WILL SEBERGER/Arizona Daily Wildcat Vipin Ashnar, of Tucson, walks his bike past the new mural above the underpass near the CCIT building on East Speedway Boulevard. The mural was created as a campus beautification project for Greek philanthropy.

Some of Tucson's homeless population, firemen, and disadvantaged children are happier today thanks to the efforts of UA's greek community.

About 320 fraternity and sorority members volunteered at eight different locations across Tucson yesterday for All Greek Service Day, participating in activities that ranged from yardwork to bowling.

"The biggest problem has been that we have had too many people show up some places," said Mariel Furst, vice president of programming for the Panhellenic Association, which governs all UA sororities.

About 50 greeks spent the afternoon bowling, raising more than $2,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tucson, and they expect more to be donated over the next couple of days, Furst said.

"The money goes to help us match more children with role models," said Freedom Kolb, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tucson.

Chris Mazzarella, a member of Chi Phi, spent last week getting sponsors for the event.

"I wanted to sign up because I enjoy bowling," he said.

Back on campus, a group of about 30 fraternity and sorority members worked with the Graffiti Abatement Program to paint a mural along the south side of East Speedway Boulevard between North Mountain and North Cherry Avenues.

The mural depicts a desert, a mountain and a beach scene.

"It turned out really well. We are happy," Furst said.

Furst, who planned many of the All Greek Service Day events, said she tried to incorporate many parts of the community instead of benefiting just one cause.

Some greeks spent the day working for Tucson's homeless and displaced, by volunteering at three centers across town.

About 20 fraternity men cleaned the grounds at the Travelers Aid Society of Tucson, a shelter and crisis aid program. Also, five sorority women cleaned playrooms at the Brewster Center, a shelter for battered women.

Volunteers delivered more than a dozen boxes of toiletries along with items of clothing to Primavera Homeless Shelter, and will deliver more today, Furst said.

Volunteers also collected canned foods for the St. Thomas Moore Catholic Newman Center on campus.

The event provided an opportunity for greek students to get involved in the community, Mazzarella said.

"It is my first semester in Chi Phi so I haven't experienced everything yet," he said.

The All Greek Service Day is the largest philanthropy of the spring semester, Furst said.

In the fall, the greek system will host Cat Walk to benefit the Bobbi Olson Ovarian Cancer Foundation. Last semester the event, which is a part of the annual "Greek Week", raised around $13,000, Furst said.

An All Greek Philanthropy fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday on the UA Mall.