Greeks complete $500,000 pledge to Cancer Institute

They approached it one week at a time, and after six years, the Greeks achieved their… They approached it one week at a time, and after six years, the Greeks achieved their goal.

The University’s fraternity and sorority members celebrated the completion of their $500,000 pledge to the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Thursday night at the O’Hara Student Center Ballroom.

“Tonight, we celebrate the fact that you did it,” Chancellor Mark Nordenberg said to about 100 Greeks crowded into the Ballroom.

In 2005, the Greeks signed a contract with UPCI to raise $500,000 to go toward a lung and thoracic cancer research laboratory in Pittsburgh.

The donation is the largest gift commitment from any organization on campus and the largest donation UPCI has ever received.

Greek Week co-presidents Kari Rosenkaimer and Keaton Macut presented a large check to Dr. Edward Chu, chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology and deputy director of the UPCI, and Dr. Jill Siegfried, a professor in the department of pharmacology and chemical biology and UPMC endowed chair for lung cancer research.

Originally, the Greeks planned to fulfill the contract in five years. But after a snowstorm caused the cancellation of the Pitt Dance Marathon two years ago — one of the biggest fundraisers for the cause — the group completed the pledge in six years.

“We worked to create fun and engaging events to raise money for UPCI,” Rosenkaimer said.

The Greek Week events included Greek Sing, the Pitt Dance Marathon, Greek Olympiad, Greek God and Goddess, Greek Jeopardy and the Big Blue Ball. Individual fraternities and sororities held smaller fundraiser events throughout the year, such as pie-a-thons, bike-a-thons, 5K races, bake sales and galas.

Pitt Greek Week is a fundraising body organized by leaders from the different fraternities and sororities. The events that make up Greek Week take place year-round to raise money and awareness for different philanthropic organizations.

“The passion that you displayed has inspired our scientists to work harder,” Chu said.