Legacy 2016 Miami: Black History Month Issue | Page 8

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AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO MIAMI HERALD

By Toni Harrigan

National Pan-Hellenic Council
volunteers at Camillus House
South Florida is no stranger to promoting
efforts of unity throughout the community.
With the endless amount of diversity that
can be found here, it doesn’t stop at only
race and gender or even age but also flows
over into Greek life. The National
Pan-Hellenic Council is an organization that
consists of the nine historically
African-American Greek lettered fraternities
and sororities. The NPHC was formed May
10, 1930 on the campus of Howard

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016

National Pan-Hellenic Council
University, in Washington DC. Eighty-six
years later, the Council still promotes
interaction between all organizations
through forums, meetings and other
mediums for the exchange of information
and engages in cooperative programming
and initiatives through various activities and
functions across the country.
Each active member organization is
responsible for its own strategic direction
and program agenda under the national
by-laws. The primary purpose and focus of
member organizations remains camaraderie
and academic excellence for its members
and service to their communities. Each
prides itself on promoting community
awareness and action through educational,
economic, and cultural service activities. The
board of the NPHC consists of members
from all of the “Divine Nine” organizations
who volunteer their time and money to
make these efforts successful. The NPHC
provides great opportunity for Greek
organization members to stay active not
only in their chapter but abroad.
The Miami-Dade County National

I’m75
& I’m happy to lead the way.

Pan-Hellenic Council was founded in 1941,
by Ethel Grithe a member of Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Gamma Zeta
Omega Chapter. Since its inception they have
awarded annual scholarships to various
youth across South Florida. Members also
volunteer in numerous community efforts
including feeding the homeless, rebuilding
neighborhoods in conjunction with Habitat
for Humanity and Rebuild Miami and passing
toys out to less fortunate children during the
holidays with their annual Toy Drive. These
are all in addition to what each organization
does for community outreach within their
individual chapters throughout the year. This
year the Miami-Dade Chapter 75th
anniversary will be celebrated at their
scholarship dinner on Saturday, June 11. “All
the events that we host are not exclusive to
Greek organization members. We encourage
the public to come out and fellowship with
us and support our fundraising efforts for the
youth.” said Pierrela Jeanbaptiste President,
Miami-Dade Chapter National Pan-Hellenic
Council, Inc., and member of Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Gamma Zeta

Omega Chapter. “Our main purpose is to
serve the community at large and we want
to continue doing so for another 75 years.”
The Broward County Chapter of the
National Pan-Hellenic Council began with
Annette Robinson, Delta Upsilon Sigma
Chapter member of Sigma Gamma Rho
Sorority, Inc. in 1996. On October 11, 1997,
the Broward County Council received its
official charter and was recognized
nationally. This year they will celebrate 19
years of service to the Broward community.
While currently under the leadership of
Luwando Wright-Hines, they pride
themselves on providing voter education
and increasing voter registration throughout
Broward County, which has been one of the
chapter’s greatest accomplishments.
Both chapters continue to make a
difference, not only during Black History
Month, but year round creating an
everlasting impact in their respective
communities. Every moment of fellowship is
always a celebration with the community in
mind.

Since 1940 it’s been our mission to provide every
Barry student with the kind of transformational
education that enables them to become
thoughtful and caring leaders who make our
world a better place. Greatness begins in the
vibrant classrooms of our 120-acre Miami campus,
extends to our championships in athletics,
reaches deep into the community organizations
and businesses whose mission and goals are
furthered by the contributions of our students
and graduates, and lasts a lifetime. | barry.edu

1940 -2015 | 75 Years of Achieving Greatness

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