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Alpha Xi Delta’s new philanthropy fundraiser took place Friday evening. The sorority hosted a build-a-stuffed-animal experience to raise money for children and teens experiencing foster care and homelessness.
Kara Almquist, Alpha Xi Delta’s vice president of philanthropy, organized the occasion for Compass, the nonprofit organization for which the event was raising money.
“Compass supports children and teens experiencing foster care, and their purpose is to support those individuals as well as families experiencing crisis,” Almquist said. “I am very passionate about our philanthropy from that standpoint and getting to help my community. All of our money is going to a really good organization, and I feel good about giving back to our own community.”
The event was called “Build a Betxi” in honor of Alpha Xi Delta’s teddy bear mascot. The experience was part of a larger annual philanthropic effort taking place in November known as the Letters of Love national fundraising campaign.
This is the third year that Alpha Xi Delta has collaborated with Compass.
“Compass does really amazing things in the Kearney community and they work directly with the families and the kids experiencing foster care and homelessness, which is our national focus,” said Abby Mieras, president of Alpha Xi Delta. “They come to our events, we get to go to their foster parent nights out and we get to interact directly with the people that we are helping which is a really special thing about Compass. We wanted to do our spin on LPAC’s already successful stuffed animal event and do it to support Compass.”
Through Alpha Xi Delta’s philanthropic focus, sorority members get to collaborate with nonprofit organizations to serve children and teenagers in vulnerable positions.
“One of our pillars is service. We always hope that our sisters go throughout their lives with a mind of service,” Mieras said. “We want to focus our efforts in bettering our community, which is our big overarching goal. We hope that students get an appreciation for what we do as an organization but obviously the biggest takeaway should be Compass, and what they do for our community.”
Compass has been serving Nebraska’s kids and families since 2007. They recruit, license and train foster families supporting them and the kids placed in their homes.
“Alpha Xi Delta really loves the message and mission that we have,” said Kelley Mast, director of family services for Compass. “People having a greater understanding that right here, right next door, there are families who are really struggling is very important. There are kids that have been removed from their parents and placed into foster care and need help, support and comfort.”
Besides bringing awareness, the event was key in raising funds for some of the things that Compass’s partnership with the state of Nebraska does not cover.
“Oftentimes it is really easy to push far away families that are struggling or people in need,” Mast said. “We usually think this is happening in bigger cities or other parts of the world, and I think an event like this helps (us) understand how close to us these issues are. People realizing that there is help needed right here in our community and stepping outside of our own little bubble to do so is made possible through an event like this.”
