House that Greeks Built preps home
The organization needs an additional $3,000 to reach its goal.
Published Feb. 6, 2007
When thinking about the Greek community, many people think about houses, mostly the houses where one chapter of a sorority or fraternity live. But in March, one group of Greeks will come together to build a very different house.
According to a news release, House that Greeks Built is a student organization that has raised $37,000 in two years to build a house for Show-Me Central Habit for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity has chosen a family relocating to Columbia because of Hurricane Katrina to live in the house. More than $40,000 is needed to fund the house, but the organization's directors said they are confident they can raise the additional funds in the interim.
To raise the money, the organization plans to sell T-shirts to participants, have people decorate 2-by-4s that will be used on the house for a sponsorship cost and solicit donations in downtown Columbia. Danny Collins, tri-director for House That Greeks Built, said his goal is to raise excess money to save some for the building of another house in the future.
"We definitely will rise to the challenge," Panhellenic Association spokeswoman Julia Hornaday said about raising the additional $3,000.
The organization's tri-directors said they hope that the organization will build a house for Habit for Humanity every year. But the tri-directors, Monika Lusiak, Cally Miyat and Collins, are all seniors, so the organization's future will be in the hands of whomever they appoint.
"I feel pretty good about it," Collins said of the organization's future.
Miyat said she is also confident about the future.
"We're hoping that people take over and that this will be a continual thing," she said.
Collins said he was confident that the building of the house would lead many members of the Greek community to get involved.
"I think there will be a lot more buzz and excitement," he said.
As for the future of the organization's sponsorships, Miyat said it is uncertain.
Soon, members of the Greek community will begin signing up for building shifts on the organization's Web site. The tri-directors said they have had successful trials with the online system and are confident it will run well.
"We think it's going to work very smoothly," Miyat said. "We shouldn't have a problem."
Interfraternity Council spokesman Jeffrey Beeson said giving the family affected by Hurricane Katrina a new home will not be the only positive aspect of the project. He said he thinks the project will foster unity among the Greek community.
"I think this is probably one of the best projects we have to promote unity because it's something that everybody can participate in," he said.
Hornaday said House That Greeks Built embodies one of the four core values of the entire Greek community: service.
Beeson said that bigger chapters can sometimes dominate other inter-chapter events, such as Homecoming and Greek Week, but everyone can feel equally involved in the building regardless of what chapter he or she is from or what council their chapter is a part of.
Beeson said House That Greeks Built has a rare distinction of being an event that generates no complaints, not even over small matters.
"I think everyone's excited about it, so I expect a big turnout," he said.