March 8, 2011

By Sarah Clancey

Kappa Delta began its annual philanthropy week with a spaghetti dinner Sunday night at the Kappa Delta house.

More than 700 people attended the dinner, up from 601 attendees last year, Kappa Delta Philanthropy Chairwoman Laura Davison said. Kappa Delta advertised the event to the city of Columbia in part through advertisements in high schools and churches.

“It was nice to have it at our house, because it is simple and because it gives members of the community who may have never been in a fraternity or sorority house a chance to come in and see it,” Davison said.

According to a news release, tickets were $5 for all-you-can-eat spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread, beverages and dessert. Tickets could be purchased in advance or at the door. There was a lunch shift from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a dinner shift from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

All proceeds from the dinner will go to benefit both Coyote Hill and Prevent Child Abuse America, its national philanthropy. According to the news release, Kappa Delta raised more than $12,000 last year throughout the week for these organizations.

Davison said 80 percent of the proceeds will go to Coyote Hill and the remaining 20 percent will go to Prevent Child Abuse America.

“I attended, because the money goes to Prevent Child Abuse America and the local beneficiary Coyote Hill, which is a safe home for abused and neglected children,” freshman Natalie Curtis said. “I thought the KD girls did an excellent job and the spaghetti was awesome.”

Coyote Hill is a local organization that provides professional foster care for abused and neglected children, currently occupying three traditional homes that house up to eight children at a time, according to the news release.

“It is a safe place for kids who have been in abusive situations to go,” Davison said.

The money raised from the event will help stock the newly constructed fourth house with essentials, such as bath towels and kitchen supplies.

“They don’t have appliances or furniture in the house yet, so the money we raised goes to support that,” Davison said.

The philanthropy week will conclude with the Wingman event Saturday. According to the news release, the event consists of Olympic-style games called

“Wing-on-a-String,” “Bobbin’ for Wings” and “Hot Sauce Slip-n-Slide.”

“It’s a very messy event,” Davison said.

Sixteen teams of Greek organizations, residence halls and other groups have signed up to compete in Wingman. The games start at 11 a.m. on Reactor Field.

Families from Coyote Hill attended the dinner and will serve as honorary coaches for the Wingman teams Saturday.

“It is a good reminder of why we are doing this and the purpose of doing a philanthropy,” Davison said.