All the fun of Derby Days

Week-long philanthropy event benefits Children’s Miracle Network

November 5, 2004
Colby Albarkat
Managing Editor



In support of Children’s Miracle Network (CMN), Sigma Chi hosted its annual Derby Days philanthropy event last week. The week-long affair featured activities that raised money and awareness for CMN, an international non-profit organization that dedicates its earnings to children’s hospitals in North America.

Beginning Oct. 27, sororities and teams of non-Greek women competed in a series of powder puff games. The competition concluded Sunday, with the championship going to the team of upperclassmen independents.

Each sorority also nominated a “Derby Darling,” whose picture and name decorated a can in the KC for the Penny War.

Event shirts were sold all week for $15 each, with all proceeds going to CMN. Hungry Howie’s also chipped in, donating $1 from each order made with the mention of Derby Days throughout the week.

Members of Sigma Chi were auctioned off Oct. 27 during Boo Bowling at Albion Country Lanes. “Derby Daddy” Bush McCarthy, Cincinnati, Ohio senior, donated his DJ services for a night, going to Alpha Chi Omega for $290 and Kappa Alpha Theta for $215.

A teeter-totter was also stationed on the side lawn of the Sigma Chi fraternity house and was continuously in use beginning at 6:00 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 until midnight Friday, Oct. 29. Members of the fraternity took turns sitting in the cold, and sometimes rainy, weather trying to get money from passer-bys.

“Just from last Saturday [Oct. 23], we made over $200 off the donation bucket,” McCarthy said. “People were dropping in $20’s.”

Sorority members could also sit at the teeter-totter to earn points for their sorority.

“We got to know new people, which was really cool, and we watched The Sandlot, which is a great movie,” said Randi Brown, Farmington Hills junior and member of Alpha Xi Delta. “It was something fun to do for a fundraiser.”

The sororities participated throughout the week for points which were totaled at the end of the week. At press time, the final amount of money collected was unknown.