DC Brothers Keeper Initiative

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Article: My Brother’s Keeper Program

July 20, 2024


On June 25, 2024, the home of Brother DeMar Rodgers fell victim to fire at the Oxford Manor Apartments located in Ward 8 of Washington, DC. At the time this article was written, the property, including 26 other units, was considered a total loss.  Even at this colossally unfortunate turn of events, the Brothers of the Washington (DC) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi sprung into action. 


Brothers immediately began to offer monetary donations through the chapter and the chapter’s charitable foundation –  the Washington (DC) Alumni Chapter’s Charitable Foundation (Flagship Foundation) to aid not only Brother Rodgers but also his neighbors who were also impacted by the total loss of the apartment building. The “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative is just the latest of the Washington (DC) Alumni campaigns to raise money on a tax deductible basis through our Givelify App: from Kappa League/Guide Right, Undergraduate Affairs, and Community Service to Cancer Research and other worthy causes undertaken by the Chapter.  (Our donation tab is https://giv.li/6s8ngy.) Within the span of just 5 days, the Foundation and Chapter collected nearly $6,000.00 to assist Brother Rodgers and his neighbors.

 The “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative is just the latest of the Washington (DC) Alumni campaigns to raise money​

Led by the actions and initiative of the 49th Polemarch Donald Greenwood and the 44th chapter Polemarch and Chairman of the Flagship Foundation, Robert Cooper, Brothers began to support the effort.  Being the Noble Kappaman that Brother Rodgers is, he was willing to accept only a portion of the donation so that his neighbors may receive assistance as well.  And with that gesture, on July 18, 10 Good Kappamen assembled to ceremoniously distribute $100 gift cards to 20 people who lost their homes due to the fire.

On June 30, Polemarch Donald Greenwood wrote “Because we raised a nice sum of money, Brother DeMar, in his giving way as always, says we should help others in need as well.  This was great because it allows us to distribute the funds from the Foundation without any concerns.  I asked Brother Naseem (Community Service Chairman) to take this action and he very willingly agreed. “  Polemarch Greenwood also added, “Therefore, we are working with the Property Management Team, in which Brother Martin is the contact person, to identify the residents in need.  We are planning to set a date in which we will meet with the residents to provide gift cards as well as to make our donation to our beloved Brother DeMar.  Once we have a date and time we will communicate that with the Chapter.”