Sigma Chi’s Derby Days fundraiser ended last week breaking the record for the most money ever raised in one event by a student organization at Hillsdale College.
The men’s fraternity raised more than $11,000, beating the record it set last year of $9,300 with Operation Homefront, an event that combined Derby Days and the Fritze Farm 5K run. Kappa Kappa Gamma won the week’s activities, for the sixth year in a row.
“Derby Daddy” sophomore Thomas Mullen said he had expected a much lower total because of his work to focus the event away from raising money and toward the fun of the competition between the three sororities.
“I was super excited and thankful for all the ladies support and help,” Mullen said.
Kappa won a chili cook off, mock rock dance competition, Sigma Chi member auction, and the “Sign a Sig” event, which had the women chase down Sigma Chi members and sign their T-shirts.
“It’s kind of become a tradition for Kappa to win, and it’s really great because philanthropy is really important to Kappa, and, through Derby Days, helping out other people’s charities is good in itself,” said junior English Hinton, Kappa philanthropy chairwoman.
In the auction, a couple members went for more than $1,000 and a few more went for more than $500 to do tasks for the sorority women, Mullen said.
Prior to Sigma Chi holding the record, Alpha Tao Omega fraternity set it in October 2015 for its biennial “Clips for Cancer,” raising $5,600.
“I congratulate them on raising so much money for philanthropy,” ATO philanthropy chairman junior Abraham Oerth said. “Next fall we hope to raise even more money.”
Ultimately, it is all about raising money for a good cause, Mullen said.
“We do what we can for a higher purpose here at Sigma Chi, and I’m glad this year we raised that bar,” Mullen said.
