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Push America
Push America was founded
in 1977 by Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity with the purpose
of instilling lifelong service in its members and
enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities.
Push America is still fulfilling the purpose it was
intended for, but has grown into a nationwide organization
with numerous programs educating undergraduates, alumni,
and communities about the abilities of people with
disabilities. It is currently one of the largest national
philanthropies, and holds many national and local
events to raise funds and awareness.
National Push Events:
AccessABILITY |
AccessABILITY
is a Push America construction program in which
members of Pi Kappa Phi support their local
communities through the construction of wheelchair
ramps for families and individuals that would
not otherwise be able to afford it. Pi Kappa
Phis are giving their time and man-power and
Push America is providing funding for the materials
that make this program possible. |
Give-A-Push Weekend
|
Give-A-Push
Weekend is a Push America construction program
created to provide manpower to build and renovate
structures such as accessible fishing piers,
boardwalks, pavilions and playgrounds for camps
providing support to people with disabilities.
Pi Kappa Phis from across the country come together
for a weekend of construction and teamwork to
provide a well-built accessible environment
for people with disabilities to enjoy during
their camping experience. |
Push Camp |
Push Camp
is a Push America construction program created
to provide manpower to build and renovate structures
such as accessible fishing piers, boardwalks,
pavilions and playgrounds for camps providing
support to people with disabilities. Pi Kappa
Phis from across the country come together for
a week of construction and teamwork to provide
a well-built accessible environment for people
with disabilities to enjoy during their camping
experience. |
Build America |
Build America
is a Push America construction program created
to travel, during the summer, across the country
to make camps more accessible for people with
disabilities. With the same concept of other
Push America construction programs, Build America
constructs and renovates nature trails, fishing
piers, high-ropes courses, accessible playgrounds
and many other projects. |
Gear Up Florida
|
Gear Up
Florida is an 800-mile, Push America cycling
event that takes 35 Pi Kappa Phis cycling from
Miami to Tallahassee in just two weeks. Gear
Up Florida draws a lot of attention out on the
road and carries with them a message of acceptance
and understanding for people with disabilities
to communities across Florida. Gear Up Florida
raises over $70,000 annually with each team
member raising at least $2,000. Gear Up Florida
also gives out 15 cycling event grants to our
partner organizations across the State. |
Journey of Hope
|
Journey
of Hope is a 12,000-mile combined, Push America
cycling event that takes 82 Pi Kappa Phis cycling
on three different routes from San Francisco
and Portland, Ore. to Washington D.C. Journey
of Hope is the premier event Push America organizes
that brings together over 100 communities and
raises more than $500,000 on behalf of people
with disabilities. The Journey of Hope also
distributes more than 60 cycling events grants
to partnering organizations in the cities visited. |
Local Push Events at Delta
Sigma:
Cage
Sit |
Once
a semester the members of Delta Sigma construct
a cage that members inhabit for a 48-hour span.
The cage itself represents the many barriers
faced by people with physical and mental disabilities.
During their time in the cage members inform
patrons about Push America and collect donations
for the cause. |
Push 5K Run |
Once a semester
the men of Delta Sigma sponsor a campus-wide
5K run for the students, faculty, staff, and
community of Bowling Green. This Fall the event
was sponsored by Residence Life and Qdoba, and
raised over $1200 for Push America. |
Date Auction |
This year
the men of Delta Sigma are teaming up with the
women of Alpha Phi Sorority to hold their annual
Date Auction to raise money for Push America.
The "winners" will accompany their
date to the Empathy Dinner at a later date.
Last year the Auction raised close to $2000
for Push America. |
Empathy Dinner |
Shortly
following the Date Auction the men of Delta
Sigma host an empathy dinner to raise disability
awareness among those attending. Typically a
speaker is featured to discuss the issue of
disability awareness and is accompanied by a
Spaghetti Dinner. |
If you would like to get involved in Push, but are
unsure whether or not Pi Kappa Phi is for you, be
on the lookout for the founding of the Push Club on
BG's campus. More details to come. |
