Positive Foundations and the Greek Awareness Club, two clubs with seemingly disparate missions, co-sponsored a march against poverty last Saturday. Approximately 70 students from five fraternities, two sororities and activist clubs marched from the Great Lawn to the corner of Moody and Main Streets to raise money for the Millennium Development Goals, eight initiatives developed by members of The Earth Institute at Columbia University and the United Nations Millennium Project to combat global poverty.

The walk focused on the specific goal of "eradicat[ing] extreme hunger and poverty" in sub-Saharan Africa.

"We believe in philanthropy," said Phi Kappa Psi brother Jamie Ansorge '09. Of helping to decrease poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, Ansorge added, "There's no better cause."

Sam Vaghar '08, co-executive director of Positive Foundations and an Alpha Delta Phi brother, said the walk would increase awareness of extreme worldwide poverty among the Brandeis and Waltham communities. Participants in the walk handed out fliers to pedestrians on Moody and Main.

Vaghar said the walk was an important step in building "sustainable support" in fighting extreme poverty. Positive Foundations also raised money during the event by selling t-shirts and bracelets.

Positive Foundations has raised $2,800 for the Millennium Project fund so far by holding raffles and a coffeehouse in November, as well as by receiving donations from clubs. Fraternity and sorority members also collected over $300 by going door-to-door on Moody and Main the week before the walk, asking restaurant and store owners to donate money to the cause.

"I think it's a great chance to unite the campus around one common goal," said Positive Foundations Co-Executive Director Seth Werfel '10.

While students did not pay to participate in the Walk Against Poverty, Greek Awareness Club President Dan Rueven '09, a Phi Kappa Psi brother, said donations were greatly appreciated.

The Walk Against Poverty was also a way for the Greek Awareness Club to draw attention to Brandeis Greek organizations' philanthropic activity, Rueven said. He added that the club, founded in 2003, is dedicated to "promot[ing] the positive aspects of Greek life," including charity efforts.

Positive Foundations will be hosting a Millennium Development Goals week starting April 11th.