A talent show, volleyball tournament and barbecue might look like ordinary social gatherings on a college campus, but, at Virginia Tech, these April events were part of Tau Kappa Epsilon’s annual TKE Week to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Virginia Tech’s TKE chapter, the top St. Jude fundraising chapter in the fraternity, raised more than $62,000 for St. Jude during TKE Week this year. The week included several donation booths on campus manned by TKE members and a day during which 15 percent of the proceeds from a local Blacksburg, Virginia, pizza restaurant were donated to St. Jude. In addition to TKE Week, the fraternity holds a St. Jude benefit concert each fall.
“St. Jude is pretty easy to be passionate about,” said Connor Bolen, TKE president at Virginia Tech. “When we present to other organizations to participate (in TKE Week), it’s pretty easy to sell.”
The national TKE organization fulfilled a five-year, $1 million commitment to St. Jude in June 2015 to name an MRI room in the Chili’s Care Center and has now pledged to raise $2.6 million in six years to name the synchrotron/particle accelerator, which helps St. Jude deliver proton therapy to patients.
In April, Bolen and 52 of his TKE brothers visited St. Jude, which was founded by TKE member Danny Thomas.
“Our chapter is successful because of our cause, and because of the brothers we have,” said Paul Fehgali, TKE philanthropy chair at Virginia Tech. “Once you give them the opportunity to come see the hospital, where the money is going and the potential we have being such a large group of guys, we can work together, and that is where we find our success.”
The Virginia Tech TKE chapter, which has about 100 current members, made its own five-year, $100,000 commitment to St. Jude. With this year’s TKE Week, the chapter fulfilled its commitment in just two years.
“What I get out of donating and supporting St. Jude is seeing these guys support a cause that is worth their time and effort,” Bolen said.
You, too, can help give hope to kids who are fighting life-threatening illnesses.
Read more inspiring stories
-
Journey to the Jude: Lyudmila Tsurkan, PhD, Hematology, Kazakhstan
St. Jude lead researcher Lyudmila Tsurkan of Hematology smiles when recalling her childhood in the central Asian nation of Kazakhstan.
-
Journey to the Jude: Augustine Ntah, Security, Cameroon
Ntah said his welcoming personality stems from his heritage, of which he is immensely proud. He thinks of St. Jude as an extension of his homeland, the central African country of Cameroon.
-
Journey to the Jude: Besian Sejdiu, Structural Biology, Kosovo
Sejdiu is proud to serve an organization that is a locally, nationally and internationally respected driving force in research, pediatrics and employee recruitment.
-
Veteran mechanic reflects on fatherhood, St. Jude experiences
Former U.S. Army diesel mechanic Dennis Hart has served four years as a maintenance mechanic at St. Jude and says he loves working here because of the positive atmosphere.
-
St. Jude kindergarteners celebrate resilience and recess at 2023 graduation
In the 15th year of kindergarten graduations, St. Jude Imagine Academy by Chili’s kindergarteners were honored as part of a virtual ceremony.
-
St. Jude high school seniors graduate with ambition and gratitude
In the 17th year of high school graduations at St. Jude, St. Jude Imagine Academy by Chili’s honored this year’s graduates during the annual high school commencement.
-
Journey to the Jude: Hamda Khan, Hematology, Pakistan
As a medical anthropologist, Hamda Khan studies various social determinants that contribute to the health of patients with chronic illnesses. Learn more about her journey to St. Jude.
-
Mother admires daughter’s journey from St. Jude patient to employee
Mother and daughter bond over their time from patient family to employees at St. Jude.
-
Mother and daughter nurses continue to flourish at St. Jude
Mother and daughter nurses continue to flourish at St. Jude
-
Pawt of the family: New facility dog repawts for duty at St. Jude
Read about Rose, the newest member of the Paws at Play program at St. Jude.
-
Plan in Progress: St. Jude celebrates first year of telehealth services in Tupelo
St. Jude is celebrating a successful first year of providing telehealth services for children with chronic hematological diseases in North Mississippi. Read the story.
-
Doggone cute: St. Jude is paw-leased to welcome employees Snuggle and CC
Read about Snuggle and CC, the two newest facility dogs who are enhancing the patient experience at St. Jude.
-
Being A Father is Everything for St. Jude Patient Dad Chris
When Chris' son Calvin got a devastating diagnosis, it was the lifesaving mission of St. Jude that helped ensure his family remained intact.
-
A St. Jude volunteer “meet cute” leads to engagement
Jordan Watson and Kelly Quiroz met at St. Jude while volunteering and recently got engaged to marry.
-
Father’s Day: St. Jude employees share stories of inspiration
To commemorate Father's Day, read four stories of four St. Jude employees who have the unique experience of calling their fathers colleagues.