In October, more than 50 members of Chapman’s Gamma Phi Beta sorority turned out to support Love Orange Day, an annual day of service that brings businesses, families and individuals together to give back to the community.

“Events like this align perfectly with our organization’s focus on philanthropic spirit and community service,” says Kassandra Sopko ’22, a strategic and corporate communications major and president of Chapman’s Gamma Phi Beta chapter. “We saw this as an incredible opportunity to partner with Orange to show our support as members of the Chapman community.”

Gamma Phi Beta members participated in various community service activities throughout the day, including volunteering with the TLC Public Charter School Mural Project, the Youth Centers of Orange Fun Run and organizing the Full Circle Meaningful Marketplace donations, the Nature Center Winter Preparation Project, preparing meals for homeless neighbors with Mary’s Kitchen, and being a part of the Love Orange Kick-Off Team.

“Everyone was genuinely excited to participate, and many members expressed that they will be continuing to volunteer with the organizations in the future,” says Sopko. Members shared photos and videos throughout the day representing Gamma Phi Beta and Chapman to the community.

Philanthropic spirit and community service are important areas of focus within Gamma Phi Beta; the sorority requires hours of service as a standard of membership. Along with local service projects, the sorority hosts two large-scale philanthropic events each year with proceeds benefiting two local nonprofits, Girls on the Run of Orange County and Camp del Corazon. October’s “Airbands” event raised more than $81,000 to support these nonprofit organizations.

“To give back to the Orange and Chapman communities in such a way is an incredible honor,” says Sopko, “a sentiment shared amongst all chapters of our Greek Life community.”