With collegiate and alumnae members across the country, Alpha Xi Delta has the womanpower to make a meaningful, lasting impact on the lives of children in our communities – especially children with autism. The number of children diagnosed with autism is growing. In fact, 67 are diagnosed with autism each day. To help raise awareness and research dollars for this disorder, Alpha Xi Delta partnered with the nation’s preeminent autism awareness organization, Autism Speaks.
On April 2, 2009, we announced our partnership with Autism Speaks. Check out the video below from The Today Show. Since that day, Alpha Xi Deltas have raised almost $300,000 for Autism Speaks!
Sisters support Autism Speaks by directing their fundraising and volunteer efforts toward this organization. For example, all Alpha Xi Deltas are encouraged to take part in a Walk Now for Autism Speaks event in their area. This 5K family walk and community resource fair increases people’s awareness of autism and raises money for autism prevention, treatment and a possible cure. Our WKU colony will have the opportunity to volunteer with the Nashville Walk Now for Autism Speaks event, which is usually held in early September.
Our signature campus fundraising event, the AmaXIng Challenge, gives collegiate members a creative way to raise money and awareness on their campuses. Chapters are provided complete event templates for a variety of AmaXIng Challenge event ideas, and they are encouraged to select the event that will fit their campus and community best. AmaXIng Challenge Successes:
- Alpha Xi Deltas across the state of Alabama recently raised nearly $50,000 for Autism Speaks by holding Step It Up events at Jacksonville State University, Auburn University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Check out photos from this event!
- Sisters at Central Florida raised more than $9,000 during their chapter's annual Xi Man competition, a pageant where fraternity men compete to be "Xi best man" on campus.
- Sisters at the University of Toledo raised nearly $1,250 during the AmaXIng Challenge Football FrenXI tournament held at the UT stadium.
