One the most challenging hurdles a Greek organization faces in philanthropic programming is getting members of the community outside one’s fraternity or sorority involved. It is often difficult to encourage students at an academically demanding university to participate in these events simply due to time restraints. However, many Greek organizations have overcome this dilemma by blending philanthropy with entertainment. This semester was abundant with such events.
Alpha Epsilon Phi fraternity held their annual Broomball Tournament at the ESLSports Centre at Monroe Community College on Oct. 3. Six teams showed up on the ice for an afternoon of intense broomball competition. Unfortunately, the tournament ran past the ice time slot and the championship game was stopped halfway, but no one minded as the $200 raised went to AIDS Rochester, which helps improve the lives of those with HIV and AIDS.
Gamma Phi Beta held their Throw a Pie at Gamma Phi on Oct. 22 in Hirst Lounge. Students, faculty and staff were able to buy tickets to pie members of the sorority, Associate Dean of Students in charge of discipline Matt Burns or Fraternity Presidents’ Council President Adam Braveman. The messy event raised over $1,000 for Hillside Children’s Center in Rochester.
Three weeks ago, SC hosted Derby Days, a tradition of the fraternity that dates back over three decades. Derby Days is a weeklong competition open to teams from the entire UR community. Each day, the teams battle in a different, highly competitive objective established by SC. A campus-wide scavenger hunt, field games and a brother date auction are only a few of the events. Derby Days was capped off at the end of the week with a party for all the contestants at the SC chapter house on the Fraternity Quad. This year, Derby Days had 11 teams enter and raised nearly $3,000 for Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong Memorial.
A few of this semester’s philanthropies took place during the past week as part of Greek Week.
Sigma Delta Tau sorority’s third annual Mr. U of R pageant took place Nov. 12 and launched the beginning of Greek Week 2004. In all, nine male contestants from the UR community competed to be crowned Mr. U of R. In front of a packed audience in Hubbell Auditorium, these nine young men flaunted their “beachwear,” showed off their hidden talents and after a special performance by the Midnight Ramblers, they showed off their evening attire and were subjected to a question and answer session. The event was both hilarious and extremely successful, as SDT raised over $800 for Prevent Child Abuse America.
Phi Sigma Sigma sorority and Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity sponsored Rock-a-Thon on Nov. 13. Over 100 people ventured in and out of the DKE chapter house throuhout the night for the live music show. The event raised over $600 for the National Kidney Foundaion.
On Nov. 14, Delta Gamma sorority hosted their 17th annual AnchorSplash at the Goergen Athletic Center. Teams competed in water relays, synchronized swimming and a spirit contest. Like always, the event was enjoyed by all the participants, and perhaps more so by the onlookers from the observation deck. DG was able to raise almost $2,000.
Every year, half of the proceeds go to the Delta Gamma Foundation, which contributes to different charities to help visually impaired people and provides scholarships and supplies for them directly. The other half goes to a charity of the sorority’s choice. This year DG decided to donate to the Upstate Guide Dog Association. The money will help raise guide dogs for visually impaired people in the Rochester area.
Lisk can be reached at
mlisk@campustimes.org.
Borchardt can be reached at
jborchardt@campustimes.org.
