Pi Kappa Phi Distributes Hand Sanitizer Across City
October 29, 2020
Solid Gold Neighbor: Health
by Holly Burchett, Assistant Director, Community Relations
Many organizations have worked to support those in need during COVID-19. When a generous donation was provided from Baylor Scott & White to the men of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity at Baylor University, they worked diligently to create a distribution plan to provide a much needed home for 21,600 bottles of individual hand sanitizer across our city. The primary focus of their distribution efforts was connecting to the city’s local non-profits and communities of faith so that each organization could then distribute them to the people and families that they serve.
When asked why they took on such a magnificent effort, Chakkrin Ngamsomjan, Pi Kappa Phi’s Community Service Chair, explained, “Pi Kappa Phi is an organization that has nearly 200 chapters nationwide. The Theta Kappa Chapter at Baylor has been in existence for 15 years. Pi Kappa Phi is the only national fraternity that has its own philanthropy, The Ability Experience, which helps children with mental and physical disabilities. In the Waco community, Theta Kappa has been involved in Special Olympics, American Cancer Society (helping with Cattle Barron’s Ball), sponsoring blood drives for the American Red Cross and Carter Blood Center. This chapter always tries to help when there is a need and COVID-19 has brought us to this understanding of the need for sanitizer this year.”
Distribution efforts is not something that this group of men is unfamiliar with, annually they work to fundraise over $25,000 to support various organizations that impact children with physical and mental difference. Most recently expenses associated with uniforms and travel cost for the state meet for the Special Olympics was an opportunity that they were proud to support.
Dr. Randy Wood, Pi Kappa Phi’s Faculty Advisor at Baylor University, shared “In an age when all the news reports seem to focus on the negative aspects of College Fraternity/Sorority life, we want to be a beacon of light that shows the positive contributions that Greek Life can contribute to the community. This opportunity to provide 21,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to Baylor and the Waco Community is an opportunity to show our area and the nation that there still are young men who are concerned and willing to put the time, energy, and effort into helping others.”