It started eleven years ago with a three hundred dollars ($300.00) budget and twenty-five neighborhood children. January 1997, the program known as “Kappa Days of Caring was founded. Kappa Days of Caring is a mentoring and tutoring program conducted at Guthrie Elementary School. Students from the neighborhood, surrounding area and other parts of Memphis and Shelby County are tutoring in math, reading, and language arts. The students are also introduced to a positive “Life Skills” program along with motivational speakers and fieldtrips. The program was initially launched as a program for boys of the Guthrie Elementary School, a failing inter-city school. However, Kappa Days of Caring has grown to serve the needs, dreams, and hopes of students, male and female, first grade through high school from through out the Memphis and Shelby County community with an annual budget exceeding that of $50,000.00 and the initiation of a scholarship fund for graduating seniors.
The Memphis Alumni Service Corp. and the Memphis Alumni Chapter have assisted in the funding and the establishment of a 21st century computer lab at Guthrie Elementary. The Memphis Alumni Service Corp. has also funded an after school computer training class. In 2002, a guest speaker was so impressed with the program that he invited a select group of students to the company’s first annual “ Empowering Our Youth Program.” Thanks to the efforts of dedicated brothers, Kappa Days of Caring has become an outstanding example of community involvement in service to public education.. Kappa Days of Caring has received outstanding praise from the past and newly appointed Superintendent of Memphis City Schools, as well as, past and present Grand Polemarchs of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and past and present South Central Province Polemarchs.
While many in the Memphis area are meeting, investigating, blaming others for the plight of the school system and the state of affairs surrounding the area’s youth, the Memphis Alumni Chapter has taken action. Yes, it does take a village to raise a child. However, the village Elders always lead the way. Memphis Alumni Chapter has taken the lead in not only “ Saving Our Children”, but also training them for leadership, preparing them to take their place as leaders and productive members of our society.