Jacob Kaplan Safe Campus Award

  • The ΣAM Foundation is excited to announce a new award for our collegiate chapters, the Jacob Kaplan Safe Campus Award!

     

    These annual awards were created by Jacqueline Jacobs Caster to honor her grandfather, ΣAM Founder Jacob Kaplan, part of the Octagon. Fra Kaplan was a family law attorney, a fierce defender of legal rights with a focus upon keeping women safe from harm.  

     

    Jacqueline, an attorney herself, created these awards in response to the increasing national press surrounding fraternities and sexual assaults on college campuses. It is her fervent wish to see Sammy at the forefront of reversing this trend through programs, partnerships and education and to establish itself as the national leader of this effort. 

     

     

    2024 Award Recipients

     

    Mu Theta/USC for their work creating a safe space with an event with a local nonprofit, Peace Over Violence, that supports women and educates on the signs of domestic abuse. Subsequently the chapter also became involve with A Path to Courage to support survivors of sexual assault. $2500

     

    $1500 Runner Up: Beta Gamma/Arizona for creating a Sober Safe Room for woman at their events. This room is a safe space for female guests and is stocked with water and a female security officer, with a restroom nearby.

     

     

    2023 Recipients
    Tau/Alabama for their work with the other 70 Greek organizations on campus in providing Sammy Safe Boxes to the Tuscaloosa Safe Center.

     

    Runner Up: Mu Eta/Drexel for their Sexual Violence Prevention Workshop. The chapter partnered with Drexel Secret-a campus women's empowerment organization-to offer this program.

     

 
  • There are two awards available each year- one for $2,500 and one for $1,500. These are available through an easy, on-line application process. The criteria for the award is:

     

      1. Identify the audience that the chapter has helped
      2. Explain how the program was executed
      3. How the chapter partnered with campus professionals/community professionals/subject matter experts to execute the program
      4. Program dates
      5. Program costs
      6. How the chapter measured the success of the idea or program
      7. How the chapter will continue to advocate for a safer campus experience for students

     

    This is an excellent way for ΣAM to be the fraternal leader on your campus in helping make it safe for everyone.  Additionally, this is an excellent recruitment tool for new members, showing that Sammy takes sexual assault prevention seriously.

     

    Questions about the program requirements or application process can be directed to the Foundation via Maria Mandel, Director of Scholarships & Grants, at mariam@sam-fdn.org

     

    The award winners will be announced at the August Convention and the award funds will be placed in a Chapter Educational Fund (CEF) for the chapter to use for qualifed programs.