This Valentine’s Day, expect to see members of Kappa Alpha Theta delivering Crush Grams to students across UT’s campus. Students were able to purchase Crush Grams for friends, professors and love interests from Theta’s table in Vaughn lobby.
“Crush Grams are a can of Crush soda with a heart-shaped, lollipop and a personal heart shaped note attached,” said Amanda Hyssong, the service and philanthropy director for Kappa Alpha Theta. This “basic Crush Gram” costs $2.
Crush Grams were sold at Kappa Alpha Theta’s Crush Gram table from Feb. 7-12.
However, Theta gave students the opportunity to upgrade their Crush Grams.
“This year we have added the option that for an extra $1, a piece of chocolate shaped like lips can be added [to the Gram],” Hyssong said.
For students wishing to send anonymously, Theta also offered “Crush
Insurance.” By spending an extra $1, Hyssong said, “the Crush-ee will never find out who sent them the Crush Gram.”
Students who did not buy crush insurance, beware. Recipients of Crush Grams can choose to pay $2 to find out who sent it. However, Theta members will not tell whether the sender purchased insurance or not, so Gram receivers risk losing $2 if the sender bought insurance.
“All [students had] to do is come fill out the sheet and pay the appropriate price,” Hyssong said.
The form asked students for both their name and the name of their crush, along with their crush’s room number and approximate time of delivery on Valentine’s Day.
With the money raised from selling Crush Grams, Theta plans to donate all of it to The Theta Foundation, one of the sorority’s own philanthropies.
“It is a fund that helps Thetas in need,” Hyssong said. “Whether that be with educational or leadership scholarships, or if they are in a crisis situation.”
One member of Theta, sophomore criminology and psychology major Raven Hollaway, commented on the purpose of Crush Grams.
“I think they’re a really nice way to brighten someone’s day by showing you care while simultaneously raising money,” Hollaway said.
Danielle Carpenter can be reached at danielle.carpenter@spartans.ut.edu