Kaii Thompson, Culture Reporter
Florida Atlantic University’s Alpha Tau Omega Eta Mu chapter, the first fraternity on Boca Raton’s campus, raised more than $22,000 for The 22 Project, a nonprofit organization that supports veterans impacted by traumatic brain injuries.
The initiative served as a part of the chapter’s philanthropy week, with fundraising efforts concluding on Oct. 1 after two weeks of events starting on Sept. 18. For the past two years, the Eta Mu chapter has partnered with the nonprofit as a way to not only give back to veterans but also to bring together the city of Boca Raton and FAU students through their annual Buffalo Bash, according to Faisal Albaldawi, a sophomore majoring in Health Administration and ATO’s event manager.
FAU’s Eta Mu is a part of the nationwide collection of Alpha Tau Omega fraternities; each chapter hosts its own week geared toward a philanthropic cause. ATO’s “philanthropy week” took place on Sept. 18 and 19. The fraternity opened the week with a “Tau Wash,” where the fraternity brothers washed cars, and the proceeds made from the Tau Wash contributed to the total amount raised. The week culminated on Sept. 19 with their annual event, the “Buffalo Bash.”
The Buffalo Bash was held in Boca Raton’s Sanborn Square Park, located about two miles from FAU. Last year, Alpha Tau Omega raised more than $30,000 for The 22 Project over the course of two days during their philanthropy week, but this year, the fraternity managed to raise $22,000.
Albaldawi, alongside Brent Caiazzo, a sophomore finance major and the fraternity’s philanthropy chairman, put together the main event because of the fraternity’s close connection to veterans.
“The 22 project has always been a cause that is very near and dear to the hearts of many brothers here at ATO,” said Albaldawi. “Many of our brothers here have family members that have served in the military. Our most recent president [Luke Rosen] is a veteran himself, and it is a cause that we love coming together.”
