Project Descriptions

For more information on any of the following projects, please contact Michelle or the Project Chairs.

American Foundation for Children with AIDS

The mission of American Foundation for Children with AIDS is to improve the lives of children and youth struggling with the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. We provide cost-effective relief, services, medical and social support, education and advocacy to help these victims achieve their full life potential.

American Foundation for Children with AIDS currently partners with four hospitals in East Africa, providing much needed anti-retroviral and chemotherapy medications, as well as medicine to treat opportunistic diseases for children aged birth-19 who are HIV+ or who have AIDS. We also provide medication for the parents or guardians of these children, as we do not want to create more orphans by ignoring their need for medication and medical care.

AFCA is focusing its support on Sub-Saharan Africa because it has been identified as one of the areas of greatest need. Nearly two-thirds of the world's HIV-positive people live in sub-Saharan Africa, although this region contains little more than 10% of the world's population. With few organizations focusing their efforts to help children affected by HIV/AIDS, AFCA has taken a stand to help in sub-Saharan Africa and remains committed to helping children live fuller and healthier lives.- Taken from the American Foundation for Children with AIDS Website

Operation Green: Improving Our Communities

Keep America Beautiful believes that each citizen holds an obligation to protect the environment, and can make real differences through their daily actions and choices. It's really a simple principle, but one with far-reaching impact.

Through more than 50 years of public education, strategic public/private partnerships and "roll-up-your-sleeves" action, Keep America Beautiful has made significant progress in the areas of litter prevention, waste reduction, and community beautification. But there is still much to do.

It's easy to think of "The Environment" in general terms. In reality, the diverse and dynamic American landscape consists of many different and interconnected environments - urban, rural, suburban, agricultural, industrial and recreational - all with their own unique characteristics, challenges and opportunities. Through Keep America Beautiful's growing network of nearly 1,000 affiliates and other participating grassroots organizations, they are able to pinpoint and address the needs of each on an intensely local and extremely effective level.

Keep America Beautiful, in partnership with local affiliates, seeks solutions to the issues that mark the basic challenges to "quality of life." While the tactics used may be different in each community, their goals are uniform.

Keep America Beautiful strives to:

  • Address community blight by tackling graffiti and litter;
  • improve the environment and its ecosystems by building or revitalizing parks, waterways, and public spaces;
  • reduce waste through reuse and recycling programs;
  • raise awareness through education and public service messages.

Keep America Beautiful challenges Phi Theta Kappa chapters to look closely at the needs of your community, to engage your faculty members and fellow students in meaningful action, to broadcast your successes, to educate, and, above all, to take personal responsibility for the world around you. If we accomplish this together, we will all be doing our part to keep America beautiful.

The goal of Phi Theta Kappa's partnership with Keep America Beautiful is to focus attention on the environment by helping to improve our communities. Keep America Beautiful forms public/private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. As a recognized leader in community improvement, Keep America Beautiful is guided by these principles:

  • Education
  • Individual Responsibility
  • Public-Private Partnerships
  • Volunteer Action

Keep America Beautiful seeks to change individual behaviors and improves communities through a focus on litter prevention, waste reduction and beautification. By connecting with Keep America Beautiful or its affiliates in your area, Phi Theta Kappans can participate in one or more of the Keep America Beautiful programs described in this Program Guide to make a difference on your campus and in your community.

For the program period of 2008 - 10, Phi Theta Kappa chapters are encouraged to undertake activities in four major areas:

  • Education/Awareness
  • Recycling
  • Beautification
  • Clean Communities

- Taken from the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, Service Project Webpage

Project Graduation

Project Graduation was conceived and launched in 1998 at Burlington County College in New Jersey as an opportunity to give back to the community while celebrating the new beginning inherent in commencement ceremonies. The first food items collected for Project Graduation went to local food banks while the books were given to the America Reads Challenge. In 1999, Burlington County College and Delaware County Community College developed, coordinated, and promoted this program nationally.

In March 2002, Phi Theta Kappa adopted Project Graduation as an international program and promoted the program as an initiative to alleviate hunger and illiteracy. In the program's initial year 283 chapters enrolled in the program, making its first year as a Phi Theta Kappa service initiative a great success. The impact continues to grow as 2003 and 2004 were pinnacle years for Project Graduation participation and donations. More than double the number of chapters enrolled in 2003 and donations increased by 250%. In 2004, Project Graduation reaches more than 500 communities and increased donations by 109%. - Taken from the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, Project Graduation Website

Relay for Life

Relay For Life rallies communities to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and raise funds to eliminate cancer. Lasting overnight as team members take turns walking around a track, Relay inspires, entertains, and touches the hearts of all who participate. - Taken from the Relay for Life Website.