Media Contact
April 16, 2008

WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester Polytechnic Institute's (WPI) Omicron Iota Chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity recently received the Alpha Phi Omega Youth Service Grant from the national chapter for its longstanding community service to children in the city of Worcester.

The Youth Service Grant Program provides funding for Alpha Phi Omega chapters planning Spring Youth Service Day projects – socially positive service programs for pre-college age youth. The chapters submit applications and project ideas for review and are then selected based on the impact their projects will have on youth in their community. This year, WPI's Omicron Iota was one of 30 chapters nationwide selected to receive this grant.

"Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity has helped to provide area community members with thousands of hours of service since its founding at WPI," said Emily Perlow, WPI's associate director of student activities and Greek Life programs. "Each year the fraternity members work tirelessly to help improve the quality of life in Worcester and the surrounding area. They truly embrace the WPI spirit of giving to the community."

With the funding from the Youth Service Grant, WPI students hosted an Easter Breakfast on March 22 at Friendly House, a community-based human services organization that serves the city of Worcester. This project allowed less privileged community members and their children to gather on Easter for a filling breakfast served by the chapter members.

WPI's Omicron Iota chapter was chartered into Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity on Dec. 18, 1964. Since that date, the group has maintained a positive presence throughout the WPI campus and surrounding community with service projects benefiting the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, the Special Olympics, and Habitat for Humanity. The chapter has 56 active members.

Alpha Phi Omega is a national co-educational service college fraternity founded on the principles of the Boy Scouts of America. Its purpose is to develop leadership, promote friendship, and provide community service. Since 1925, more than 357,000 students have chosen to belong to Alpha Phi Omega, making the fraternity the nation’s largest Greek letter fraternity.

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