Philanthropy scores at MU with volleyball
Published March 20, 2007
Big Man on Court draws crowds and money
Pi Beta Phi sorority's Big Man on Court three-on-three basketball tournament scored with crowds on Thursday.
Philanthropy Chairwoman Lauren Heyle said Pi Beta Phi had a goal to raise $5,000.
"I'm not sure of the total made, but I'm fairly confident we reached our goal," she said.
The sorority donated the money to Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, the national chapter's philanthropy organization.
According to Arrowmont's Web site, Pi Beta Phi founded the school in 1912.
Thirteen fraternities participated in the basketball tournament: Beta Theta Pi, Alpha Gamma Rho, Delta Sigma Phi, Phi Kappa Theta, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Nu, Sigma Chi, Alpha Tau Omega, Farmhouse, Delta Upsilon, Kappa Alpha Order, Lambda Chi Alpha and Alpha Epsilon Pi. The tournament was open to the campus and community.
Although Farmhouse was the highest-ranked Greek team, the winner of the BMOC tournament was a non-Greek team.
Heyle said Kappa Delta sorority also volunteered at the basketball tournament.
"Our sorority tries to do another's sorority in addition to ours," Heyle said. "Last year we did Kappa Delta's, so this year they volunteered at ours as a sign of their appreciation."
Heyle said BMOC has been a longtime philanthropy event of the MU chapter because of its popularity with fraternities.
Pi Beta Phi also played host to the traditional king contest and serenades, a collection of skits. King interviews were based on a candidate's knowledge of Pi Beta Phi.
Pi Beta Phi President Caroline Gable said her favorite part of the philanthropy events was the BMOC tournament.
"It gives the whole chapter the chance to work on something together," Gable said. "BMOC was strongly supported by the Greek community this year."
Heyle said her favorite part of the philanthropy event was not the basketball tournament itself, but a service project where Pi Beta Phi members and king candidates volunteered at Boys and Girls Club of America.
"We got to read to the kids," Heyle said. "It was really rewarding."
Pikestock raises cash for UMSL house
On Sunday, Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity's Pikestock raised $12,000 to rebuild the UM-St. Louis chapter's house, which burned down this fall.
The fire took the life of Brian Schlitter, one of the members of the fraternity.
After Schlitter's death, members of UMSL's Zeta Phi chapter set up the Zeta Phi Reconstruction Fund to gain funding to rebuild and refurnish the house.
Philanthropy Chairman Mike Niemier said one of the members of MU's chapter was a friend of Schlitter's and suggested donating to the Zeta Phi Reconstruction Fund.
"When that came out, hands down we knew what we were going to do," Niemier said.
Niemier said last year's Pikestock raised $3,000, so members sent letters to family and alumni in order to raise more money than in the last 10 years.
"It was amazing seeing that money come in," Niemier said.
Pikestock is an outdoor sand volleyball tournament played in the backyard of the Pi Kappa Alpha house.
Seven sororities participated in this year's Pikestock. Four sororities participated last year.
Kappa Kappa Gamma won the volleyball tournament, but Alpha Delta Pi won the overall competition.
Pikestock also offered live bands, football and four-square.
Niemier said Pikestock has been a tradition for at least 10 years. In previous years, donations went to the Officer Down Fund. Niemier said he had lots of favorite moments from this year's Pikestock.
"Raising $12,000 was probably the best, but I also liked the live bands and volleyball tournament," he said.