Mental health affects everyone — students, families, business owners, and faculty alike. It’s not just a campus issue, it’s a community issue. That belief is what guided us, the brothers of Sigma Tau Gamma at UNC Charlotte, as we partnered with Active Minds to make a real impact on campus and beyond this year.
We wanted to do more than raise money — we wanted to create connection. Through fun, welcoming events that encouraged real participation, we set out to bring our campus and local community together around a cause that matters: mental health awareness.
From the beginning, we knew our efforts couldn’t just stay within our chapter. We wanted to bring people in — people from all backgrounds, organizations, and neighborhoods — to rally behind this movement. Mental health is something we can all relate to on some level, and we believed the best way to make an impact was by breaking down barriers and creating shared spaces where conversations could happen and support could grow.
To do that, we organized several events that were centered not only around raising funds but around building community.
One of our biggest successes was Trivia Night at a local Mexican restaurant. We worked with the owners to create an event that was open to the public — students, professors, families, and local residents were all welcome. We wrote trivia questions, promoted the trivia night, and ensured everything ran smoothly. It was fun, casual, and full of energy, with competition, collaboration, and most importantly, connection. The restaurant helped us donate proceeds to Active Minds, and it felt great to see so many people come show their support.
Another highlight was our Pie-a-Brother event on campus. We set up in a high-traffic area, inviting everyone to pie one of us for a donation. It was lighthearted, fun, and provided a platform to talk about mental health in a more approachable way. People who had never heard of Active Minds before were suddenly curious. Even those who didn’t participate directly stayed to ask questions, read about the organization, or just enjoy the positive atmosphere.
A huge part of our success also came from partnering with local businesses. We reached out to companies across the city for support — some donated gift cards or prizes for trivia, others listened to what we had to say. What mattered most was that we didn’t just ask for help — we explained why we were doing this. We talked about Active Minds’ mission and the impact mental health awareness can have, and in return, we saw an incredible amount of support.
Outside of events, we focused on outreach and awareness. We set up tables across campus, handing out bracelets, pins, and digital links to the Active Minds website. We didn’t talk at people — we had real conversations. We asked how they were doing, what mental health meant to them, and how they could help break the stigma. Every person who stopped by, whether they donated or not, became a part of the movement.
In the end, we raised meaningful funds for Active Minds, but more importantly, we created real, human-centered moments. Our events weren’t only about donations — they were about sparking connection, encouraging conversation, and building bridges between different groups of people. Whether it was someone from a local business, a student walking to class, or a family grabbing dinner at the restaurant, everyone had a place in what we were building.
We learned that when you create inclusive, engaging spaces around serious issues, people show up. And the effort starts with simple things — emails, flyers, phone calls, and most of all, a willingness to be present and involved.
This is only the beginning for us. We’re already brainstorming future collaborations and community-based events to keep the momentum going. Because at the end of the day, mental health is more than a cause — it’s something that connects us all.
To every student, business, friend, and stranger who supported us: thank you. Together, we showed what’s possible when a community comes together with compassion and purpose. But the momentum doesn’t stop here… what will you do to unite your community for change?
