The fraternity Beta Theta Pi raised more than $2,000 for the Rape Recovery Center during their philanthropy week, which ran from Feb. 10 to Feb. 13.
Beta hopes their efforts will “help prevent the abuse and victimization of women.” In addition to their fundraising, Beta’s 85 members are planning to participate in a service project.
The Rape Recovery Center, which was founded in 1974 and is celebrating 40 years of service this year, offers a variety of services to those who have been affected by sexual violence, regardless of the victim’s gender. The center offers a 24-hour crisis line, a 24-hour hospital response team, crisis intervention therapy, community education and victim advocacy.
Because all of the center’s services are free, it runs entirely on donations. Mitchell Cox, a junior in psychology and Beta’s president, feels partnering with the Rape Recovery Center was the right decision.
“Beta Theta Pi is a fraternity founded in our mission ‘to develop men of principle for a principled life,’ ” Cox said. “Within this mission statement lies a commitment to enable positive action in the lives of our members, as well as in the surrounding community.”
He added that the chapter hopes to positively impact the community through their service and this partnership.
Beta has been at the U for over 100 years and has been operating by their “men of principle” initiative since 1998, which is supported by five core values: mutual assistance, intellectual growth, trust, responsible conduct and integrity. The fraternity believes their partnership with the Rape Recovery Center is a perfect example of their initiative.
In addition to fund-raising and volunteering, Beta is also using their philanthropy to help people understand the issue, according to member Derek Dietsch, a junior in marketing, who planned the event as philanthropy chair for the fraternity.
Dietsch said the fraternity wants to do more than just raise money.
Cox said he thinks the partnership will do good for more than just the center.
“We feel that our partnership with the Rape Recover Center works towards promoting a safer and stronger community,” Cox said. “We look forward to continuing this partnership.”
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