Sigma Chi’s Derby Days philanthropy event ensured money for charity and a good time for all.
All last week, sororities vied for the right to call themselves the Derby Days’ winner. To achieve this goal, they competed in contests such as beach volleyball, tug of war, karaoke and dancing. A group of about eight or 10 Sigma Chi members were assigned to be their coaches, according to J.D. Cowart, a Sigma Chi sophomore majoring in public relations. Cowart said the first place sorority won $1,000 to donate to the charity of their choice, with the second and third winning $750 and $500, respectively. “The sororities really make [Derby Days] what they want to make it,” Cowart said. “They can choose to participate in whatever competitions they want.” Derby Days’ main goal is to raise money to donate to the Birmingham branch of Children’s Miracle Network, which funds and raises awareness to improve healthcare facilities for children, according to the Web site, www.cmnwi.org.
“People buy ads from us because they see that we’re doing this for a good cause. It’s not just a bunch of college kids trying to have a good time,” Cowart said. “It means a lot to the kids, and we take the check to the hospital ourselves. That’s really what [Derby Days] is for.”