Philanthropy

North American Food Drive

On November 6, 1993, Lambda Chi Alpha began an international philanthropy project that has raised more than 7.7 million pounds of food for the needy across North America. Called the North American Food Drive, this annual event has become the largest single-day philanthropic project sponsored by a collegiate organization. Its success is so impressive that Lambda Chi Alpha became the first fraternity to receive the Summit Award from the American Society of Association Executives in 1995-an award presented annually to associations and companies nationwide as part of its Associations Advance America Awards Program.

The North American Food Drive not only provides a means for our members to give to the needy, but it serves as an excellent public relations tool. By helping individuals in the community, our image is being improved and the ideals of Lambda Chi Alpha are put into action.

The North American Food Drive touches the lives of more and more community members each year. With an increased effort in helping those who are less fortunate, you will continue to uphold the ideals of the Fraternity for all to see by making a difference for the needy in your community. Every year we challenge ourselves to pass the previous year's total.

Watermelon Fest

The Mississippi State chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha does its part of the North American Food Drive by an event called Watermelon Fest. This huge philanthropic function is one of the largest of its kind on campus. Months of planning goes into the philanthropy. What happens is a member or two of Lambda Chi, usually the vice-president, visits each sorority on campus and asks them to donate canned food. Sound boring? Not a bit. The sororities compete to see who can donate the largest weight of goods as part of a competition that some girls have called "the most fun they've ever had" on campus. The night before the actual competition, Lambda Chi rents out a facility and hires a band to host a free concert/dance for the girls participating. On the day of Watermelon Fest, every freshmen sorority girl on campus marches to the house, painted up and chanting, to participate in races, a volleyball tournament, a Watermelon Queen pageant, and so much more. Messy and fun, Watermelon Fest has been a success for years, and we have the amazing girls of each sorority to thank for their spirit and generosity. The sorority who does the best overall in donating cans and competing wins the Watermelon Fest trophy for a year.

Mississippi Adopt-a-Highway

Lambda Chi has adopted a stretch of highway 25, just south of Starkville. Twice a semester we get together and clean up this section of road.