HAMPTON, Va. – In an effort to support the continued growth of their alma mater, one group of brothers from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. is working to make alumni giving a key component of their Homecoming Weekend celebration and is encouraging others to do the same.
William Parrish ’89 says he and his line (spring 87) work each year to mobilize around activities each Homecoming to benefit others in some way. This year, however, they wanted to do something special, as part of their 30th line anniversary.
“Our specific gift was planned as part of our desire to give back to the University as we celebrated our 30th line anniversary (Hostage Crisis 12 Spr. 87), said Parrish. “It was also us growing tired of seeing so many groups come back to HU at Homecoming to celebrate with custom sweaters and big parties, but nothing going back to the University or even their organizations still on campus.”
Parrish says he and his line know that, sometimes, it can be difficult for students to return to school, due to financial reasons. To help bridge the gap, the group started a GoFundMe page to raise donations for a scholarship fund that would benefit current students who are members of the Gamma Epsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. at Hampton. In addition, the group used proceeds from their chapter’s 70th anniversary t-shirt sales to add to their total Homecoming gift.
In total, a check for $8,700 was given on behalf of the Gamma Epsilon Endowed Scholarship at Hampton on Homecoming Weekend. Parrish says the endeavor was a group effort led by his line, but was only made possible through the support of the entire Gamma Epsilon Chapter. The chapter plans to make the effort an annual campaign and hopes others will plan similar events.
“While we finance a big party [and] tailgate, and support large alumni gatherings for fun, we also wanted to create a sustainable event that would support the Chapter, long after we left Homecoming, Parrish explained. “It’s so important for you to reach back once you’ve attained a certain level and ‘crossed the bridge’ to ‘build a bridge’ so others can get across also. We are hoping to start a trend with others and think it would be great if all of the Pan-Hellenic council adopted our idea.”
During this year’s Homecoming celebration, Parrish and his line also participated in an American Heart Association Walk from Emancipation Oak to their chapters Tree located beside the University Museum, to honor the life of their line president, Llewelyn Radford. Parrish says the planned walk was “the culmination of our annual 500-mile challenge, where chapter members have a four to six-week competition of running at least 50 miles each, leading up to Homecoming.”
Parrish says giving back financially, in any way, is a responsibility of any alumni and encourages Hamptonians to make a mindful effort to ensure Hampton’s continued growth and stability.
“It’s critically important to give back at any level, all the time, especially Homecoming. We love each other, [and] have made bonds that will last forever, but we really need to be conscious of giving back, at any level, to ensure the sustainability of our institutions and the value of our degrees.”
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