Sigma Kappa has five philanthropies, which actually spell out the word 'SIGMA,' and the 'I' stands for Inherit the Earth.

Through this philanthropy, Sigma Kappa is committed to improving the environment, and in order to do this, the entire Sigma Kappa chapter at the University of Tennessee devotes one week every April to activities to make a big, green difference.

You might read this and say, "One week? What can one week of work do?" The answer to this question is simple: It provides awareness and motivation for those around us. On top of the efforts we provide during Inherit the Earth Week, we have an Adopt-A-Spot on campus near Presidential Court. (It's the grassy, pavilion area.)

These helpful habits also carryover into our philanthropic involvement on campus. During some fraternity philanthropy events, there is a house decorating competition, and decorations typically include an abundance of paper with "XYZ loves ABC" written on them. We have officially decided to opt out of wasting paper for decorations, as it does not comply with our values. Instead, we use non-paper products, and donate the money we would use to decorate to their philanthropy.

In addition to these contributions, we, as stated above, have an entire week dedicated to green activities. This year, Inherit the Earth Week takes place April 20-25.

We will kick the week off by painting flowerpots and planting an assortment of flowers and plants. Afterwards, we will be donating these items to local nursing homes, as two of our other philanthropies are Gerontology (The study of aging) and Alzheimer's Research.

On Friday, we will be picking up trash around the river, the Fort, campus, East Tennessee Children's Hospital, etc. Although this may sound like dirty work, it's a part of the beautification plan.

We will conclude the week by taking a chapter trip to the Ijams Nature Center, to enjoy the urban green space of Knoxville.

Like all of our philanthropies, Inherit the Earth is a cause that has a direct effect on each of our lives. It is something we are extremely passionate about, and strive to include in our everyday lives by recycling, throwing away trash we find on the ground, using reusable beverage containers and carpooling to events.

Inherit the Earth Week is a small step in the right direction. We only have one planet, and we should all treat it with respect and love. Through this week and our actions as a group, we can make a positive impact.

"He that plants trees loves others beside himself." -- Thomas Fuller