With the ALS ice bucket challenge sweeping the nation, a local TKE chapter decides to also step up for charity, and it wasn't to accept an ALS ice bucket challenge. Instead, they challenged themselves to raise money for a cause that is near and dear to their hearts.

If you've never heard of St. Jude Children's Hospital, I suggest you look it up. It's an amazing place, for amazing children. The hospital is responsible for housing children with the rarest forms of cancer, and finding cures to treat the children. The best part is that any child admitted into the hospital doesn't have to pay a single cent towards medical care or housing. Donations make the cost of a what would be million dollar medical care, free for these children's families.

The entire hospital runs on donations, which enable them to foot a $1.9 million a day operations bill.  If that doesn't make your jaw drop, then this will. Childhood cancer survival rates have increased from 20 percent to over 80 percent since the inception of the hospital, which testifies to how much the good St. Jude Children's Hospital has done for children all over the world. This amazing feat was accomplished from just one man's vision. 

"No child should die in the dawn of life," said Danny Thomas, the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and a fellow TKE described. The brothers of the Xi–Omega chapter of TKE, here at Tech, have also taken up this goal with a fiery passion. Their yearning to help achieve this ambition is evident in the amount of time the brothers spend spreading awareness and raising money for the cause. Although the brothers wish they could have a more direct impact on St. Jude, they know that one of the next best things they can do is raise money and awareness for the hospital. Over the past two years, the brothers of TKE were able to raise close to $35,000 for St. Jude from donation campaigns and philanthropic events.  

Although the chapter has been praised with accolades for raising money for St. Jude, the brothers knew they could do more. With that in mind, they came together and pledged to raise $100,000 over the next five years.

Dylan Franklin, the Internal Philanthropy chair, believes that through this commitment the fraternity has re-affirmed its long-term support for St. Jude.  When asked about being able to achieve this pledge, Mr. Franklin responded, "To myself and my other brothers, this is not just a pledge, but a promise, to the children of St. Jude. We will make sure we do everything in our power to see this pledge become an actuality."  He hopes that five years from now, the brothers will deliver on their promise and hand-deliver a $100,000 check to the doorstep of St. Jude in Memphis, Tenn.

Chapter President, Tyler Miklovic, had this to say of his chapter's commitment, "This is how we choose to live our fraternal motto of building better men for a better world. We recognize the good that comes from living the values that we preach. Contributing to St. Jude is one way that we choose to display these ideals and produce tangible help for some of the most deserving people on the planet. Our five year commitment ensures our brotherhood's focus, even after the present brothers graduate."

The brothers of Tau Kappa Epsilon, Xi–Omega Chapter, ask that if you would like to lend a hand and help them reach their goal and help support the families and children of St. Jude, please consider donating to their online campaign. The link to their page can be found here: