4:57 p.m., June 11, 2008--The Greek Council at the University of Delaware raised a record $19,000 during Greek Week from April 21-26 and donated the money to Emmaus House, a Newark, Del., charity that restabilizes homeless families, and UD's Early Learning Center (ELC).

This year's Greek Week, which was held in the Bob Carpenter Sports/Convocation Center, drew more than 6,000 participants and surpassed the amount of money raised last year,

“We're really excited,” Nancy Berry, executive director of Homeward Bound Inc., which runs Emmaus House, said when she received a check for $9,000 from Greek Council representatives on May 29. “Operating funds are really hard to come by. We spend a lot of time writing applications for funds, so this is really a joyous event. We really appreciate the students thinking of us.”

On hand to present the check were Dave Tully, a graduating senior political science and international relations major and immediate past president of the Greek Council; Chris Peto, a junior marketing management major and new president of the Greek Council; and Katie Saya, a junior psychology major and recruitment chairperson for the Panhellenic Council; and Francois Chaubard, a sophomore mechanical engineering major and vice president of public relations for the Greek Council, which brings together all fraternities and sororities.

The students were accompanied by Matt Lenno, assistant director of student centers and adviser to fraternity and sorority life, and Mike Yancey, multicultural and special interest Greek coordinator.

Berry said that in addition to the cash donation, Emmaus House also benefits from the services of about 150 volunteers from different UD Greek organizations throughout the academic year.

The next stop was ELC, where the group mingled with children and presented a $10,000 check to Peg Bradley, ELC director and instructor of individual and family studies.

“Once again we thank the Greek community for being so generous with the time and talents; it's not just the donation,” Bradley said. “I want to thank the volunteers from fraternities and sororities who gave of their spare time to work with the kids and for their help in keeping this place, especially the playground, in good shape. We sincerely appreciate their help. They have been wonderful to us and the children and their families have really benefited from that generosity.”

Now in its fourth year of service to children ages 6 weeks to 12 years, the center provides full-day, year-round services for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, before- and after-school care, a full-day summer camp program and a kindergarten program for older children, Bradley said.

The center, which opened in June 2004, with a commitment to serve a diverse population including children living in poverty, those with a diagnosed disability and children in foster care, also provides research and clinical opportunities to students in majors such as early childhood education, physical therapy and psychology.

Classrooms in the state-of-the-art facility are outfitted with the latest observation equipment so that students and researchers can study the children as they learn and play.

Article by Martin Mbugua
Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson