Learn how you can support community programs in Northern Hillsborough & Pasco Counties
TAMPA, Fla. (June 4, 2023) — Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ®, Alpha Alpha Theta Omega Chapter (AATO) is excited to announce the launch of its 3rd annual Pay It Forward Fundraiser! Each year, the chapter seeks to pay it forward, to YOU!
Initiated in 2021 during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the chapter needed to find a safe and efficient way to continue supporting and engaging with the local community.
The virtual fundraiser, hosted on the GiveButter platform encouraged a competitive, yet sisterly spirit amongst the members as they pushed to earn bragging rights by meeting the fundraising goal for the year. Not only were AATO's chapter members called to action, but family, friends, and sorority members across the country were mobilized to support the fundraiser. That year, $19,219 was raised by 677 supporters to fund local programs. Out of those supporters, 3 lucky winners were selected for $750, $500, and $250 cash prizes. The following year, the chapter decided to kick it up a notch by offering a $2,000 Louis Vuitton gift card and higher cash prizes of $1,000 and $500. 445 supporters brought in $17,643, fueling continued efforts to engage, educate, and provide opportunities for advancement in the Northern Hillsborough and Pasco county areas.
Community Programs
Every four years, the members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ® are given new initiatives to focus their efforts in order to maximize their outreach and improve the lives of those they serve. The 2022 - 2026 initiatives, spearheaded by International President and Chief Executive Officer Danette Anthony Reed's Soaring to Greater Heights of Service and Sisterhood Administration are as follows:
Empower Our Families
Areas of focus include the Childhood Hunger Initiative Power Pack (CHIPP) [which provides weekend and holiday meals for children within the local community], Youth Leadership Institute (YLI), Mental Health Awareness, and Our Seniors.
Build Our Economic Wealth
Areas of focus include Financial Wellness & Planned Giving, Supporting Women Entrepreneurs, Sister Circles [fiscal accountability groups], Black Dollar Days [supporting Black-owned businesses], and establishing the For Members Only Credit Union [the first Black-owned, woman-led, sorority-based, digital banking finance institution].
Enhance Our Environment
Areas of focus include Tree Planting, Community and Home Gardens, Waste Reduction, and Shredding/Electronics Recycling Days.
Advocate for Social Justice
Areas of focus include Voter Education, Registration, and Mobilization, Public Policy Forums, Candidate Forums, and Public Servant's Guides.
Uplift Our Local Community
This initiative allows freedom within the framework to meet the unique needs of the community where the chapter is based.
With use of funds from previous raffles, Alpha Alpha Theta Omega has been consistently providing Power Packs to children who attend the Lewis Abraham Boys & Girls Clubs of Lacoochee in Dade, City, Pasco County. Additionally, AATO has been able to hold wide reaching events such as a hybrid 2023 Legislative Update & Community Forum to inform voters on upcoming legislation as well as "She Looks Like Me!," a community movie premier of the "Little Mermaid", book giveaway, and discussion on media representation.
2023 Pay It Forward Fundraiser
The fundraiser runs from June 4 - June 24, 2023, with a live raffle drawing on AATO's FaceBook Live on June 25, 2023 at 5:30 PM EST.
Tickets
Each $5 Raffle Ticket counts as one entry to win $1,000 or $500.
Each $25 Raffle Ticket counts as one entry to win a $2,000 Gucci gift card.
You may purchase an unlimited number of tickets to increase your chances of winning.
How You Can Support
Consider your expenses over the course of a given week. You might grab a coffee or a lunch that could easily range from $5 to $25. Now imagine what would happen if that $5 or $25 was compounded with other donations to educate voters, highlight the importance of mental health, and provide meals for a child who wouldn't otherwise have access to food outside of school lunches. Our call to action for you today, is to join the FUNdraiser: https://givebutter.com/aato_payitforward2023.
Please contact the Fundraising Committee at aatoakaf@gmail.com with any questions.
About Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA) is an international service organization founded in 1908 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American, college-educated women.
Alpha Kappa Alpha comprises over 350,000 members in 1,061 graduate and undergraduate chapters in the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Dubai, Germany, Japan, Liberia, South Africa and South Korea. Led by International President and CEO Danette Anthony Reed, Alpha Kappa Alpha is often hailed as “America’s premier Greek-letter organization for African American women.”
For more information on Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and its programs, visit www.aka1908.com
About Alpha Alpha Theta Omega Chapter
Chartered on June 30, 2018, we are eager to expand the Alpha Kappa Alpha brand through meaningful program initiatives and partnerships that ensure significant sustainability and impact in our communities.
For more information, visit https://www.aatoaka.com/history
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