On Sept. 21, Make-A-Wish partnered with the brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon to host Get Stoked, a charity event whose proceeds would be donated to help enrich the lives of children with cancer.
The event was held at Farrell Stadium on West Chester’s south campus, featuring a number of raffles, a dunk tank, and ladder ball games in conjunction with a two-hour run, which generated more than $2,000 of proceeds for Make-A-Wish.
Donors pledged a set amount of money towards individual runners or teams who then paced themselves around the track inside the stadium for two hours. Another option present for donors was to pledge toward the total mileage incurred by all of the runners. The work done this past Saturday is guaranteed to bring about change in the lives of children in need.
“We chose to work with the Make-A-Wish foundation because my buddy growing up had a wish granted,” said Steve Love, a brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon. “I wanted to do this for another kid in his honor.”
The Make-A-Wish Foundation, which was founded in 1980 in Arizona, was kicked off by fulfilling 7-year-old Chris Greicius’s dream of becoming a police officer. He was brought into the DPS Station in Scottsdale, Arizona where he became the first and only honorary officer. Since that fateful encounter between the Greicius family and the folks that would later form Make-A-Wish, the organization has aided more than 226,000 children in realizing their single strongest wish amidst a life ridden with illness.
“It’s been more than 30 years since my son Chris received his wish, and I am still amazed and inspired how one little boy’s dream to be a policeman has touched the lives of so many thousands of people,” said Linda Pauling, Greicius’s mother, this past year.
It is that exact feeling of wonder Get Stoked aspired to create. The Sigma Phi Epsilon brothers, who did this of their own volition, serve as a testament to just how far volunteer work can go, and just how great it can feel.
Sigma Phi Epsilon was founded over a century ago in Richmond, Virginia in 1901 as a fraternity with a goal in mind to help young men maximize their free time.
“Sigma Phi Epsilon taught me that I did not have to choose between academic success and the close personal relationships that make life meaningful,” says Andrew Bergurland, a 2010 graduate of Sigma Phi Epsilon, signifying the change Greek life can bring about in the life of a university student.
“The importance of philanthropy in Greek life is to give back. We raised over $3,800 so far and are continuing to raise money. We are given such an amazing opportunity by being in these organizations in college and have the means to give back, so why shouldn’t we?” Love said.
At the end of the day, participants walked away with more than just Get Stoked t-shirts. They left Farrell Stadium with the satisfactory feeling of helping children in need.
“I am so proud to be a member of such a great organization. There is no better feeling than helping people out and the thought of granting someone a wish who has a serious illness is so rewarding,” said Matt Scott, another brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon. “Not only were we raising a lot of money, but we also had a great time doing it and it was great seeing people come out and supporting a great cause. Overall the event was a huge success and it was a great day.”
Jeffrey Holmes is a second-year student majoring in secondary English education. He can be reached at JH791223@wcupa.edu.
Tue. Apr 23rd, 2024
