In Perpetuity
by Mark Bauer • April 2006 • No Comments •
The central compelling reason why alumni give money or time to Lambda Chi Alpha is simple: They want the fraternal experience that so deeply impacted their life to be perpetuated for future generations of brothers to enjoy.
Honor Roll of Donors
Thousands of members and friends contribute to the Educational Foundation each year. The Honor Roll of Donors recognizes these individuals for their generous donations.
The publication also keeps tabs on how many men from each chapter support the General Fraternity and who.
Top Chapters by Donors
Top Chapters by Gifts
If you would like to receive the Honor Roll of Donors in the mail, consider supporting the fraternity by making an online donation. You may also download the 2005 edition.
Supporting Chapters
Alumni contributions directly fund many of the programs provided by the International Fraternity. By supporting these programs, the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation enables alumni donations to add direct value to the undergraduate experience.
If we value that Lambda Chi Alpha develops leaders in the form of future husbands, fathers, and friends, then this explains why around $120,000 in alumni money went to support the 2005 Leadership Seminar at the University of Maryland. This money reduced the cost of that experience by nearly $300 per student — would more than 400 of them been able to attend without this assistance? This money brought high quality facilitators and speakers to the event — do we not want our brothers to learn from the best?
If we value that the undergraduate chapter is the “laboratory” of the fraternal experience, then this is why about $90,000 in alumni money went toward educational programs to strengthen each of our chapters. This is about $450 for each chapter, or another way to see it is that it makes the cost of the Lambda Chi Alpha experience significantly less for each undergraduate – is one of our objectives not to find ways to allow as many young men as possible to experience what we have enjoyed? Or yet another view on this is that this money has driven the weak chapters to survive, the average to excel, and the excellent to perpetuate their experiences.
If we value academic integrity and performance, then this is why $52,000 in alumni money was distributed to our students as scholarships.
If we value our dedicated High Pis and alumni advisers, then this is why more than $30,000 in alumni money was dedicated to training and assisting them to do their work as Lambda Chi Alpha’s missionaries among our chapters.
If we value the role that an alumnus can play in the life of a younger brother, then this is why nearly $40,000 is spent on our Joseph T. Charles Mentor Leadership programs each year.
Supporting the General Fraternity
In addition to supporting chapters and undergraduate members, the Educational Foundation also perpetuates the benefits of an international organization that oversees 300 chapters and 250,000 members.
If we value the inspiration of something bigger than a solitary chapter to keep the ideals, principles, and teachings of Lambda Chi Alpha constantly before our eyes, then we need to be inspired by the 250,000 men who have gone before us and the 250,000 who will follow.
If we value our ritual, history, and international reputation, then we understand the common bond that unites us. Appreciate that we have nearly 100 years as a brotherhood to celebrate, and know that we all benefit from the international reputation of Lambda Chi Alpha.
If we value that membership records should be kept forever and that communications about, by, and for the members are essential, then we must have an international headquarters to keep our records safe. The General Fraternity maintains the vital communication links of the www.crossandcrescent.com, www.lambdachi.org, and the many mailings, newsletters, special gatherings, and meetings carried out each year.
If we value personal connections with others in an increasingly impersonal and mobile society, then we want a strong mentoring program, access to influential and engaged alumni in our communities, and opportunities to interact with brothers of all ages through chapter, regional, and international events.
If we value higher accountability and discipline — not just among 19-year-olds, but to a quality international organization — then we welcome the work of our educational leadership consultants. These traveling staff members have always audited, demanded more, and motivated our chapters to do what is best, not what is easiest. Only through an international fraternity do we bring the discipline inherent in our Constitution and Statutory Code.
If we value broad involvement of alumni to assist chapters enriching the undergraduate fraternal experience, then we understand the need for a central office of administration to be charged with the recruitment, care and education of a corps of High Pis, alumni advisers, and house corporation leaders.
If we value a structure and system that will pick up a chapter when it falls or is weak, or assure the return of “our” chapter to our school if it is ever forced off campus, then the ongoing efforts of the professional staff to grow and re-establish chapters is a core reason for an international fraternity.
If we value the passing of shared ideas from one chapter to another and, more importantly, from one generation to another, then we find a clear mandate for annual international and regional gatherings, and the stimulation of celebrating chapter anniversaries and milestones.
If we value risk management programs and comprehensive liability insurance, then we know that these are only accessible through membership in a large, strong organization. Equally, we value that if a chapter were to stand alone it could quickly be sued out of existence and each alumnus could individually carry great financial liability.
If we value interfraternity involvement and the entire North American fraternity movement, then we know that we must be vigilant about issues that affect all fraternities, but also each fraternity. Through the General Fraternity, the North America Interfraternity Conference, the Fraternity Executives Association, and other united fraternity bodies, this vigilance is assured every day.
Perpetuity
The Educational Founadation values all of the important things covered here and much more related to Lambda Chi Alpha — and we want it all to continue.
The undergraduate experience does not last forever. Yet, through the generosity of alumni giving, the investment of their time in the lives of our undergraduates, and the continuing strength of the International Fraternity, we will perpetuate the existence of the Lambda Chi Alpha experience forever.
