At Bucknell, fraternity life extends far beyond the walls of chapter houses. The university’s six Interfraternity Council chapters – Chi Phi, Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Gamma Delta, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi and Sigma Phi Epsilon—each dedicate time and energy to causes that promote service and community impact. From raising thousands for cancer research to building beds for children in need, these organizations embody Bucknell’s broader spirit of leadership and care for others.

Chi Phi

For the brothers of Chi Phi, philanthropy means channeling collective energy toward meaningful change. Their main cause, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Organization, funds groundbreaking research and provides support for those affected by the disease. This semester, the chapter introduced an annual Call-A-Thon, reaching out to alumni, family and friends to raise money for breast cancer awareness and treatment.

Their initiatives have proved to be a resounding success. “This past week we raised over $7,000 for the Susan G. Komen Organization, breaking our goal by $2,000!” said Philanthropy Chair Stephen Vumbacco ’27. Looking ahead, Chi Phi also plans to support the No Kid Hungry charity. “It makes me really proud to see all of the effort that each chapter puts towards philanthropic causes,” Vumbacco said. “It is important to me that we all put our best effort in order to do our part.”

Lambda Chi Alpha

Few organizations embody community service as comprehensively as Lambda Chi Alpha, whose national partnership with the American Red Cross allows brothers to make a tangible difference in the lives of others. The chapter hosts blood drives each semester, collaborating with sororities and encouraging campus-wide participation. So far, they’ve collected nearly 100 units of blood, potentially saving up to 300 lives.

Last semester alone, members of Lambda Chi Alpha completed more than 1,700 hours of community service, contributing to efforts ranging from trash pickups to clothing drives. “Blood donations are most commonly needed by those undergoing chemotherapy or people who were the victims of traumatic injuries,” said Mason Klotz ’26, Vice President External. “They rely on the kindness of others’ donations to continue living happy, healthy lives that most of us enjoy and sometimes take for granted.”

Their next Red Cross blood drive will take place on Nov. 19 in Larison Hall, where Bucknellians can sign up to donate through the Red Cross website.

Phi Gamma Delta

Every November, the brothers of Phi Gamma Delta— better known as FIJI— trade their razors for a cause. Through Movember, FIJI encourages students to grow mustaches, participate in health-promoting challenges like walking or running a certain number of miles and attend events like their 5K at the Miller Center from 4-6 p.m. on Nov. 17. Their annual participation in Movember promotes men’s mental health and raises awareness for prostate and testicular cancer. The Delta Chapter of FIJI has become one of the top collegiate contributors in the country: last year alone, they helped raise over $34,000 of the $45,000 total raised across Bucknell’s campus, the third-highest amount among U.S. universities.

“Men struggle with mental health due to social pressures, feeling the need to appear strong, and more often than not fail to get help when they need it most,” said Chapter President Jackson Kizilbash ’26. “The goal of Movember,” Kizilbash said, “is to raise awareness for this cause, as well as let other young men know they are not alone in the battle against mental health.” Students can get involved by donating through the link in the chapter’s Instagram bio or joining in the month-long effort.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon

For Sigma Alpha Epsilon, philanthropy is about practical impact— specifically, providing children with a safe place to sleep. Their main cause, Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), is a nonprofit organization that builds and delivers bunk beds to families in need across the U.S. and Canada.

SAE’s partnership with SHP follows a three-phase model: raising money for supplies, building the beds in collaboration with local SHP chapters and finally delivering the finished beds to families. “Philanthropy isn’t about giving money,” said Zy Ashe ’27, the fraternity’s Philanthropy Chair. “It’s about providing support to those in need.”

The chapter’s philanthropic work doesn’t stop there. This fall, SAE is collaborating with the Movember movement to raise funds for men’s mental and physical health, demonstrating its continued commitment to service in multiple forms.

Sigma Phi Epsilon

Rounding out the IFC’s efforts, Sigma Phi Epsilon emphasizes mentorship, mental health and hands-on community engagement. The fraternity’s main philanthropic partner is Big Brothers of America, a national organization that pairs adult volunteers with children in need of guidance and support.

“Big Brothers of America helps out kids by pairing them with an adult to help give them guidance in school, life, etc.,” explained Scott Wolin ’27, Philanthropy and Academic Chair. Alongside mentorship, SigEp brothers devote time to causes like Movember, the Red Cross, food drives and the DIG Furniture Bank, where members help transport donated furniture to families in need.

This semester, SigEp will continue its community partnerships while hosting a “Pie in the Face” event to raise money for Movember. Students can find event details and updates on the chapter’s Instagram.

Across Bucknell’s fraternity community, philanthropy takes many forms, including fundraising, volunteering and collaboration. At the heart of these efforts, the purpose remains the same: a commitment to improving the lives of others. From FIJI’s record-breaking Movember campaign to Lambda Chi’s life-saving blood drives, these men are proving that brotherhood and service go hand in hand.

The Bucknellian reached out to Sigma Chi, but they did not respond for comment.