The generosity of one can touch the hearts of many. Fueled by philanthropy, friendly competition and a passion for service, Michigan State University’s Fraternity and Sorority Life raised nearly $28,000 for local nonprofits during Greek Week, March 31 to April 11.

Members of the Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council and Panhellenic Council came together to host a variety of events across campus. From blood drives and food donations to creating care packages and volunteering, Greek Week highlighted students' commitment to service and the MSU and Greater Lansing communities.

What is Greek Week?

Greek Week is a long-standing tradition at MSU, uniting the four FSL governing councils to collaborate between chapters, support local nonprofits and engage the broader community. This year they supported the Boys & Girls Club of Lansing and Haven House, a homeless shelter in East Lansing. 

Students also created care packages for the SIREN Eaton Shelter, which supports domestic violence survivors and homeless families. The packages included laundry pods, menstrual products, socks, bandages, gum, snacks and deodorant. Additional efforts included a food drive for the MSU Student Food Pantry and one of the area’s largest Red Cross blood drives. 

Throughout the two weeks, 14 teams competed in service and performance events. Each team consisted of members from different chapters and councils to build community among the 56 chapters and more than 5,000 fraternity and sorority members.

Hayley Jones-Harb, FSL coordinator and primary advisor for Greek Week explained, “Greek Week is an opportunity for our students to do something bigger than ourselves. It’s a great opportunity for our students to get grounded. To see this is what we can do, the difference we can make and the types of memories we can share. It’s not just philanthropic work, it’s building connections, getting to know each other and having fun.”

Alpha Chi Omega member Makayla LeRoux, whose chapter participated and attended multiple events, discussed the variety of ways Greek Week positively impacts the community. “We all came together as a Greek community to create care packages with words of encouragement for a local Domestic Violence shelter to make an impact for such an amazing cause!”

From education to athletics and community service to performance, Greek Week reflected the creativity and commitment of MSU’s Fraternity and Sorority community. Each activity was an opportunity to strengthen relationships, give back and celebrate what makes Fraternity and Sorority Life unique. Events included:

• MGC/NPHC Playbook (March 31): An educational event hosted by MGC and NPHC to share the cultural significance of their organizations.
• Spotlight (April 2): A Super-Bowl-Halftime-Show-themed dance competition, where IFC and PC chapters performed and NPHC organizations competed for the Judges Choice Award.
• Field Day (April 6): Teams competed in various athletic games including volleyball, basketball, a three-legged race, a wheelbarrow race and a hula hoop race.
• Donation Drive (April 7): Community members donated 2,390 pounds and 1,865 items to the MSU Student Food Bank.
• Blood Drive (April 9): In collaboration with the Red Cross, 116 pints of blood were collected from 149 donors including 71 first-time donors.
• Day of Service (April 10-11): 903 Students volunteered, split between Boys & Girls Club of Lansing and the SIREN Eaton Shelter, assembling 300-350 care packages.
• Awards Ceremony (April 11): Celebrated winning teams and recognized the collective philanthropic achievements of the FSL students.

A Larger Purpose

Planning for Greek Week began in January with the election of student leaders representing each of the four FSL governing councils. These students coordinated every aspect of the events, from creating schedules and organizing service activities to producing Spotlight, the community’s signature performance showcase held at the Breslin Student Events Center.

Jones-Harb supported students from behind the scenes by helping them develop schedules, navigate logistics and bring their ideas to life. She also helped students tap into their strengths to take on leadership roles and responsibilities. 

As one of Jones-Harb’s favorite memories during undergrad, she said she feels grateful for the opportunity to support students and bring Greek Week to life each year. 

“I just feel so lucky I get to work with such amazing students to create such impactful events. They make me a better advisor; they’re just the best,” she said. 

Career Building and Community Bonding

Tyler Manning, associate director for FSL, also played a key role in supporting students as an advocate and supporter of their ideas and removing barriers to make Greek Week successful.

Manning said he felt inspired by the strength and unity shown by MSU students, who built two weeks grounded in selflessness, volunteerism and community. It’s a reminder of the incredible impact that’s possible when people come together for a shared purpose. 

“I get really excited because our fraternity and sorority community allows us to show our commitment rooted in community engagement and service. It’s an opportunity to come together for a larger purpose,” said Manning. “Even though our community is large, our students care about service and making an impact here.”

He said he also values the professional development opportunities Greek Week provides, allowing students to learn from leadership roles. They gain experience in event planning, fundraising, time management, delegation, public speaking and community leadership — many career-building skills. The event allows for students to grow while contributing to the growth and development of their local community.

Manning also praised Jones-Harb’s commitment to a successful Greek Week.

“I can’t commend Hayley Jones-Harb enough for all the work she’s done to support all the students. The amount of time, energy and talent to make sure students were supported and events were done well. I would be remiss not to uplift Hayley for a successful Greek Week this year,” he said. 

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

In total, the FSL community raised $27,965.06 through various channels, including $27,582 through CrowdChange, $83.67 from Moka & Co., and $299.39 from P.F. Chang’s. The donations were split between Haven House and the Boys & Girls Club of Lansing.

In addition to fundraising, teams were recognized for their team collaboration and competitive spirit throughout the two weeks. Highlights from the competitions include: 

• Top Fundraising Teams: Team 4 (Alpha Xi Delta, Phi Kappa Psi, Phi Kappa Sigma, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc.)
• Field Day Winners: Team 1 (Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Sigma Phi, Alpha Gamma Rho, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.)
• Spotlight Winners: Spotlight Winners:
  • 1st place: Team 3 (Alpha Phi, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Zeta Beta Tau)
  • 2nd place: Team 8 (Kappa Alpha Theta, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Tau Gamma)
  • 3rd place: Team 11 (Pi Beta Phi, Psi Upsilon, Sigma Alpha Mu)
  • Judges Choice: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. (Team 1)
• Overall Greek Week Winners:
  • 1st place: Team 4 (Alpha Xi Delta, Phi Kappa Psi, Phi Kappa Sigma, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc.)
  • 2nd place: Team 1 (Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Sigma Phi, Alpha Gamma Rho, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.)
  • 3rd place: Team 9 (Kappa Delta, Phi Gamma Delta, Theta Delta Chi, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.)

All Are Welcome

As Greek Week continues to grow, Manning said he hopes to further elevate students to think creatively, meet community needs and create a positive experience for all involved. 

Dr. ShirDonna Lawrence, director of FSL and advisor for the PC, said Greek Week reflects the community’s core values.

"At the heart of the Fraternity and Sorority Life experience is a commitment to the uplift of our campus and surrounding community,” said Lawrence. “Greek Week is a time where we have married the social engagement and community service aspects of the fraternity and sorority life experience. I couldn't be prouder of how our organizations have used this week to center their commitment to the highest ideals of scholarship, leadership and community service."

Looking ahead, both Manning and Jones-Harb hope to increase participation from students and community members beyond the Fraternity and Sorority community. Greek Week is open to all who are interested and passionate about supporting local communities, whether it’s Spotlight, blood drives or volunteering, all are welcome to join in the fun. 

“We’d love to see more involvement from students outside the FSL community,” said Manning. “Greek Week is a celebration of service, and there’s space for everyone to join in.”

Learn more about Greek Week here.

Author: Olivia Williams, communications assistant