Fraternities and sororities perform some type of public service and each chapter has a philanthropy or cause they primarily focus on.

Delta Zeta sorority is active in raising money for Gallaudet University, the world’s premier hearing-impaired university.

Chi Sigma Tau was able to raise more than $150 at a concert in February and was so pleased at the success of the first concert it would like to make it an annual event, said Chris Morales, vice president of the Asian-interest fraternity Chi Sigmau Tau.

“Tsunami relief was an issue that hit kind of close to home because a lot of our members come from Thailand,” Morales said. “We had been planning a benefit concert for organ donors, but when the tsunami relief issue came up we just switched over to that.”

Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority holds an annual Halloween event for children from local schools and performs day care at the Latino Resource Center on campus. It also hosts the annual Ms. Latina NIU competition; the winner is responsible for representing the Latino community and performing various acts of public service. Sigma Lambda Gamma’s annual barbecue collects donations for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Members also regularly volunteer at Hope Haven, DeKalb’s homeless shelter.

Gamma Phi Omega sorority sponsors the Diabetes Association walk, volunteers at local retirement homes every other week and sends gifts and sponsorship money to a child in Ecuador, said senior human resources major Elvia Garcia.

Some fraternities focus almost exclusively on public service. Alpha Phi Omega is a co-ed service fraternity on campus said Brian White, a senior math major.