The Mu Omega chapter of the Sigma Gamma Rho sorority is raising money for March of Dimes. The sorority will collect change at its kiosk in the Johnson Center every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until May 4.

According to Alexandra Walker, president of the Mu Omega chapter, March of Dimes aims to raise money for research regarding premature babies and prenatal care.

Sigma Gamma Rho’s longstanding partnership with March of Dimes at the national level falls under the sorority’s H3 initiative.

“[The H3 initiative comprises] healthy living, health choices and healthy generations. March of Dimes falls under healthy generations,” Walker said.

The George Mason University community has responded enthusiastically to the sorority’s efforts to benefit March of Dimes.

“We’ve gotten a lot of people to come up without knowing anything about us and give us change,” Walker said. “Also a professor came up and gave us dollar bills for donation.” According to Elizabeth McDougal, vice-president of the Mu Omega chapter, other Greek organizations contribute to the change drive as well.

The Mu Omega chapter’s fundraising efforts are not limited to change collection on campus. The chapter recently won first place in a stroll competition at the University of Maryland, earning $300 for their cause.

A team from Sigma Gamma Rho named “MQ Poodles & Friends” will also take part in the Fairfax walk for March of Dimes on May 6.

Members of the community should register for the upcoming walk and donate money, Walker said.

“It’s great to walk and show support, but they also need the money for research and things of that sort,” Walker said.

According to Ebony Chambers, historian of the Mu Omega chapter, members of the Mason community should do their own research into what March of Dimes actually does.

“They do a lot of things for mothers who have premature babies and they do a lot of work for prenatal care. And that is so important for having a healthy baby,” Chambers said.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Mu Omega chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho on the Mason campus.