Although the Greek community failed to reach its fundraising target, Greek Week 2005 was declared a resounding success by its organizers. The Greek community’s initial fundraising goal of $60,000 was not met, but it still managed to raise more than $50,000 — a dramatic increase from the $38,000 raised last year.

Teams of fraternities and sororities competed for the right to donate part of the proceeds to their charity of choice by participating in events such as dodgeball, bowling and a blood drive.

“Greek Week was a collaborative effort by the Greek community to raise money for charities and enthusiastically exhibit (the Greek community’s) place in the University community,” said Jon Krasnov, spokesman for the Interfraternity Council.

Among the highlights of the week was an event called “Journey of Hope,” in which representatives from the different benefiting charities — including football coach Lloyd Carr for the Coach Carr Cancer Fund and children who had attended Camp Heartland, a summer camp for children infected with HIV or AIDS — spoke to members of the Greek community.

“(The speakers) told us why we are doing this,” said Lauren Rueber, a Kinesiology senior and co-director of Greek Week. “I think it’s the most rewarding aspect of the week.”

Another highlight was “Mr. Greek Week” — a mock beauty pageant for fraternity members. Lisa Wood, LSA senior and philanthropy chair for Alpha Delta Phi, said the event raised about $4,000.

Greek Week culminated with the “Sing and Variety” show, in which different teams performed song-and-dance routines after long months of practice

“All the teams worked for months on end to put together a truly fantastic musical and dance competition,” Krasnov said.

Lindsay Fediuk, LSA junior and spokeswoman for the Panhellenic Association, said she was proud of the Greek community and its involvement in philanthropy.

“It was great to see everybody wearing their letters, proud to be Greek and working for a philanthropic cause,” she said.

Travis Foley, co-director of the Greek Week Steering Committee, said much of the money raised was due to the time and effort of individual houses and that many donations came from local businesses, including Big Ten Burrito, STA Travel and Buffalo Wild Wings. Sponsors also included Apple Computer and the Necto.

The funds raised this year will be distributed to several charities, including the Coach Carr Fund, which funds patient care at the University Cancer Center, Camp Heartland, a summer camp for children infected with HIV or AIDS, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, a group that tries to enrich the lives of terminally ill children and the Cancer Wellness Community, which will open in Ann Arbor next year.

In addition to Greek Week, fraternities and sororities are involved in many other philanthropic activities throughout the year. IFC, for example, co-sponsored “Best of All Worlds” earlier this month — a dance competition whose funds were dedicated to the victims of the December tsunami in Southeast Asia.