Philanthropy 101

By: Julie Howell

Acceptance can be a difficult concept to master. We all have things that we struggle to accept. For me, it’s the fact that I’m graduating college in less than 2 months and still have no idea what I’m going to do with my life. Unfortunately, I can’t be a college student forever, but my refusal to accept this doesn’t have the power to move my graduation date any further away.

As I’m reluctantly getting ready to enter the real world, I’ve found myself reflecting on everything the past four years have taught me. Sure, I’ve learned how to master the art of the all-nighter and how to make $20 last for a week, but I consider myself really lucky to have learned some things that will carry me through life after college – valuable lessons that will still be important when I’m no longer expanding margins to make my papers appear longer than they actually are or surviving on a diet of ramen noodles and Red Bull.

One of the most important things I’ve learned is that flaws are inevitable, but they can also be beautiful. I’ve learned that everyone struggles sometimes, and the true success of a person isn’t measured by money, but by how they help others make it through their own struggles, whatever they may be.

That’s why I decided to get involved with the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. For the millions of women who suffer from eating disorders, simple everyday tasks that many of us take for granted, like eating breakfast or looking in a mirror, are a constant struggle with body image, self-love, and acceptance.

As a sister of the Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority, ANAD is one of our national philanthropies. Every year, our chapter holds events and activities in order to raise money and increase awareness about eating disorders across campus.

When I took the position of philanthropy coordinator for my sorority, I knew that it would be my job to help plan these events. I knew that I would have the opportunity to help a great organization with a very important message. What I didn’t know, however, was how much my involvement with ANAD would help me.

Last fall, I helped plan a fashion show that our chapter holds every year as a fundraiser for ANAD. I had previous experience planning events, but I was surprised by the overwhelming amount of support and help I received from the campus and the community. Five local boutiques donated their clothing, and women from different sororities and campus organizations volunteered to be “models.” The end result was an amazing show, where women of all different shapes and sizes walked the runway in front of hundreds of students who came to watch the show and support the fashion show’s message. We wanted to promote the importance of being comfortable in your own jeans, no matter what size they are.

As a young woman constantly pressured by the media to look a certain way, I know how easy it is to fall into the trap of insecurity and self-doubt. Seeing so many college students come together at the fashion show to support an organization whose message is one about self-love and acceptance was one of the most eye-opening and rewarding experiences I’ve had.

I’ve learned that the struggle to accept ourselves as we are, flaws and all, is one that no one should have to go through alone. Doing something to help, whether it’s planning a charity event for an organization like ANAD, or simply reminding a friend how beautiful she is, can make a world of difference. We should all take inspiration from the first two lines of the ANAD Pledge, which reads as follows:

“I will accept myself as I am. I will accept others as they are.”

Julie Howell is a journalism and philosophy double major at the University of Pittsburgh, a blogger for various publications, and an avid believer in giving back to the community. E-mail her at juliehowell210@yahoo.com.