Pitt's Greek System Commits to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Jessica Giarratano, development director for the western Pennsylvania chapter of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation, said she was thrilled to announce a three-year partnership with the University of Pittsburgh this week.

The chapter has been selected by Pitt's fraternities and sororities as its Greek Week charity for the next three years.

The University of Pittsburgh Fraternity and Sorority Life is comprised of 39 fraternities and sororities. While working toward the growth of their own individual organizations, University of Pittsburgh Greeks have been significant contributors to both the university and city of Pittsburgh.

The Greek community has chosen the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as its newest philanthropic partner and has pledged $300,000 over the next three years to the organization.

In addition to serving their school, Pitt Greeks also recognize and stress the importance of philanthropy.

Greek Week is a programming and fundraising organization—coordinated by fraternity and sorority leaders of the Pitt Greek community. As the main programming organization within Fraternity and Sorority Life, Greek Week hosts fundraising and social programs throughout the academic year.

The main purpose of Greek Week events is to teach students to respect others and promote cultural responsibility while keeping the central value of philanthropy ever-present, as stated in a release.

At 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25—at the Fitzgerald Field House—the first Greek Week event for CF will be held.

"2,000 people are expected," Giarratano said.

The Pitt Dance Marathon is a 24-hour dance marathon and is the largest philanthropy event held by a student organization at Pitt.

This is a campus wide event open to the public—the entrance fee is $2.

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects approximately 30,000 young people in the United States, taking the lives of many of those afflicted before the age of 37. CF produces a thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs & digestive system, making breathing and digestion difficult & eventually impossible. The CF Foundation is consistently ranked by the Wall Street Journal’s Smart Money magazine as one of the nation’s “Best in the Business” for its exceptionally efficient use of fund-raising dollars. For more information, visit www.cff.org.

Watch Pitt's Greek Week/CF video via YouTube above.