Greek Week, best known for the prestigious Greek Cup bestowed upon the winner of the week's activities, is much more than that, community members said.
UNM's Greek community also uses the annual event to donate money and time to a local business in need of support.
"There is a competitive spirit behind Greek Week, but it is also a time for us to give back to the community," said Lauren Haggerty, public relations director for this year's event. "It's a chance to extend a hand to those less fortunate than us."
Each year, a local business is named as the recipient for the money generated by the philanthropic efforts of UNM's 17 Greek organizations. This year's recipient is Cuidando Los Nios, a nonprofit organization helping homeless families become self-sufficient by providing free licensed child care and family support services for up to 12 months.
Haggerty said the organization relies heavily on a run-down fleet of vans it uses to pick up the children of the homeless families while their parents spend the day looking for work.
"We hope to provide them with enough money to fix their vans so their business can continue," she said. "Without transportation, Cuidando Los Nios won't exist, and many people's lives will be affected."
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Haggerty anticipates that the revenue generated by this year's Greek Week will exceed the more than $12,000 given to last year's recipient, the Rio Grande Zoo.
The revenue will be generated through donations from local businesses and several fund-raisers planned throughout the week by UNM's fraternities and sororities.
The beneficiary of UNM's Greek Week is chosen by a panel of University Greeks that review letters submitted by businesses detailing their need for the money. Past recipients have included the Albuquerque Rape Crisis Center and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, a national organization researching treatment and prevention of HIV infection in infants and children.
This year's Greek Week, themed "Got Greek?" will include numerous athletic events, including basketball, volleyball and miniature golf tournaments, as well as the annual Greek games, planned for this Saturday at Johnson Field.
"Greek Week allows you to show your skills and how well your fraternity or sorority works together," said Joey Rohrer, overall co-chairman of Greek Week 2004. "We all get so busy with our own organizations during the year, it's a chance to get together with all our fellow Greeks."
UNM's more than 600 Greeks, from all 11 fraternities and six sororities, will perform their philanthropic duties by volunteering at Cuidando Los Nios and picking up trash around campus. They will also participate in creative performances, taking turns singing for each other outside their organization's houses and acting out elaborate skits.
Rohrer said there is also a faculty breakfast planned for Thursday morning and all UNM staff and faculty are invited.
The first-ever event is a way for the University's Greeks to show appreciation of the people who foster their education, he said.
Emily Bryl, co-chairwoman of this year's Greek Week, said one of the highlights of the week will be a visit to campus by Curtis Zimmerman, a renowned juggler, magician and motivational speaker.
Everyone is welcome to that and all of the Greek Week events, she said.
Greek Week is structured on a point system, with the week's activities worth various amounts of points. The overall highest point earning organization is awarded the Greek Cup at the Greek Banquet on Saturday night.
"Greek Week is something the Greek community looks forward to all year," Bryl said. "It's a time to be competitive among ourselves and compassionate to the outside community. It allows us to work together and build the Greek community for future generations."
