The men of Mississippi Alpha were recently recognized by the University of Mississippi for outstanding philanthropic achievement during the 2013-2014 school year.

On May 3rd, 2014, the gentlemen of Mississippi Alpha hosted a campus and community-wide 5K to honor Ralph Doxey, Jr. Ralph is a brother and alumnus of Mississippi Beta (Mississippi State) and also a graduate of Ole Miss. Ralph’s father is a brother and alumnus of Mississippi Alpha (Ole Miss).

Months of preparation went into the 5K race that would eventually lead to a day of honor and awareness for Ralph, his family and the Mississippi-Louisiana Chapter of The ALS Association. Hundreds of supporters and participants from different sororities, fraternities, and nearby towns gathered the morning of May 3rd to show their support and to participate in the 5K held in the historic Grove at Ole Miss.

Led by Philanthropy Chair William Kneip, the brothers of Mississippi Alpha came together to find local and corporate sponsors to help support the cause of the 5K and to ensure a well-planned and executed race. The brothers could not have been more proud to be able to work alongside Ralph and his family, The ALS Association, and their sponsors to raise awareness for ALS and honor Ralph and his family.

In the end, more than $20,000 was donated to The ALS Association in the name of Ralph Doxey, Jr. This money will be used to support local ALS patients including at home visits that the Mississippi-Louisiana Chapter of The ALS Association provides to those they lead and support.

Earlier in the year, the brothers of Phi Delta Theta took part in and helped sponsor the largest day of community service in school history at Ole Miss.

Members of Mississippi Alpha took part in the Ole Miss Big Event, a day of giving back to the Oxford community and the University. Over 2,000 students participated in this day of service. Brothers of Mississippi Alpha enjoyed a day full of local community projects that consisted of visiting local homes for the elderly, painting storm shelters, restoring parts of local fire stations and building relationships with local community and university members.

William Kneip, the current Philanthropy Chair, will serve as the Director of Finance and Fundraising for the Big Event in the Fall.

In Spring, members of the chapter took part in the Ole Miss Student Disability Association’s “Rolling Rebels Wheelchair Basketball Tournament” to raise funds and awareness for students requiring disability services on campus.

Finally, the brothers of Mississippi Alpha were recognized by the University for philanthropic funding and work with the Christian Relief Fund, an organization that works to provide clean water sources for families and children in Turkana, Kenya and other regions nearby.

The Phis of Mississippi Alpha would like to thank their alumni, brothers, families, and friends who have helped support their endeavors and helped them achieve their goals. Through these actions the brothers were able to grow together, learn together, and work for a cause greater than themselves and their chapter.