A collaboration of organizations for the greater good
On October 17th, Bradley University’s Phi Kappa Tau collaborated with Tazewell Animal Protective Society No-Kill Animal Shelter for a cuddle-filled philanthropy event on Bradley University’s Olin Quad.
Phi Tau is a fraternity on Bradley’s campus that partners with SeriousFun Children’s Network for their philanthropy. Their goal is to raise awareness and funds to help support children living with serious illnesses. With these funds, SeriousFun is able to create camps and programs for the children to attend free of charge to enrich their lives.
Between classes, Bradley students were encouraged to stop by the table to get some puppy love from the adoptable dogs at TAPS while donating to help both causes.
The philanthropy chair of Phi Tau, Skyler Seals, organized this event after seeing TAPS online. He wants to continue creating a welcoming community within Phi Tau, Bradley, and the Peoria area.
“When I had looked more into TAPS, I decided to reach out to see if we could get some dogs to come to our event and help raise money for our philanthropy, SeriousFun Children’s Network, as well as raise money for the TAPS Animal Shelter,” said Seals.
With hosting events like this, Seals gets to see the real impact he and his fraternity is making which is worthy every minute of hard work and planning that goes into facilitating these events.
The impact of these organizations goes far beyond this one event. TAPS is an independent, non-profit animal rescue organization located in Tazewell County. Their mission is to provide homeless animals with temporary shelter and love before finding their forever home. Through TAPS, you can donate, volunteer, foster, or adopt.
Four of their volunteers participated in the fundraiser and brought adoptable dogs to play with. Bringing dogs that are up for adoption to events like this increases their chances of finding a home. Educating the public on the importance of animal welfare is just one of the many things TAPS strives to accomplish with their mission.
For one volunteer, Becky, this was her first-ever public event with TAPS.
“I volunteer with TAPS because I want to make a difference in the dogs’ lives. There are so many out there that need help and if I can give part of my day to these animals, it is more than worth it,” said Becky. “Our main goal is to find loving homes for each and everyone of these dogs, but it is equally important to show how easy and rewarding it is to get involved with shelters. They always need more hands on deck.”
As students stopped by to donate and get their dose of puppy love, the turnout was more than both Phi Tau and TAPS could have ever hoped for.
For freshmen like Olivia Williams, walking back to her dorm is usually a mundane task. When she saw the dogs out on the quad, she had to go see what it was about.
Especially during stressful times, like after mid-terms and before finals, events like this one bring together the Bradley community in a great way.
“When I saw there were dogs on the quad, I immediately texted my friends to come join me,” said Williams. “These dogs are from a shelter, [TAPS volunteers] said some of them are born there, some are taken in, but all of them here are adoptable.”
The collaboration of Phi Tau and TAPS Animal Shelter shows the commitment of both organizations to bettering the lives of those in the Peoria Community.
“It was a major stress reliever and just what I needed today. I loved getting to pet all of these dogs, they are all so friendly” said Williams.