ATO expanding to Lamar University

“ATO is known as America’s Leadership Development Fraternity,” RJ Taylor, senior leadership consultant, said in an email interview.

The Lamar chapter is the 12th active ATO chapter in the state of Texas.

“This network of alumni serves as an invaluable resource for the men choosing to become (the fraternity’s) founding fathers here at Lamar,” Taylor said. “ATO gives you the opportunity to find a family away from home.

“Our focus is on establishing a strong foundation for the organization to grow and succeed.”

ATO’s alumni include Steve Spurrier, Red McCombs, Cris Collinsworth, Lee Corso, Guy Fieri, William H. Davidson, and John “Papa John” Schnatter.

Taylor said that this fall’s members are founding fathers, charged with getting the fraternity up and running. They are seeking new members to be initiated in November so they can qualify as a full fraternity.

ATO donates its time and resources to local and national charities, Taylor said.

“Alpha Tau Omega National Fraternity does not have a single philanthropy or cause, but instead empowers every ATO chapter to choose a cause within their local community to support,” he said. “Over the past year, ATO donated more than $8.1 million to philanthropies and local communities.”

ATO is a national social fraternity governed by the North-American Interfraternity Conference, Taylor said.

“We are Greek in name only,” he said. “We base our ATO values and principles on Christian beliefs and teachings. We do not force Christianity on any member nor is it a prerequisite for membership. We encourage men of every faith or no faith at all to join ATO.”

*Original article credited to the Lamar University Press: http://go.ato.org/1aeiP3O