GW Greek-letter community members will come together Thursday to kick off Greek Week, seven days of events that give fraternity and sorority members the chance to socialize and service the community.

“The Greek community is more than the IFC,” said Interfraternity Council Vice President for Programming Brandon Moss.

Moss said members of the IFC, the Panhellenic Association and the National Panhellenic Council worked together on the Greek Week programs.

Community service efforts will begin Oct. 1 and 2 when toys will be collected for young patients at the D.C. Hospital for Children. The drive will end Saturday when fraternity and sorority members distribute the items to children.

Volunteers will read to patients before returning for Quad Day, said Janine Geraigery, Panhellenic Association vice president for programming. Quad Day will include music, food, games and contests for the University community.

A Date Auction to benefit Saint Jude’s Hospital will take place Oct. 1, auction coordinator Dan Seigel said.

“Every fraternity and every sorority is going to put up one member from their house to be auctioned off,” Seigel said.

Once a “date” is purchased, the couple will receive prizes, which include a dinner at a Georgetown restaurant, movie tickets and gift certificates. The auction will be held at 9 p.m. in J Street and is open to the GW undergraduate community.

Other Greek Week activities include an all-Greek night at The Diva Oct. 1, dinner for members of the Greek-letter community at the University Club Friday and a semi-formal at Alcatraz Saturday. Tickets for the Alcatraz event will be on sale for interested GW students who are not members of a Greek-letter organization.

The Greek God and Goddess Tournament Thursday and Saturday evenings will be another highlight of the week’s events, Geraigery said. The Greek god and goddess are seen by members of the Greek-letter community as “the representatives of Greek Week,” Moss said.

Seigel said fraternity and sorority members who compete to be the Greek god or goddess “basically go up (on stage) in white sheets and perform some kind of talent.” The competitors also are required to answer questions as part of the tournament, he said.

Greek Week will end Saturday night with an award presentation. Awards will be distributed to those individuals and organizations who were especially active in the week’s events.

Moss said he had a suggestion for those who are interested in extending the week’s events another day.

“As part of Greek Week, everyone is encouraged to attend the AIDS Walk on Sunday morning,” Moss said.