2025 Best Philanthropy Event/Initiative Award
Each chapter gets two (2) votes, the Chapter Advisor and the Venerable Dean.
Kansas State Chapter (Kansas State University)
Event Name: Cake Wars
Event/Initiative Start Date: 4/1/2025
Event/Initiative End Date: 4/1/2025
Purpose of Event: The purpose of this event was to raise money for the Jimmy V cancer research and Pogo's fund for Timber Creek Vet
Event Description: All active members of Acacia collaborated with Delta Chi fraternity to host a joint philanthropy. We hosted a cake decorating contest, participants included K State students. We had eight team of four compete for prize money. The event lasted 3 hours in the evening.
How Much Was Raised? $564
Ohio Chapter (Ohio University)
Event Name: 5cacia
Event Date: 4/5/2025
Purpose of Event: Raise funds for the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer
Event Description: 5cacia: The Mission
The Ohio Chapter of Acacia is proud to announce our 16th Annual 5cacia: A 5K for pancreatic cancer that was held on Saturday, April 6th, 2024 at 1 pm at West State Street Park in Athens, Ohio.
Over the last 15 years, we have collectively raised over $230,000 for the Lustgarten Foundation to support Pancreatic Cancer Research in honor of Alumni Brother Justin Baldinger’s Grandmother who passed of the cancer in 2008.
The 5cacia continues to be Ohio University's largest Greek philanthropy. In 2014 and 2018, 5cacia was recognized by Ohio's Sorority & Fraternity Life Office as the Greek community's most "Outstanding Philanthropic Event". In 2023 the 5k was recognized as the event with the Most philanthropy Dollars Raised5cacia is now ran during Ohio University's Mom's Week and is listed on OU's website as an official mom's weekend event.
5cacia gives the most awards in Athens County for a 5K run. Categories of winners of the event include mother/son, male and female college student, Acacian Alumnus, walker, and ten other recipients.
This year over 110 runners/walkers participated.
How Much Was Raised? Over $10,000
Additional Comments: 5cacia is now in its 18th years and has raised nearly $400,000 for the Lustgarten Foundation.
Penn State Chapter (Penn State University)
Event Name: THON
Event/Initiative Start Date: 2/21/2025
Event/Initiative End Date: 2/23/2025
Purpose of Event: Raise money for kids with childhood cancer
Event Description: The whole chapter participated, the event is 46 hours of constant standing.
How Much Was Raised? $427,861.13
Additional Comments: Our organization was second out of all active organizations.
Texas Chapter (University of Texas at Austin)
Event Name: Easter Egg Day Acacia x SAFE Alliance
Event/Initiative Start Date: 4/7/2025
Event/Initiative End Date: 4/15/2025
Purpose of Event: Raise money to buy supplies for an easter egg day event at the SAFE Alliance grove place for foster children.
Event Description: The brothers first set up a shift sheet so the table would have two greeters and one money person at a time. Every brother signed up for shifts over many days. A table was setup on main campus with a mini hoop setup on the side. The idea to get people donate was to donate $2 for 2 shots. People essentially took 2 shots on the mini basketball hoop, and if they scored they would be entered in a raffle to win one of two giftcards. We also for one day partnered with a local pizza store for a profit share where a portion of their sale would go to our cause if the person mentioned our name at the counter.
How Much Was Raised? $550
Wisconsin Chapter (University of Wisconsin–Madison)
Event Name: Philo Week
Event/Initiative Start Date: 4/6/2025
Event/Initiative End Date: 4/10/2025
Purpose of Event: The purpose was to focus a week on raising money to support men’s mental health.
Event Description: Nearly the whole chapter participated. Ranged from a restaurant fundraiser, Pie an Acacian to a dunk tank.
How Much Was Raised? $700
Additional Comments: This initiative was utilized to try and target the type of things that members would be interested in doing and by doing so be able to fundraise through these methods.