Greek leaders hope to raise more money for Rise
Scholarship to be endowed with $25,000
By David Dunai
Staff Reporter

Members of the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils are already discussing the possibility of another joint fundraiser for TCU’s Rise School, based on the overwhelming success of last semester’s efforts, which raised $25,000 in 45 days, said Brian Perkins, director of IFC.

After realizing how beneficial their donation will be to children and families at the Rise School, an early intervention preschool for children ages 18 months to 5 years old with Down syndrome, IFC and Panhellenic would like to raise another $25,000 this semester, Perkins said. He said the money donated in the fall semester was used to create the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council Endowed Scholarship Fund for the Rise School. The first $1,250 scholarship will be granted in fall 2002.

David Dunai/STAFF REPORTER Aaron Munoz, a junior computer science and Spanish major, helps Kailey Hernandez at the Rise School. Munoz and his fraternity Pi Kappa Phi volunteer to raise money for the preschool for young children with Down syndrome.

Perkins said the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, who has adopted the Rise School as its philanthropy, first suggested IFC support the school.

The councils agreed to support the project because many Greeks volunteer at the Rise School, Perkins said.

Perkins said the councils also realized the financial pressure families face if they want their children to attend the Rise School.Kathleen Cooter, director of laboratory schools, said the annual cost of attending the Rise School is $8,000, $2,500 more than the annual cost for Starpoint School, a regular private elementary school. The extra cost covers special features like speech therapy that are part of educating disabled children, she said.

Cooter said the interest of the endowment would serve as a scholarship for children to attend Rise School. The $1,000 scholarship would be granted based on financial need of the applicants, she said.

After Pi Kappa Phi encouraged IFC to set up an endowment, every chapter agreed to raise at least $1,000 by early December, Perkins said. He said that sororities and fraternities did a variety of projects from yard sales to car washing in order to raise the money.

“I was astonished by the energy and leadership members of IFC and PHC presented during the fundraising,” Cooter said.

Cooter said the compassionate effort during the fundraising resulted in an increase in voluntary involvement at the Rise School. Students have the chance to achieve a personal view on child development by helping at Rise School, she said.

David Dunai
d.r.dunai@student.tcu.edu

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