by Leah C. Sahagun
Staff Writer
The University of La Verne Phi Delta Theta chapter, among many others, has recently won the Improvement Citation award from its International Headquarters, located in Oxford, Ohio.
“Headquarters takes a look at everything such as business, social events, paperwork being turned in on time, and the general growth of the chapter,” said President of Phi Delta Theta, senior Grant Schmidt.
“There are three awards that are given out by International, the gold and silver star, and most improved,” said junior Philanthropy Chair Manny Escalante.
Last year, the ULV chapter won the Community Service award for its work on re-starting the highway clean-up and for participating in the graduation ceremony for the Joan Macy Program for Girls.
New for this year is Project Blue Unity. Each chapter will work on adopting a hospital and removing the ceiling tiles and painting them. This way patients will have something other than white panels to look at.
The ULV chapter is looking to adopt either Pomona Valley Hospital or the City of Hope in Duarte.
“This project is expensive. Depending on volunteer painters, it costs between $8,000 to $12,000. Through fund raising and corporate sponsors we should be able to raise it,” said Escalante.
Together with these philanthropy projects, Phi Delta Theta is also working with the Pomona Valley Inland Council of Churches to run a canned food drive to donate to homeless shelters in surrounding areas.
The chapter also donates money to the Lou Gehrig’s Disease Foundation to assist in the study for a cure.
Besides international recognition, Phi Delta Theta members collectively have the second highest G.P.A. among the Greek organizations at the University of La Verne.
