Alpha Phi Omega members to sit above campus for charity
Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fraternity, will begin another year of service high above campus during a scaffolding event that will last Tuesday through Friday and will benefit Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America.
This week marks National Service Week, Amy Jolly, Livonia senior and spokesperson for public relations for the fraternity, said.
Fraternity members are hosting the event to advocate charity and to become more visual in the central Michigan community, Jolly said.
The event will take place near the crosswalks by the library, with members sitting five to seven feet off the ground on top of scaffolding, Jolly said.
All members will take a turn sitting on the scaffold in groups of two or more, including the fraternity's 24 new pledges.
Members will ask for donations while they sit on the scaffold, Jolly said. Containers will be placed beneath them for passers-by to drop money in.
"We want to get the word out (about Big Brothers, Big Sisters) as well as getting our name out there," Jolly said.
All proceeds from the event will go directly toward Big Brothers, Big Sisters with a portion being set aside for a Big Brothers, Big Sisters holiday party planned and directed by Alpha Phi Omega, Jolly said.
"Every little bit counts. It all goes towards a great charity," Jolly said.
Thai Lee, Lansing freshman and president of the 1999 Alpha Phi Omega pledge class, said he is looking forward to beginning his first year serving the community with Alpha Phi Omega.
After years of involvement in community service, Lee said he sees Alpha Phi Omega as a good decision for himself and the community.
"I've always had mentors, and Big Brothers, Big Sisters is a really good program to help out kids who don't have them," Lee said.
The event will also give members a chance to get to know each other better because of the originality of the event and its circumstances, Lee said.
"I'm doing a full-nighter from midnight to 4 a.m. It will be a good bonding experience with my brothers as well as being for a good cause," Lee said.
The event will continue for all four days, 96 hours straight, regardless of the weather, Jolly said.
"Basically, we're showing our commitment to our charity by being out there 24 hours a day, rain or shine"
