Theta Chi Honors Heroes of Iwo Jima | Theta Chi Fraternity

Theta Chi Honors Heroes of Iwo Jima | Theta Chi Fraternity

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the famous raising of the United States flag above Mt. Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima.  The battle had officially commenced on February 19, 1945, following months of extensive air and naval bombardment of the island.  After five weeks of bloody struggle, U.S. Marines secured the island which would provide valuable airfields to aid in aerial bombardments of the main islands of Japan. 

What was Theta Chi’s involvement at Iwo Jima? While our members may not have raised the flag, Theta Chi members were involved throughout the campaign and its aftermath.  Through research using The Rattle, we are able to share the stories of the following brothers, these heroes, that all participated in this battle.  While The Rattle provides our best history of Theta Chi members and events, Fraternity records are incomplete.  There are many more members that likely participated in the preparation, actual invasion, and aftermath.  In the future, with additional research, we hope to discover and identify their names and stories and provide due recognition.

Read the full story with the link below.

Theta Chi Honors Heroes of Iwo Jima | Theta Chi Fraternity

Theta Chi Fraternity Announces Partnership with the USO | Theta Chi Fraternity

Posted by: Ben Hill    |    Friday, September 13, 2013

Theta Chi Fraternity Announces Partnership with the USO | Theta Chi Fraternity

 For Immediate Release

Theta Chi Fraternity and the USO Announce a National Partnership

September 13, 2013 – Indianapolis, IN –Theta Chi Fraternity and the USO (United Service Organizations) are proud to formally announce a national partnership. The USO joins the list of Theta Chi Fraternity’s preferred philanthropies, to which chapters and alumni are encouraged to contribute.

The Grand Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity recently passed a resolution which states:

Whereas the USO has a long history of extending an assisting hand to the men and women of the armed forces of the United States and to their families; and

Whereas Theta Chi Fraternity has a proud military tradition beginning with its founders and extending to the present day through the service of many of its members; and

Whereas the USO has sought the Helping Hand of Theta Chi in its mission of support of American Troops and their families; therefore

Be it Resolved, that the Grand Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity proudly endorses and supports a national partnership between Theta Chi Fraternity and the USO.

Executive Director Mike Mayer said, “Theta Chi is proud to announce this philanthropic association with such an outstanding organization.  By supporting the USO, Theta Chi not only honors its Creed, but also its storied military roots.”

Through this partnership, the USO will provide support to Theta Chi Fraternity chapters with a Resource Kit and an official website to assist with service projects and fundraising efforts. In addition, the USO will provide reporting of participating Theta Chi chapters on an annual basis. Upon completion, this Resource Kit will be sent to each chapter President, and the USO is planning to offer follow up calls with each chapter to make an introduction.

The USO also noted that every effort will be made to partner with an equivalent organization to the USO in Canada for our Zeta Gamma Chapter at the University of Alberta.

Prior to this partnership, several chapters of Theta Chi Fraternity across the country held local philanthropy events called “G.I. Theta Chi”.  The event had its origin at the Iota Theta Chapter at the University of Central Florida in February 2007.  “G.I. Theta Chi” events raised funds for worthy causes such as the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project.

Theta Chi Fraternity hopes that its chapters maintain relationships with their established philanthropies, and strongly encourages chapters to also partner with the USO through their local service projects and philanthropy efforts. 

"For more than 70 years, the USO has been by the side of our nation’s troops and their families, every step of the way," said Tracy Tucker, USO Director of Fundraising and Development. "There are so many ways for Americans to get involved with the USO and help impact the lives of those who sacrifice so much for our country, from volunteering their time, to collecting needed items for our troops at USO Centers; to hosting an event to raise much needed funds that will go to support USO programs and services. For more information about what you can do to help make a difference, visit uso.org.”

Capital Campaign updates / February 2015

We are into our fourth year of the Capital Campaign for Theta Chi Gamma Phi and here is your new years update. Our goal was to raise $200,000 to pay off the mortgage/house improvements/Scholarship endowment and so far we have collected over $92,000 in pledges. Way to go! Our undergraduate brothers need your support to the Capital Campaign to receive much needed scholarships and house improvements. Now is a good time to send in your remaining contributions to your pledge amount or to even up your level of donation.

But we still need your help in addition to your financial contributions. We have reached over 46% of our goal and being able to effectively communicate with over 53% of our alumni, 107 of those alumni having donated. There has been a recent push to update contact information (specifically email addresses) which will help lower cost of mailings and increase our communications. Thanks to all of the active members of the chapter that spent a few days call all of the alumni. (Some of you had some great stories to share)

Do you want to help contact the rest of your class? Do you have email addresses from your class that you can send us? If so let us know, we would love to get them back in contact with the rest of us.