bonton said that philanthropy and service is often part of the appeal of joining a fraternity or sorority. Sororities dedicate part of their recruitment process to outlining their philanthropy efforts, giving prospective members a chance to learn what each chapter is passionate about and how they support organizations.
And by getting involved early, he said, students can establish a habit that lasts a lifetime.
“Most students join as freshmen, so they build a relationship with an organization over four years,” he said. “It makes them well-rounded individuals that will hopefully set a foundation for them to continue improving their communities even after they graduate.”