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In seven days, UT’s Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) community raised almost $62,000 to help several philanthropies that are important to all 20 active UT chapters. 

“It’s phenomenal,” said Ryne Burds, assistant director of FSL. “It’s a record for us.”

Greek Week, held this year from Feb. 28 to March 6, is a week-long fundraising event that promotes unity and emphasizes FSL’s mission of service and wellness to the 1,400 students involved. Through competitions and educational events, each chapter raises money toward supporting community nonprofits.

“They continue to out-raise themselves every year,” said Hannah Rendon, coordinator of FSL, noting the chapters utilized an online crowdfunding site to coordinate donations from friends and family. They raised $20,000 more than in 2020. “It’s amazing to see how much they are donating online to these causes that are really special to our students.”

Traditionally at UT, the Greek Week recipients always include Relay for Life, a community-based fundraising event for the American Cancer Society.

“The battle against cancer is one that affects so many families, and I am ecstatic to see the community fundraise for this cause year after year,” said Katarina Georgelas ’21, student coordinator of programming for FSL, who planned and implemented Greek Week. Almost $17,000 was raised for Relay for Life this year.

Since 2019, another recipient was added: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

“When I was first hired, my [hometown] community had just recently lost someone from suicide and I had lost people in the past by the same means,” said Georgelas, adding that her first year on campus the UT Greek community was also struck by loss due to suicide. It was an issue that many connected with and didn’t require any buy-in when Georgelas suggested adding the philanthropy to Greek Week.

Almost $45,000 was raised for the foundation this year. In addition, and in light of the impact COVID-19 has had on local families, Feeding Tampa Bay was added as an additional philanthropy for Greek Week this year, and nearly 7,000 canned food items will be donated to the food distribution organization.

“I am involved in Greek life because it is an amazing platform to make an impact on a city that has given us so much during our collegiate years,” said Georgelas, a sister of Alpha Chi Omega. “I have met the most incredible people who are passionate about a variety of different causes, and I have learned so much about what it means to be an effective leader.” 

All of the events this year were challenging to coordinate due to health and safety precautions, but FSL worked hard to adhere to the Spartan Shield Health Safety plan during their virtual and in-person events around the theme of high school. In addition to events like kickball and the Greek Variety Show, the student organization Active Minds, which focuses on mental health wellness, held a workshop on managing stress. The team of Delta Zeta, Alpha Tau Omega and Zeta Phi Beta won both the overall Greek Week title for their fundraising and participation efforts, as well as for their performance in the Greek Variety Show.