The James Madison Sigma Alpha Epsilon (Virginia Mu) chapter recently raised over $35,000 for Cancer Research and Treatment — a cause close to their hearts.
They typically set up their fundraising team at the start of the fall semester, and brothers signed up throughout the school year. The spring semester is when they really begin to make a big fundraising push.
This semester, the chapter hosted three proceeds nights at two restaurants, both in collaboration with sororities at JMU. These partnerships make the fundraisers more exciting and social, and all proceeds are donated to the American Cancer Society. In addition, they collaborated with Relay for Life in a 5K run, where over ten brothers showed up to support the cause.
Leading up to Relay for Life, they host their very own philanthropy week. This April, they held their first Paddy Murphy Week, featuring events like “Pie Alpha,” where students could pay to pie brothers at a table set up on campus. They also held a car wash. Their biggest event was a volleyball tournament with sororities — over 80 women participated. Brothers served as coaches and referees, and each sorority team paid to enter and received a free Paddy Murphy t-shirt. These shirts were sponsored by local businesses, which paid to have their logos printed on the back. Brothers who raised over $150 also received a free shirt and those who raised over $1,000 received an additional prize.
The last event of the week was another proceeds night at one of the brothers’ favorite restaurants in town.
Throughout the year, brothers send messages to family and friends to raise money. Older members and those passionate about the cause encourage others to sign up and participate. They also organize email and text blasts during chapter meetings and promote the cause on their Instagram page with custom graphics for brothers to share.
At the end of the fundraising year, the chapter came together at the main event of Relay for Life. This year, they were honored as both the number one fundraising team at JMU and the Southeast Region Campus Team of the Year. Additionally, they are ranked the 5th Relay for Life team in the nation, having raised $35,115.27.
One of the challenges they faced was making sure every brother was signed up. They feel that no fundraiser should be mandatory; if you’re doing it, it should come from the heart. That’s why their members focus on inspiration. Certain brothers volunteer to speak about their personal experiences with cancer, which is emotional and motivating.
The Executive Board, Philanthropy Chairman, Philanthropy Committee, and others worked incredibly hard to make this happen. Each brother gave their best raising money and showing up to events. Because of that, they were able to make a huge impact together.
Relay is the most important thing they do every year. It shows they’re not just a fraternity, but a group of men who care deeply about making a difference.
“Seeing the chapter ranked 5th in the nation is surreal, but it’s not about the numbers. It’s about the people we help and the impact we leave behind. When we joined this group, we were told we’d be part of something bigger than ourselves. This is that something.
We hope our efforts inspire others to make a difference in causes that matter to them. When everyone works hard individually, we can make a huge impact together,” Eminent Archon John Malanga shared,” Eminent Archon Jacob Malanga shared.
