Galloway, NJ –  For about one week each year Stockton’s 30 Greek organizations get together to compete in friendly games and socialize.

But the games also have a purpose, to promote the John R. Elliot HERO Campaign. The dual goal of socializing and serving the community are an integral part of Greek life.

 “The goal of these events is to have a week to unite the community,” said Nicholas Persia, the Graduate Coordinator for the Office of Student Development. “This is a big community, and we take this time every year to celebrate Greek unity.”

Stockton’s 2019 Greek Week, held April 1-11, includes a variety of events ranging from educational speakers to the HERO games.

“I think it’s fun getting everyone together,” said Miranda Turner, a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. “Not everyone can get together all the time, so this week is the perfect opportunity to bond.”

The 10^th annual HERO Games promoted designated driving and the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign. The day included multiple events for friendly-competition, such as an egg toss, relay race, tug of war competition and a football throwing contest.

The HERO Games also allowed members to sign the HERO pledge against drinking and driving and to use a designated driver. The HERO campaign was founded in memory of John R. Elliott who was killed in 2000 in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. The Elliott family started the campaign that partners with high schools and universities to promote designated driving.

Greek Week at Stockton also consists of multiple fundraising opportunities. There is a Can Wars event that allows every organization to build a display made of the canned goods they supply. Afterwards, everything gets donated to the Stockton Student Food Bank.

There was also a Chipotle fundraiser held on April 10, where all proceeds were donated to Books Without Boarders. BWB is a Stockton club, where members donate learning materials like computer equipment and books to areas like Zimbabwe.

Greek life on Stockton’s campus is always working hard to raise money for many different causes.Joe Thompson, assistant director of Student Development said Greek organizations have raised over a quarter million dollars for different charities over the last five years.

Some examples from this year include:

• Delta Delta Delta raised $22,000 for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital last year. At their most recent event on March 31 they raised $2,300.
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon recently held a Mental Health Awareness walk on campus and raised about $4,500 out of their $5,000 goal.
• Sigma Delta Tau partnered with Sigma Alpha Epsilon for their first fundraiser on Stockton’s campus, raising $500 for the Mom’s Club of Absecon.
• Delta Phi Epsilon this past year has raised $3,000 for the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, $4,500 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and $2,825 for the Delta Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation.
• Kappa Sigma raised $14,130 at their 17^th annual Polar Plunge event on March 3.
• Stockton's Tri-Sigma chapter   received a grant to purchase 29 Nurture Smart Mobiles for the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at the Hackensack Meridian Health K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital in Neptune, NJ.

When asked what Greek Week means to him, John Coriasco, a member of Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity Inc., said: “Three words: inclusion, community and friendship. Everyone can really benefit from this experience and take the time to get to know the people around them.”

View a gallery of photos of the event.

_ Reported by Julia Sus

                                                                                   #               #               #

Contact:
Diane D’Amico
Director of News and Media Relations
Stockton University
Galloway, N.J. 08205
Diane.DAmico@stockton.edu
609-652-4593
609-412-8069
stockton.edu/media