Campus Greeks sought to raise money and goods May 14 on Library Walk as part of Sigma Chi’s annual Derby Days philanthropy drive.
Guardian
Rotating between members of Sigma Chi and affiliated sororities, students pledged to swing for a non-stop 48 hours, a tradition dating back to 1933.
The event is intended to raise attention for the so-called Derby Day, a yearly compromise for a week of philanthropic work where fraternity and sorority members perform various fund-raisers dedicated to giving back to the community.
One Derby Days event held this year was a sorority-run can drive, in which various sororities competed to donate the most canned goods.
“”This is a huge annual event for us,”” said Kris Chiles, the Sigma Chi Derby Day’s chairman. “”We really enjoy doing things that are excellent for the community. It’s a persona [of our fraternity] that doesn’t normally get represented.””
The money raised through the Derby is donated to the Children’s Miracle Network, a local organization that provides medical care in San Diego for children who otherwise could not afford it.
This year, Sigma Chi hopes to raise $5,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network. On May 13 alone, the Derby raised $2,000, a sum significantly larger than the $1,374 raised over the entire week in 2002.
Clothes and canned foods are also collected throughout the campaign, with the clothes being sent to Goodwill and the cans donated to the San Diego Food Bank.
Sigma Chi had originally intended to raise money on May 14 through a dunk tank, in which members of Sigma Chi, as well as faculty and staff, would participate. The dunking had to be rescheduled for May 16, however, due to the pending weather.
Further Derby Day events will take place throughout the week. On May 16, sororities will donate school supplies for children in Afghanistan. Members of the Greek community will paint over graffiti around San Diego on May 17.