Community Service or Philanthropy
Philanthropy involves promoting the welfare of others, usually through donating money, resources, or organizing charitable events. It often includes fundraising efforts or financial contributions to support nonprofit organizations and larger causes. Philanthropic efforts tend to have a broader scope, aiming for regional, national, or even global impact.
Community Service refers to direct, hands-on volunteer work intended to benefit a specific community. It typically involves contributing time and effort to meet local needs through activities like cleaning up a park, serving at a food bank, or helping at a community event. The focus is on creating an immediate and visible impact in the local area, often without financial involvement.
“These Hands Don’t Hurt”
The Fraternity of Alpha Kappa Lambda recognizes that sexual assault and domestic violence remain serious and pervasive issues in society. Created to raise awareness and educate college students, These Hands Don’t Hurt has grown beyond its initial purpose. In today’s world, raising awareness alone is not enough—we must strive to change individual behaviors and attitudes, not only among college men but across our broader communities.
These Hands Don’t Hurt is AKL’s national philanthropic initiative designed to promote respect, responsibility, and healthy relationships. Through this campaign, chapters engage their campuses by hosting events where students and community members pledge to stand against violence, often by placing a painted handprint and signing their name as a public commitment. These events also include opportunities for education, partnerships with advocacy organizations, and fundraising for shelters and support services.
However, the goal is not simply visual displays or passive support. To avoid a false sense of accomplishment, AKL challenges its members to take a deeper, more sustained approach, one rooted in education, service, and action. By adapting These Hands Don’t Hurt to the needs of today’s society, the fraternity aims to help chapters build environments of accountability, compassion, and support. Through this work, AKL seeks to empower members to lead cultural change on their campuses and in their communities.
To Learn More: “These Hands Don’t Hurt”
Adopt-A-School
Adopt-A-School is a community service initiative supported by Alpha Kappa Lambda and endorsed by the National Executive Council in Winter 1994. The program is designed to create meaningful, one-on-one mentoring relationships between college students and children in local elementary schools.
The primary goal is to allow fraternity members to make a direct, positive impact on the lives of young students. By volunteering their time, members serve as role models, academic mentors, and sources of encouragement for children who may benefit from additional support and guidance outside the classroom.
Participation in Adopt-A-School allows chapters to build strong connections with their host communities and reinforces AKL’s commitment to leadership, character development, and service. Activities can include tutoring, reading programs, classroom assistance, or organizing fun and educational events. While the focus is on consistent and meaningful engagement, the structure of the program can be tailored to meet the needs of each school and community.
Gift of Life Marrow Registry
In 2025, Alpha Kappa Lambda proudly began its partnership with the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives through bone marrow and stem cell transplants. This collaboration reflects AKL’s ongoing commitment to impactful philanthropy and community service.
The Gift of Life Marrow Registry focuses on connecting patients with life-threatening blood cancers and disorders, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and sickle cell disease, to matched donors who can provide life-saving bone marrow or stem cell transplants. Because a perfect match is often difficult to find, especially for patients from diverse ethnic backgrounds, the registry actively recruits donors from all communities to increase the chances of finding compatible donors.
Through this partnership, Alpha Kappa Lambda chapters help raise awareness about the importance of marrow and stem cell donation, host donor registration drives, and encourage individuals to join the registry. By doing so, AKL members play a vital role in giving patients a second chance at life.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
In 1990, Alpha Kappa Lambda selected the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) as one of its national philanthropies, recognizing the urgent need to improve the lives of individuals affected by this life-threatening genetic disorder. The goal was to support the development of life-changing treatments and give hope to children and young adults living with cystic fibrosis.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system, causing thick, sticky mucus to build up and leading to severe respiratory and nutritional challenges. While there is currently no cure, medical advances—many made possible by the work of CFF—have dramatically extended life expectancy and improved quality of life for those affected.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a global leader in funding research, supporting specialized care, and advocating for patients and families. Researchers are now closer than ever to transformative breakthroughs that target the disease at its genetic core. With continued support from Alpha Kappa Lambda chapters through fundraising, education, and service, we hope to accelerate this progress and help bring about a future where cystic fibrosis stands for “Cure Found.”
