OUR PHILANTHROPY
The Kids in Need Foundation
Xi Gamma Nu’s main philanthropy event, Gamma Games, is an elementary school-style field day held annually in the Boston Commons to raise money for the Kids in Need Foundation. In teams, individuals compete in games like kickball, tug of war, relay races, and a water balloon toss, with the goal of having fun! Each member of the team donates to participate, and included in that donation is a ticket for a drawing, with generous donations from various local businesses like Soul Cycle and Playa Bowls; including gift cards and various memorabilia. On average, Xi Gamma Nu is able to raise over $2,000 for the KINF through this event and our facebook fundraiser.
The Kids in Need Foundation is a national charity whose mission is to ensure that every child is prepared to learn and succeed in the classroom by providing free school supplies to kids most in need. “Each year, the Kids In Need Foundation helps nearly 200,000 teachers and more than 5 million students in some of the most challenged communities across the country.” And, KINF has distributed more than 1 billion dollars in supplies to kids who would otherwise go without. When deciding which philanthropy we wanted to partner with, we started by searching for an organization whose mission and values mirrored our set of core values.
Xi Gamma Nu wholeheartedly believes in empowering young children and helping them build the foundation for a better life. We want our sisters to leave Emerson with the proper life skills and confidence to thrive in the real world, which Kids in Need does as well for the children that it helps. Xi Gamma Nu also wants all of our sisters to know they have the support of each and every one of her sisters, which replicates the emphasis that Kids in Need places on community support.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
MSPCA Boston Adoption Center
We volunteer consistently with the Boston MSPCA, an organization that’s mission is “to protect animals, relieve their suffering, advance their health and welfare, prevent cruelty, and work for a just and compassionate society.” This past year, we helped the MSPCA raise around $19,226.55 combined at their holiday & valentine's day bake sale!
Greater Boston Food Bank
We also volunteer regularly at the Greater Boston Food Bank, “the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. Last year, [they] distributed 68.5 million pounds of nutritious food to people who struggle to have enough to eat.” From sorting food donations, to packing food for shipping as a group, we have been able to contribute to the area of Boston in significant ways, including packing 4,176 lbs of food (enough for 3480 meals) for families in need.
Cradles to Crayons
Cradles to Crayons, an organization that “provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive,” has provided us with the opportunity to help a total of 210 kids with the clothes we have sorted during our volunteering hours.
Film2Future
In the Fall of 2018, Xi Gamma Nu raised over $600 for Film2Future, an organization that, "promotes change by giving under-served youth access to education and employment opportunities." The event provided an opportunity to try virtual reality, viewing five of the program’s students’ short films, as well as three commercials through our first ever film screening.
