Chi Psi Omega Chapter recognizes community agencies/organizations for impact

Chi Psi Omega Chapter recognizes community agencies/organizations for impact

      Chi Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Coral Springs, recently celebrated and honored its partners in a special ceremony. This is an annual event.

The chapter partnered, set up “Team Chi Psi Omega Chapter” web pages and provided on-line donations for “Pink Goes Red” (American Heart Association), garnering $500. The chapter also partnered with the City of North Lauderdale staff wearing red in honor of the event. Pink Goes Red is one of six service impact days for AKA internationally.

Moreover, through web page setups and on-line giving, chapter members garnered $1,885 for Women-In-Distress of Broward County and participated in the annual walk-a-thon held at Nova Southeastern University. For “Relay for Life” (American Cancer Society), the chapter garnered $1,090, received the “Rising Star” Award and participated in the walk-a-thon with several local agencies and churches at Joseph Carter Park. Specifically, for Alzheimer’s Association, “The Longest Day”, another one of the six service impact days for AKA internationally, chapter members garnered $1,110 and participated in disseminating materials regarding this disease affecting African Americans at an alarming rate.

Furthermore, the chapter exceeded its 2014 on-line giving for American Diabetes Association and garnered $2675, the highest amount raised by clubs and organizations in 2015. Chapter members attended the annual diabetes breakfast, fundraising for teams and participated in the walk-a-thon.

The final big on-line giving was NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), garnering $1,255. NAMI staff presented at the April Chapter meeting, educating members about the disease and the support that is needed. Members also participated in the local Broward NAMI walk-a-thon at Trade Winds Park.  A small donation of online giving was recommended by AKA international and supported by chapter members as they donated $8 to their favorite HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities).

Chi Psi Omega Chapter followed standing traditions and supported Sickle Cell Disease Association of Broward County $750; UNCF (United Negro College Fund) $1,650; EAF (Educational Advancement Foundation) $1,825, receiving “Platinum Award” for the fourth consecutive year; South Atlantic Region “Wild About EAF” $330; Nigeria to combat Ebola disease $250; Broward College North Campus TerraCycling partnership in support of the Michelle Lawless Scholarship donating over 2000 items at two cents each, $40; Back to School Health Fair Lauderdale Manors, $200; Urban League of Broward County $435, Broward County Chapter of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) $1,500; South Atlantic Regional Director’s Emerald Endowment, $1,500; Greek Sundays at Mount Hermon AME and Greater Bethel AME Churches $750, local American Tennis Association ad donation, $100; Gamma Zeta Omega AKA 75th Anniversary, $75; Zeta Rho Omega AKA  60th Anniversary, $300; Greater Miami Chapter of Links Incorporated, 60th Diamond Anniversary, $175; 40 Under 40 Legacy Reception, $240; A Plus Foundation, Incorporated for membership, $890 and NAACP nationally as more than half of the members belong to the organization.

Moreover, Chi Psi Omega has worked tirelessly to provide in-kind donations. Facilitating international program Target I: “One Million Backpacks”, the chapter collaborated to present over 300 backpacks at its regional, leadership and cluster conferences. Broward County Schools Coordinator of Homeless Education Assistance Resource Team, Carole Mitchell, accepted 200 backpacks from the annual cluster conference. Facilitating international program Target III: Childhood Hunger, over 650 can goods and non-perishables were presented to Reverend Juana Jordan, Pastor, Harris Chapel United Methodist Church for needy families.

The chapter also collaborated with the City of North Lauderdale and provided more than 100 can goods and non-perishables for Ronald McDonald Charities. Additionally, in addressing Target III:, the chapter collaborated with Target I: ASCEND students in a Feeding South Florida project ensuring 34,765 pounds of food and 28,900 meals for needy South Floridians. The chapter furthered its giving by providing snacks to Joseph Carter and Osswald Parks for youths in the after school programs, gently worn uniform school clothing to Lauderdale Manors Resource Center, partnering with the Sheriff of Broward and New Hope Baptist Church for over 700 Grocery Bag Give-A-Ways, honoring and providing meals for 276 veterans at Vet Center in Lauderdale Lakes and partnering with the City of Coral Springs Human Resources Division in celebration of “Denim Day”.

Lastly, through its Connection Committee, two forums were held to ensure young adults new their basic rights and privileges. Moreover, the committee partnered with Target I ASCEND students and community volunteers for four adoptastreet cleanups and four voter registrations. Additionally, the Connection Committee attended two “Flakka” seminars to educate themselves for prevention of the synthetic drugs destroying our communities.

Furthermore, the chapter’s works in tandem with its charitable arm, A Plus Foundation, Incorporated to provide scholarships for deserving Broward County High Schools graduating seniors, $12,500; proud sponsor of the City of Coral Springs annual MLK Weekend, $1,000; City of Coral Springs for Monument Marker bearing chapter’s name, $1,000; Children Services Council, $1,000; Dillard Center for the Arts, $500; Lion’s Little League Basketball Team of Lauderhill, $200; Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce; $300; Target I: ASCEND, $1,180; Target IV: Environmental Ownership (Playground Renewal) $830;  Greek-lettered organizations’ charitable arms with ads (Ivy Charitable and Educational Foundation, Kappa Alpha Psi Pompano and Kappa Alpha Psi Fort Lauderdale), $550. More importantly, A Plus Foundation garnered grants to assist with the chapter’s programs; MLK Day of Service (Peace Garden at Oriole Elementary), $3,000 in 2015; MLK Day of Service (Health Garden at Rickards Middle), $5000 in 2016; Wells Fargo (ASCEND projects), $1,000 and EAF Grant for outdoor classroom (playground renewal), $5000.

Representing agencies in attendance were Christine Cohen of American Diabetes Association, Riunite Franks of Alzheimer’s Association, Karen Smith of SCDABC, Angelica Susana Minaya of NAMI, Edith Pearson and Roxanna Blissett of UNCF.