Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. // Rutgers University // Eta Chapter

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.

On March 9, 1995, seven courageous young women at Binghamton University set forth to establish an organization that represented their values and ideals of Asian-American culture - Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. These young women, Elizabeth Choi, Karen Eng, Rei Hirasawa, Hee Cho Moon, Chae Yoo Park, Samantha Somchanhmavong, and Connie Yang, envisioned a sorority that would encompass values such as sisterhood, community service, and cultural diversity. With these values instilled, Kappa Phi Lambda has now expanded to 23 colleges and universities, and is undoubtedly still growing at an amazing rate. The sisters of Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority are made up of a medlee of different races and welcomes anyone of non-asian ethnicity. The sorority's goal is to share its values with anyone who believe in the same ventures it strives for. With emphasis on the importance of academic excellence, sisterly bonds, and Asian-awareness, Kappa Phi Lambda has and will successfully leave behind a legacy of eternal sisterhood that its seven founding mothers worked so hard to achieve.

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In the Fall of 1999, thirteen admirable women at Rutgers University embarked upon a challenging yet rewarding journey towards sisterhood. These 13 strong, ambitious, and hardworking pioneers, Irene Chan, Sophia Chan, Gina Coquia, Ruth Ding, Jennifer Jose, Denise Lai, Debra Louie, Michelle Quon, Yen Quan, Jaymee Racho, Valerie Seto, Patty Tsai, and Amy Wong, worked to bring a unique and diverse organization to Rutgers University. Throughout their arduous journey, the charters experienced many trials and hardships, yet they remained adament on conquering their goal. Through the process, they developed strong, irreplaceable sisterly bonds and still remain close today... and on November 7, 1999, Kappa Phi Lambda became the first Asian Interest Sorority in New Jersey.

Hand in hand, Kappa Phi Lambda as a sisterhood, strive for community involvement and philanthropy. Each year our sisterhood flourishes and prospers. Each year we work to ensure our community grows along with us, never leaving it behind. We lend our hands to help others as much as we can. We manage our time to volunteer at different organizations, and we open our hearts to provide hope, understanding, and strength to our community.

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Kappa Phi Lambda constantly strives to excel in one of it's strong pillars - service. We attempt to grab every opportunity possible to help out our community. One of the services we do around our community is Adopt-A-Highway. Rutgers Kappa Phi Lambda has adopted a strip of the US Rt. 1 highway in New Brunswick by Devry and

Bristol Myers Squibb. If you travel there, you should spot a road sign stating "This portion of Rt. 1 has been adopted by Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority Inc." We also volunteer at many famous walks around the area by helping set up the event, assit in event logistics, and cleaning up after the walk. many sisters also walk in the walk itself as well. Walks we have volunteer at include AIDS Walk NYC and NJ, Light the Night Walk, and the March of Dimes. Kappa Phi Lambda also assists the Rutgers community, volunteering and participating in the RU Dance Marathon, Rutgers Daycare Centers, and RU Homecoming, In order to help our local community, we also volunteer at Elijah's Promise soup kitchen in New Brunswick, local blood drives, local schools and daycare centers, Feed the Children, and more. Any service opportunity that arises, Kappa Phi Lambda jumps at a chance to help.

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Kappa Phi Lambda has a heart for women and children. Thus, our chapter philanthropies are UNICEF Children's Foundation and Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence. Each semester, we work to fundraise money to donate to these two organizations.

During Fall of 2006, Kappa Phi Lambda held its first annual charity fashion show DESIRE for UNICEF, which featured clothing designed by both sisters and other aspiring designers. The event was a huge success and over $1300 of raised proceeds were donated to UNICEF.

Kappa Phi Lambda also believes in making a philanthropic difference in its local community. Therefore, every winter, the sisters of Kappa Phi Lambda hold their annual Dear Santa Benefit Dinner and Show to raise both money and toys for the children at Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson in New Brunswick. Each Christmas, Kappa Phi Lambda donates over 1000 toys to the children's hospital on top of any monetary funds raised.

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What differentiates Kappa Phi Lambda from most other sororities is that we are a cultural sorority with a added focus on learning about Asian culture and spreading Asian Awareness throughout our communities. Each semester, Kappa Phi Lambda sponsors and hosts many cultural programs both internally and externally to learn about and spread cultural diversity to the Rutgers community. Our cultural events are eclectic, featuring a variety of topics and styles. Some past events include Roll Nite, Fighting Arts Showcase, Seminar on The Rape of Nanking, Halloween Cultural Scary Movie Night, Chinese Ribbon Dace class, Seminar on Human Traffiking, and more. Click to see an article in the World Journal on our Rape of Nanking event.

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