Ka Leo O Hawaii

Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: Mixed Plate

Media Credit: Courtesy of BBG Sorority Top Row: Amber Nakasone, Ronalyn Reyes (scholarship recipient), Karri Villanueva. Bottom Row: Joanne Allagonez (scholarship recipient), Christina Bujoli, Jenny Lee (pledge captain)

For the past eight years, the Beta Beta Gamma Foundation has worked with current BBG sisters to host an annual golf tournament and has met its goal of raising a $100,000 endowment for scholarships and donations to charities.

Taking part in this year's Greek rush season are candidates for BBG, the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa's oldest and only local sorority.

BBG, a cosmopolitan sorority with a membership of just 13 sisters, works to promote leadership, community service, and sisterhood.

"The good thing about having a small sorority is that everyone gets to know each other better," said BBG secretary Karri Villanueva. "It's a good way to meet good friends."

BBG began as a group of UH students interested in Korean culture, and in 1948 gained sorority status. Over the years, BBG evolved into a diverse, service-oriented sisterhood.

"Because we're from here, we have a big network," Villanueva said.

BBG has a large alumnae network of professional women who mentor current sorority members, according to Villanueva.

BBG graduates formed the BBG Foundation in 1999, which has a membership of women in their 20s all the way to their 60s, according to Dr. Judith Saranchock, the foundation president.

The BBG Foundation will use the proceeds from this year's golf tournament, their largest fundraising event, to buy a new truck for Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit organization that delivers nutritious meals to the elderly and homebound and disabled persons.

"It's a program that is important, and the funding has dropped recently," Saranchock said.

Part of the proceeds will also fund $750 scholarships offered to UH women who perform well academically and who are interested in service and leadership. Recipients are expected to become active members of the BBG sorority.

The BBG Golf Tournament, which will be a three-person team scramble, will be on Oct. 4 at Kapolei Golf Course. The entry fee of $175 is due on Sept. 24. Interested golfers may contact Janet Hirai at 522-2043.

BBG Sorority:

All girls interested in participating in a community service-oriented group.

More information on joining, contact:
Kimberly Shigeoka, bbg@hawaii.edu, http://www2.hawaii.edu/~bbg

Those interested in donating, volunteering at the tournament or forming a team, contact:
Janet Hirai at 522-2043 or fax 522-2082. The deadline to form a team is Sept. 25.

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