Each year, Alpha Chi Omega celebrates Healthy Relationships Week (HRW) alongside Valentine’s Day week. This week is an opportunity to foster the development of healthy relationships and, in turn, work toward preventing domestic violence and sexual assault. Our Alpha Chi Omega sisters showed up in so many ways this week! Here’s a glimpse into how sisters celebrated and honored healthy love this year.
Ava Katsikas, vice president philanthropy at the Alpha Mu chapter at Indiana University, shared that her chapter “wanted to highlight the importance of physically showing your gratitude and love in healthy relationships,” which resulted in her and her assistant, Annemarie Murr, planning and hosting a Build-a-Bouquet table on campus. They had originally set a goal of raising $300 for their local shelter, Middle Way House, and ended up tripling this goal by receiving $907!
The Alpha Kappa chapter at the University of Oregon hosted a Dirty Soda and DVA event, selling 417 dirty sodas and raising $1,669 for Hope & Safety Alliance, a domestic violence agency in Eugene, Oregon.
Members of the Beta Beta alumnae chapter in Indianapolis, Indiana celebrated Alpha Chi Night Out together, sharing they had the “sweetest afternoon at a local shop, making bracelets and memories together. Grateful for this sisterhood that keeps us connected, creative and always laughing.”
Sisters from the Gamma Psi Gamma alumnae chapter in greater Sacramento, California spent Alpha Chi Night Out together at a local brewery, crafting heartfelt birthday, encouragement and thinking-of-you cards for Saint John’s Program for Real Change, an organization for women and children to heal and develop transformational life skills.
The Omicron chapter at Baker University held a Valentine’s gift exchange at their chapter meeting leading into HRW. Chapter President Sarah Blanck said the event was “fun because it shows our sisters that they are cared for and have a place of belonging in the chapter. It also encourages sisters to step outside their comfort zones and talk to someone they are not close to. Aligned with Healthy Relationships Week, this was a great activity to show our sisters healthy love, not just in romantic relationships but in friendship.”
The Delta Tau chapter at Minnesota State University, Mankato volunteered with CADA, a nonprofit organization serving victims and survivors of relationship abuse and sexual violence throughout south-central Minnesota, for their annual Galentine’s Gameshow Night.
Gamma Psi Gamma wasn’t the only chapter making cards this week. The Delta Psi chapter at University of California Santa Barbara also hosted a card-making night. The chapter’s vice president philanthropy, Violet Tchenguiz, shared that it was “genuinely one of the most meaningful parts of the week for me.” She shared that the chapter typically hosts a card-making event just for sisters, but because it was HRW and their philanthropy week, they wanted to open it up to all of Panhellenic and “make it something bigger.” Violet shared, “We had women from across all the UCSB chapters come to our house, sit together and write thoughtful, empowering messages to survivors at our local domestic violence agency. By the end of the night, we had made over 300 cards, each with little personalized notes inside. Every single one was handwritten with care.”
Healthy Relationships Week reminds us that real, strong love can be practiced every day! From big moments to small gestures, Alpha Chi Omega sisters model the way in their communities showcasing healthy love.
Did you host a HRW event or activity that wasn’t featured? Share your photos with us at photos.alphachiomega.org.