The 2008-2009 school year saw Gamma Upsilon very involved in community service and philanthropic events.  It started with Homecoming.  The chapter was involved with Skunk River Navy, a service project to clean up the Skunk River.  Also, every member participated in the semi-annual campus blood drive and Blue Sky Day 5k run/walk.  The chapter and its Homecoming pairing, consisting of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity, took 3rd place for Community Service.

        As the fall semester drove on, Gamma Upsilon got in the Christmas Spirit.  We organized an opportunity for local children to see Santa Claus and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.  The event took place at the Boys & Girls Club of Story County.  Hy-Vee also helped with a generous donation of cookies and hot chocolate for the children and families to enjoy.  It was a fairly successful event with approximately 50 families coming.

        With the start of the Spring ’09 semester brought the largest annual campus philanthropy, Dance Marathon.  It is a 15-hour long event benefiting the Iowa Miracle Network.  We had 11 brothers participate and one of which was on the Operations Committee.  As a chapter we raised over $2000 for the Iowa Miracle Network.  The brothers that participated really enjoyed the event and we know that the turnout will be even bigger next year.

        Greek Week 2009 brought about even more community service.  As part of the competition, brothers collected cans and bottles for the annual can drive.  Also, brothers volunteered an afternoon to help clean up the campus in preparation for Veishea.  The brothers also had near 100% participation in the semi-annual campus blood drive.  There are two other major events which the chapter participated in for Greek Week: Relay for Life and Polar Bear Plunge.  Relay for Life is a 12-hour event for the American Cancer Society.  Over 20 brothers participated and raised several hundred dollars for the event.  The chapter also had 100% participation for Polar Bear Plunge, raising over $8000.  The event is a fundraiser for the Special Olympics of Iowa.  It is called Polar Bear Plunge because the participants jump into Lake Laverne in early April.  The brothers then participated in the annual sprint home to warm up.

          Towards the end of the semester, the chapter started gearing up for its signature philanthropy, Stick Fest, benefitting Mothers Against Drunk Driving.  The event, boasting all the food on a stick you could ever want to eat, was immensely successful.  With over 350 people in attendance and 12 Greek houses cancelling their regularly scheduled meal to come eat at our philanthropy, we raised over $3300 for MADD.  This year was the second time we have done Stick Fest, which replaced Discin’ for DP, a disc golf tournament.  DP, which stands for Dan Peterson, is a brother of the house who was killed by a drunk driver; this is why we donate to MADD for our spring philanthropy.  Discin’ for DP has evolved into a community service project and brotherhood event, taking place every year before the start of school.