This article has been posted with written permission from Melissa Brown a reporter at al.com.
Alabama, Auburn fraternity chapters competing to raise money for USO
By Melissa Brown/ mbrown@al.com
Want your own chance to influence the state's storied Alabama/Auburn rivalry? You can participate in Theta Chi's USO Text to Donate campaign in honor of your favorite team.
The Theta Chi chapters at the University of Alabama and Auburn University have organized a friendly competition to benefit their official philanthropic partner, USO.
"They are an incredible organization that have stations all around the world dedicated to lifting the spirits of troops and their families," John Anderson, a UA senior and former chapter president of Theta Chi, said. "We wanted to find an innovative way to raise money, and got the idea from similar campaigns done by the American Red Cross."
Participation is simple: People can text either "USO Tide" or "USO Tigers" to 80888, which will add a $5 donation to their phone bill.
Though Greek organizations regularly hold in-person fundraisers, Anderson said he and Auburn's former chapter president William Ball came up with the idea as a way to raise money and foster friendly interaction between the two chapters.
"We figured since college students are always on their phones, this would be an easy way for them to donate to a great organization," Anderson said. "However, we have also found that parents and other adults are just as willing to donate via a text message."
Anderson said their fundraising goal is $10,000 and hopefully the fundraiser turns into a competition the two chapters can hold for years.
UA's Theta Chi chapter recently raised $33,000 for suicide prevention in memory of their brother, Parker Jordan, who died last fall.
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