A basic tenet of the panhellenic society is service, a word that many members of the Greek community take seriously from their college years to beyond. As many insinuate service to be directly correlated with labor, sisterhoods such as Phi Mu Women’s Fraternity at Grand Valley State University know how to turn philanthropic opportunities into fun, beneficial events that give back to the community in more ways than one.

On Nov. 2, members of the Rho Eta Chapter of Phi Mu Fraternity will host a Miles for Miracles 5K which will donate all proceeds to the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital that Phi Mu supports.

“Phi Mu’s national philanthropy, that all collegiate and alumnae chapters support, is Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” said Nicole McDermott, Phi Mu’s philanthropy chairman who is also in charge of organizing the event. “We are lucky enough that as a chapter, we have a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in the Grand Rapids area…It’s amazing and rewarding to get to locally see the benefits of our hard work.”

Kortney Ondayko, a member of Phi Mu Rho Eta, said she has learned a lot about what it takes to be involved in philanthropic events. The impact on the Helen DeVos Hospital from the chapter’s hard work and money raised is a perk in itself, and is what drives Ondayko to participate in charity work.

“Putting aside the logistics of throwing a philanthropy event, I feel as though I have gained a greater knowledge on the importance of the work Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals does,” Ondayko said. “This is a first annual event and we have already gained so much support from the community here at GVSU and beyond. It has shown me that nothing is impossible when a group of women are passionate about a cause.”

Lending a helping hand to the community is one of the sorority’s underlying principles, and with a variety of events that could have been hosted, McDermott said a 5K event was one of the more perfect fits for the Rho Eta Chapter.

“We’ve had many girls run half marathons, marathons as well as 5Ks too, so this seemed like an excellent fit for our chapter,” she said. “At events like 5Ks and half marathons, there is always a certain air of excitement. I hope that the girls will experience that and realize that they are a part of something that is so much bigger than themselves.”

During last year’s charitable event, a 12-hour dance marathon at Allendale Middle School, Phi Mu was able to surpass their $10,000 goal. Their donation goal remains the same for this year, and as of Wednesday, they have so far raised 62 percent of it at $6,248.

“We would love to raise over $10,000,” McDermott said. “Since this a first-time event, I feel that that goal is very realistic and attainable.”

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, as Phi Mu’s philanthropy, not only unites the sisterhood under a common goal of working for a great cause, but the sisters hope that the 5K event will show the community how important it is to give back and help those in need.

“Everyone either has a sibling, child or knows a young kid and because of that, everyone can identify with the horror of children in pain,” Ondayko said. “Being even a little part in eliminating that pain for a child and their family is why I am participating in Miles for Miracles.”

The Miles for Miracles 5K begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday at Johnson Park in Walker. For those interested in joining, prospective participants can register online as well as create a personal fundraising page to track fundraising efforts and monitor progress.

To register and to find more information on the Miles for Miracles 5K, visit
http://www.helpmakemiracles.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=1975.