Two sororities band together to fight breast cancer

March 19, 2009 by Jorge Labrador

The Rebel Yell (University of Nevada, Las Vegas newspaper)

A little bit of teamwork can go a long way toward a good cause.

Sigma Theta Psi and Kappa Delta Chi, two sororities on UNLV’s Multicultural Greek Council, collaborated to raise funds toward breast cancer awareness during their philanthropy events March 9 through 14.

“It was a success on many levels,” said Sigma Theta Psi philanthropy chair Mallory Cyr. “We raised a lot of money, it was a collaboration between two female organizations, which UNLV rarely sees. We were both able to help each other host the biggest philanthropy events we’ve ever done.”

The week’s philanthropy events, collectively titled “Check Up On It… Searching For A Cure,” marked the first time the two sororities have worked together. The sororities’ two events– the Mr. Kappa Delta Chi Pageant and Sigma Theta Psi’s Double D Brunch– raised more than $3,500 toward raising awareness of breast cancer.

Scheduling was limited for Greek events this year, so the sororities banded together to support their common cause.

Each sorority hosted its own signature event independently but shared the responsibilities and proceeds from other events, taking donations and selling pink rocks, which were arranged in a ribbon formation in the Alumni Amphitheater.

Proceeds from the Mr. Kappa Delta Chi Pageant will also fund the Susan G. Komen Foundation, while the money raised in the Double D Brunch will go to Sigma Theta Psi’s national benefactor, the Young Survivor Coalition.

In addition to supporting charity, the week proved to be an opportunity for sisters from two different sororities to get to know each other.

Sigma Theta Psi’s mascot, the panther, and one of Kappa Delta Chi’s colors, pink, were combined to create the Pink Panther, the logo for the week. Using pink was of particular significance, as it is the color of breast cancer awareness.

“We’ve never really gotten to know any of their sisters but we could always feel a little tension when we were in the same room,” said Sigma Theta Psi sister Marcella Sosa.

Kappa Delta Chi sister Angelique Garay talked about the social value of the events.

“Sigma Theta Psi was really great to work with. It was a new environment and we both didn’t know what to expect but I think we really pulled it together.”

All good team-ups must eventually come to an end, but that doesn’t mean Sigma Theta Psi and Kappa Delta Chi won’t be working together again.

“We’re definitely going to try to do this again because we’ve never made so much money,” Garay said.

“Plus, it was a lot of fun.”