I am a brother of the social fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon Illinois Alpha-Omega Chapter at Loyola University Chicago. I rushed during the spring semester of my freshman year and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made in my undergraduate career. My life would be incomplete without the creed of my fraternity and my brothers by my side. Our creed is titled "The True Gentleman" and is written out above. Brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon live by the ideals described in "The True Gentleman."

During my pledgeship in the Alpha Alpha class, I served as Philanthropy Chair. I organized a single fundraiser to soldify the bonds of my pledge brothers and make a small difference on campus and in the greater community. My passion for philanthropy and service only strengthened when I earned my status as a full brother of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Therefore, I ran unopposed for Philanthropy Chair of the fraternity and was one of the only new initiates who was elected to an official position.

I held the Philanthropy Chair position for the duration of my sophomore year at Loyola University Chicago. Below are a list of service and philanthropy events Sigma Alpha Epsilon either sponsored or co-sponsored.

• SAE co-sponsored Kappa Kappa Gamma's "Kappa Klassic" and built a minature golf course hole. Brothers helped raise thousands of dollars for the Children's Miracle Network.
• SAE co-sponsored the Department of Programming's "Decorate-A-Door" event on Halloween. Brothers decorated a classroom door, dressed up, and handed out Halloween candy to kids in the Rogers Park and Edgewater communities surrounding Loyola.
• SAE co-sponsored the Department of Programming's "Christmas on Campus" event. Brothers decorated a table with festive decorations and created a game for kids in the surrounding community to play in order to celebrate the holidays.
• SAE co-sponsored a blood drive through the Heartland Blood Center for out True Gentleman Day of Service. Brothers collected over 100 gallons of blood and saved over 20 lives with this philanthropy.
• SAE co-sponsored Relay for Life on Loyola's campus. Brothers raised money for the American Cancer Society and stayed up all night to stand in solidarity with people suffering with cancer, cancer survivors, and the family and friends of anyone who is personally affected by cancer.
• SAE co-sponsored CARE's sexual assault awareness event stressing safe and consensual sex. Brothers signed a pledge vowing against sexual assault and helping anyone in need of help or safety. We all wear bracelets making us easily identifiable to sexual assault survivors. 

Finally, as Philanthropy Chair, I worked closely with our St. Baldrick's Day Chair to organize our largest philanthropy event of the year. Men and women shave their heads on St. Baldrick's Day to raises money for children's cancer and express solidarity to all those affected by children's cancer. Brothers and the Loyola community shaved over 250 heads and raised over $43,000 to find cancer's cure. Sigma Alpha Epsilon hosted the most profitable philanthropy event in the history of Loyola University Chicago on March 22nd, 2012. I couldn't be more proud to be a brother of SAE.