Greek Week mixes competition with philanthropic spirit

UNM’s fraternities and sororities are shaking off the winter blues with some old-fashioned philanthropy.

This year’s Greek Week is Disney-themed and benefits Best Buddies New Mexico, Watermelon Mountain Ranch and the Albuquerque Rio Grande Zoo.
Alex Roark, organizer of the event, said the week provides an incentive for Greek collaboration.

“Greek Week is just one of the only times out of the whole year where the entire Greek community gets together to do several events,” she said. “The main focus of it, of course, is raising money for whatever organization we choose.”

The houses’ combined effort for a week allows for a significant change, said Tess Goering, public relations committee chairwoman.

“Throughout the year, we all contribute in separate ways with our own philanthropy and our own projects, and I think, during Greek Week, part of the biggest focus of the week is really coming together,” she said. “It’s 500-plus people joining to make a difference in our community because we can. Our contributions are magnified when we all come together as one great big community’.”

Goering said Best Buddies was selected because it’s a new nonprofit mentoring organization.

Tim Mousseau, head of the community service committee, said 500 volunteers from
fraternities and sororities helped paint, rake leaves and do yard work at the Rio Grande Zoo last weekend.

“The zoo is going through a process of accreditation in the next month, where inspectors come through and make sure everything meets code,” he said. “They had a lot of work to do and, because of the economy, they are kind of understaffed. So, by helping them out and giving those volunteers to them, we helped make sure Albuquerque keeps its zoo.”

The week will wrap up with the Greek Olympics and awards in celebration of the philanthropic achievements, Roark said.

“The games vary from tug-of-war to trivia games, and people get really into it and dress up,” she said. “In addition to awards for the games, there are also awards for the entire year. All the work that was done for the 2009 year will be recognized and awarded for every chapter.”

Greek Week relieves unnecessary tensions between the houses for a good cause, said Travis Maestas, philanthropy chairman of the event.

“Sometimes there is so much competition within the Greek community,” he said. “This kind of allows for friendly competition, but it also allows for the community to come together as a whole over community service.”