Philanthropies and Human Service

The motto of Acacia Fraternity is “Human Service.” Our Chapter has continually volunteered its time and effort on the St. Cloud State University’s campus. However, within the last year and stemming into the new decade, Acacia is striving to strengthen the ties we have within the community of St. Cloud with a number of philanthropic events. One of the largest events Acacia annually participates in is the event Relay For Life. We have developed our own philanthropy event known as Locked in for Life, which raises funds for the American Diabetes Association. Some

other events in which Acacia Fraternity has been involved include cleaning our adopted highway, bell ringing for the Salvation Army, and publicizing and volunteering for the Polar Bear Plunge.

Locked In For Life

Over the course of cold nights and long days, Acacia Fraternity held its first ever Locked In For Life event in April, 2009 with the support of the Phi Epsilon Alpha Sorority. The funds that were raised were donated to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital out of Memphis Tennessee. The event was held for a total of 72 consecutive hours. Each participant took on one hour shifts in which two members sat in a makeshift jail cell, while the third sat on the outside of the jail accepting donations.

This coming April, “Locked in for Life” symbolizes not only how we are willing to spend a night in jail for those suffering, but how one feels locked inside themselves when they are battling diabetes. We are donating all proceeds to the American Diabetes Association this year. According to the American Diabetes Association’s website, each year 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes.

Relay for Life

Relay for life is a worldwide event run by the American Cancer Society that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events that can be up to 24 hours in length. The Relay at SCSU is usually held on campus in March in the Halenbeck Hall field house.

Salvation Army Bell Ringing

Each year, Acacia volunteers in bell ringing during the month of December. This takes place in the Atwood Memorial Center Mall. This is an incredible opportunity for people to get involved in. After Bell Ringing, the new large event for the winter months that we are helping with is the Polar Bear Plunge.

Highway Clean-Up

Acacia Fraternity adopted a highway which is named the Al Grewe memorial adopted highway. Al Grewe was our previous advisor who passed away after a battle with cancer. He did a great deal for our chapter, so we hold his memory close. Members of Acacia clean our adopted highway every semester.