ΑΦΑ-ΓΓΛ sponsors Project Alpha Seminar on July 19th

Post date: Jul 1, 2014 6:53:00 AM

Greenville, South Carolina - The Greenville Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity will conduct a local Project Alpha seminar on July 19, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The location this year will be at the Kroc Center in downtown Greenville, South Carolina.Project Alpha is an educational program for adolescent males conducted collaboratively by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the March of Dimes. First developed in 1980, its goal is to assist young men with making responsible decisions. The program encourages participants to increase healthy lifestyle behaviors by learning about the consequences of pregnancy, anatomy and physiology of the human body, and the importance of fatherhood. The program has three main components: knowledge building, motivation and taking the message back to friends and the community. Local churches, organizations, and schools are asked to refer young African-American males between the ages of 12-17 whom will benefit from the program. We also invite members to join us in facilitating the program by serving as group leaders in the presentations and group discussions being held. Volunteers, including community leaders, health care providers, lawyers and clergymen, lead the sessions.Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is the nation’s first Greek-letter fraternity established by African-American college students established on December 4, 1906 on the campus of Cornell University. There are more than 750 chapters worldwide with over 100,000 members. Gamma Gamma Lambda Chapter is a local chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha in Greenville. The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. They fund programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies. Established in 1938 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to put an end to polio, the March of Dimes accomplished this mission within 20 years. Following this victory, the March of Dimes turned its attention to saving babies from birth defects -- mental and physical problems that are present at birth.

Today, the March of Dimes is one of the largest voluntary health agencies in the country, with 92 chapters nationwide. There is a 60-year track record of breakthroughs that save babies, including neonatal intensive care units, surfactant therapy, fetal surgery and folic acid education. Seventy-five percent of funds spent go to research and programs.

Attendees can register online at projectalpha-upstate.eventbrite.com by July 18, 2014. For more information about Project Alpha in this community, please contact Chuck Ford, Project Alpha Chairman at 864-325-2809, or contact the Greenville March of Dimes Chapter at 864-235-8576.