Kappa Phi Lambda

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Kappa Phi Lambda
ΚΦΛ
Founded: March 9, 1995 at

The State University of New York, Binghamton
Founders:
  • Elizabeth Choi
  • Karen Eng
  • Rei Hirasawa
  • Hee Cho Moon
  • Chae Yoo Park
  • Samantha Somchanhmavong
  • Connie Yang
Nicknames: Kappa, KPL
Official Colors:
Scarlet Red
White
Heather Grey
Flower: Orchid
Gem: Diamond
Mascot: Phoenix
Motto: "Sisterhood, Service & Cultural Diversity"
Homepage: http://www.kappaphilambda.org

Kappa Phi Lambda (ΚΦΛ) is an Asian American interest sorority that was founded on March 9, 1995 at SUNY Binghamton in Binghamton, New York. The sorority was conceived through the notion of an organization that would provide a culturally sound and educationally inspiring grounding for Asian American women. With 25 schools and growing across the East Coast and the Midwest, Kappa Phi Lambda is one of the fastest expanding Asian American interest sororities in the United States.

Contents

[edit] History

Seven women came together to establish Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. at Binghamton University on March 9, 1995. The seven founders were Elizabeth Choi, Karen Eng, Rei Hirasawa, Hee Cho Moon, Chae Yoo Park, Samantha Somchanhmavong, and Connie Yang. They united with a single vision of providing women with the chance to use their pride in their heritage to become leaders in society.

This sorority is open to women of all nationalities and backgrounds who want to learn about, actively speak for, and represent Pan-Asian culture. The first sisters of Kappa Phi Lambda extended their hands to the community through charitable works of both service oriented and philanthropic natures. Kappa Phi Lambda was formed with the aim of providing the campuses and society with yet another option for learning and another outlet for activity.

[edit] Mission Statement

We, the sisters of Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Incorporated, strive to strengthen Sisterhood amongst women by providing service and promoting cultural diversity to our members and our community, thus securing the bond of kinship for posterity. Kappa Phi Lambda exists to further educate individuals about Pan-Asian culture, while keeping our own identities. We aim for academic excellence, keeping in mind the importance of education and learning as the key to strength, awareness, and fulfillment.

[edit] Service & Philanthropy

Kappa Phi Lambda is an organization which prides itself on its sense of commitment to cultural diversity and strong bonds of sisterhood. However, the other primary focus is to offer their service to the community. Its national philanthropic cause is the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF), the only multi-issue APA women's organization in the country with the mission to build a movement to advance social justice and human rights for APA women and girls. Individual chapters or colonies participate in their own community service events. Furthermore, each respective school has designated at least one local non-profit organization as their philanthropic cause of choice. The sorority predominantly focuses on contributing to domestic violence organizations, all the while maintaining its sense of diversity by fundraising for other types of causes of concern.

[edit] Cultural Diversity

The sisters of Kappa Phi Lambda strongly believe in the importance of cultural diversity — not only amongst its membership but also within the greater context of the universities and communities in which the organization exists. Although it is an Asian American interest sorority, the organization stresses multicultural awareness through a variety of Pan-Asian cultural events, and membership is open to application from women of all backgrounds. Kappa Phi Lambda chapters and colonies organize programming which enriches cultural awareness including but not limited to speaker series, workshops, film screenings, and collaborations with other cultural groups.

[edit] Locations

[edit] Chapters

[edit] Colonies

[edit] References

Kappa Phi Lambda national website (http://www.kappaphilambda.org)