LTA prepares for Unity Jam
July 2003

http://www.latinogreeks.com/information/news/july2003/
lta_unity_jam/index.html

By Ashley Cisneros, Chi Chapter
Conche5@aol.com

In a world where people love to divide themselves, even in college, it is always nice to hear of times when diverse groups of people unite for one cause.

Since 1998, the Notorious Chi Chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., at the University of Florida, has hosted a scholarship fundraising party called Unity Jam. The traditionally Hispanic Heritage Month event is coupled with an annual community canned food drive competition with all food being donated to a local homeless shelter.

The sorority culminates the end of the canned food drive with the unity party sponsored with other Greek and collegiate organizations across Florida. Attendees can gain discounted admission by also contributing a can at the club. Chi Chapter President Juliana Correal said,"The Unity Jam brings together mainstream, NPHC, Latino-based, and Multicultural-based fraternal organizations to raise thousands for the scholarship fund and to donate literally thousands of non-perishable items to the local Gainesville community."

Other groups such as the University Dominican Student Association have also joined in for the cause. In pat years the at least two scholarships have been awarded to deserving University of Florida students.

In addition, in past years, the Unity Jam has raised enough money to fund other philanthropies. Lambda Theta Alpha has also donated to the Sept. 11 Widow and Children of Firemen Fund, the Boys and Girls club, the Hurricane Andrew relief fund, the United Negro College Fund, and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. This year’s Unity Jam will be held October 4 in downtown Gainesville, Fla.

Gurpreet Mehta, a Lambda Theta Alpha member of Indian heritage said, " It is the one night a year where students from all backgrounds party together for a distinct cause."