Today the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated celebrates their founders day! Founded 101 years ago on the campus Indiana University. In honor of 101 years we decided to give kudos to the Kappas for their service to communities all over the world. Check out how the Kappas give back and if you know one, be sure to wish them a happy founders day.
The VISION of the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation:
To become the premier Greek letter Foundation in its resources and services to the community.
The MISSION of the Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation:
To provide support for Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated members and others in service to communities with particular emphasis on African-American communities.
The Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation, Incorporated exists as the philanthropic arm of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. The Fraternity was founded in 1911 with the motto of “Achievement in every field of human endeavor.” The Foundation was established in 1981 as a non-profit, tax exempt, publicly supported organization as described in Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Its purpose is to assist the community service efforts of the more than 600 active undergraduate and alumni chapters of Kappa Alpha Psi. The Foundation currently supports scholarships, after-school programs and national projects such as Habitat for Humanity.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity supports a variety of community service programs including Habitat for Humanity, St. Jude Research Hospital, and the United Negro College Fund. It also sponsors a number of initiatives designed to encourage scholarship and leadership skills among high school youth including the Kappa League which began in 1970 to help high school students develop their leadership skills, the Junior Kappa League for younger students, the A-MAN Program which promotes interest in science and technology, and Kappa Kamp, an outdoor educational enrichment program which allows inner city kids to attend a summer camp in Piney Woods, Mississippi and Hemlock Overlook Park in Virginia. The camp fosters team building, self respect, and respect for others through leadership sessions, outdoor obstacle courses, and outdoor activities. This camp, which accommodates 50 young men at a time between the ages of ten to fifteen, is designed to provide guidance and encourage success.
The Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation, established in 1981, is the philanthropic division of the fraternity. It raises funds which are distributed to young people as scholarships and which support after-school programs.
In July 2005 Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. announced St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as its national philanthropic partner. Since that time, members across the country have joined in the fight against pediatric cancer, sickle cell disease, and other catastrophic illnesses. Kappa Alpha Psi has answered the call to service by raising more than $400,000—representing the largest contribution that Kappa Alpha Psi has ever donated to charity.
Kappa Alpha Psi committed to raise $500,000 in support of the hospital’s sickle cell program. St. Jude has one of the largest pediatric sickle cell research and treatment programs in the world. St. Jude is the first known hospital in the world to cure sickle cell disease through bone marrow transplantation. Today, bone marrow transplantation still offers the only cure for sickle cell disease.
In 2008 at the ALSAC/St. Jude Board and Awards Dinner, Kappa Alpha Psi received the Volunteer Group of the Year Award for their efforts in the inaugural year of the Sunday of Hope program which secured more than 130 churches to participate and raised more than $280,000.
Kudos to the men of Kappa Alpha Psi, congratulations on 101 years of service, may it only continue to get better!
