Kappa Sigma fraternity raised more than $2,800 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in their second annual dodgeball tournament yesterday, choosing the organization because one of their members has the disease, according to event officials.
More than 200 students and nearly 100 spectators met yesterday morning at the north gym of the Student Recreation Center for the friendly competition and pizza.
“”(The teams) were intense, yelling and screaming; whistles were blowing and everyone was having fun,”” said Matt Mayberry, economics junior, vice president of Kappa Sigma and coach of Delta Delta Delta’s first-place team.
“”Not only are we able to give them $2,800 from another nonprofit organization, but it helps give publicity about the disease,”” Mayberry said.
Matt Bott, assistant executive director for the national Kappa Sigma organization, said he urges chapters to choose creative service projects that members are passionate about.
Andrew Rozen, an animal sciences sophomore and event organizer, said his fraternity holds annual fundraisers because they want to give back to the community.
Rozen, philanthropy chair for Kappa Sigma, said the event was partially influenced by Rawson Marshall Thurber’s movie “”Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,”” but that this year’s event was also motivated by last year’s success.
Rozen also said a member of Kappa Sigma has cystic fibrosis, although the member could not be reached for comment.
“”(The teams) were intense, yelling and screaming, whistles were blowing and everyone was having fun.””
– Matt Mayberry,
economics junior
Fraternity members have volunteered 116 hours at local nonprofits and plan to increase the number of volunteer hours throughout the semester, Rozen said.
Volunteer activities include playing with children in the University Medical Center pediatrics department; building arts and crafts; and raising money for Hurricane Katrina victims. The fraternity will hold a blood drive after spring break.
Nationally, Kappa Sigma’s more than 200 chapters donated about 170,000 hours of service and $724,000 to various charities, said Patrick Corr, deputy commissioner of national service effort for Kappa Sigma’s “”A Greater Cause Commission.””
Bott said the fraternity encourages chapters to do service projects in their local community as it “”is such an important part of what we do.””
Rozen said the chapter plans to continue the dodgeball tournament in the future as part of the fraternity’s service projects.
“”This year, we will have all the kinks out,”” he said. “”Hopefully, we will make this an annual tournament.””
