The Kappa Psi chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity hosted “Derby Days,” their philanthropy week, Sept.17-22, and raised over $15,000.
This was the 12th year that the chapter has made it their mission to raise money for their philanthropy, the Huntsman Cancer Foundation.
The UTM community got to help them with that goal in many different ways throughout the week.
Sigma Chi and the Huntsman Cancer Foundation’s primary goal is to be a part of the generation that ends cancer.
Wes Blow, senior Cell and Molecular Biology major, from Camden and Derby Days chairman, said that over the past several years the chapter has been able to raise upwards of $10,000 during each year’s Derby Days.
They managed to top previous years by raising just over $15,000 for Huntsman and several other charities.
“Derby Days is one of the most important weeks that we do here at Kappa Psi. I wanted to make sure that our organization puts a positive image into the community, especially with the turmoil happening with fraternities right now,” Blow said when asked why he wanted to take on the position of heading up Derby Days.
As a part of the philanthropy week, sisters of UTM’s sororities also compete for a portion of the funds.
This year, the sisters of Alpha Delta Pi won and were awarded $2,000 for their philanthropy: the Ronald McDonald House Charities, which was announced at the Community Ball on Saturday, Sept. 22.
The sisters of Chi Omega were awarded $500 for Make a Wish Foundation by having the most participation in the week’s events.
On Monday, the annual Derby Hat Chase was held, where sorority women tried to get as many hats from the brothers as possible, even if that meant tackling a few brothers in the process.
That night they held an informational dinner and a brother auction.
Which was followed on Tuesday by a field day with a variety of activities including “trashket-ball” and a relay race.
The annual “Derby Darling” pageant was Wednesday night in the Student Life Center where women competed in three categories: general questions, fashion and talent. The winner of Derby Darling was Gracie Williams, a sister of Chi Omega.
The rest of the week included “Home Run Derby” on Thursday at the Harrison Road softball field and a Community Ball on Saturday night where part of the proceeds went to a local charity, the Anna Kate Wenz Fight Foundation.
Ben Greer, a senior Communications major from Jackson and the vice president of Sigma Chi, has visited the Huntsman Cancer Foundation in Salt Lake City, Utah, and said that it is very moving to see what the foundation is working toward in real time.
“Sometimes it is hard to connect being across the country, but being able to see it in action, it makes me proud to be a Sigma Chi and to work with Derby Days,” Greer said.
Kappa Psi will be donating $12,500 to help be the generation to end cancer.
