Philanthropy

Philanthropy is an integral part of our fraternity.  Each semester our brothers participate in various philanthropic causes.  Our main causes include our national philanthropy, Children's Miracle Network and our local philanthropies, The Carver Promise and The Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K.  Our chapter's dedication to philanthropy service has earned the chapter the distinction of having the "Best Philanthropy" for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 academic year which was awarded by the VCU Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.

Children's Miracle Network

Sigma Alpha Epsilon's national philanthropy is the Children’s Miracle Network. CMN is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for children’s hospitals across North America. Each year the 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals provide the finest medical care, life-saving research and preventative education to help millions of kids overcome diseases and injuries of every kind.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s credo is to “Be True”. Members demonstrate their True Gentlemen initiative through their support of Children’s Miracle Network, completing a variety of activities such as raffles, auctions, haunted houses, sports tournaments and more.

Each spring, SAE chapters participate in their signature True Gentlemen Day of Service, helping their local hospitals with hands on service in addition to the funds they raise each year. Sigma Alpha Epsilon joined Children’s Miracle Network as a national fundraising partner in 2001, and have raised over $350,000 to support their local hospitals.

 Our chapter sponsors various fundraisers throughout the year to contribute to CMN. You can learn more about CMN at www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org.

The Carver Promise

Each semester our brothers mentor and raise money for The Carver Promise.  In the fall of 1989, a small group of individuals from the higher education and the corporate communities came together and met weekly to plan The Carver Promise.  During the next eighteen months, this group of volunteers added to their numbers and worked to form a coalition between the four institutions of higher education and the Richmond Public Schools.

On February 20, 1991, these four colleges- J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, the University of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginia Union University—announced publicly a pilot project for a group of 150 plus third-graders at George Washington Carver Elementary School in Richmond, Virginia.  The two-part promise made to these students was; to provide them with mentors who would work with them as they moved through their schooling and, once having completed high school, assist them in the college application and acceptance process.

The goals of The Carver Promise are numerous, including encouraging and supporting grade-school aged children in the Richmond community toward college attendance; exposing grade school-aged in the Richmond community to the college lifestyle and experience, and assisting Richmond area grade schools, middle schools, and high schools to educate Richmond’s youth and prepare them for higher education.
You can learn more about The Carver Promise at www.carverpromise.org

Monument Avenue 10K

Every year we participate in Monument Avenue 10k! This event is sponsored by Ukrops and each year it helps the VCU Massey Cancer Center. The VCU Massey Cancer Center is at the forefront of research and discoveries to help cure and control cancer. Its cutting-edge research is conducted right here in Richmond, making clinical trials and new treatment options readily available to cancer patients in our community.The race also helps combat childhood obesity!

One race day, our chapter provides assistance by handing out water, collecting garbage and some by participating in the race.  To learn more about the Ukrop's Mounment Avenue 10K at www.sportsbackers.org/events/10k/10k.htm.