Philanthropy event raises more than $1,000 for play therapy for kids
By Phil Dishon
Published: Friday, October 7, 2005
The Murray State News
Skies over the intramural field were filled with flying disks as Sigma Sigma Sigma hosted an ultimate Frisbee tournament for this year's Play-A-Thon philanthropy event Friday.
Mary Harmon, philanthropic co-chair for the Play-A-Thon event, said this year's fundraiser was different.
"We thought that since Greeks are competitive, we would try something different." said Harmon, senior from Edwardsville, Ill. "I think (ultimate frisbee) is just growing on college campuses."
Harmon got the idea to sponsor a sporting event after other Greek organizations had success with sports tournaments last year. She chose ultimate Frisbee after seeing people play the sport during summer break.
Kellen Allen, sophomore from Harrisburg, Ill., said the event was changed from the annual cookout to help the sorority's philanthropy.
"This year, we wanted to change it to try to raise a little more money and get the campus (more involved)," said Allen, philanthropic co-chair. "We really just wanted to do an event that hasn't been done before. We just wanted to go for a sport that a lot of people would be interested in."
Although the event was designed to let students have a good time, the real reason for the event was to support the Robbie Page Memorial.
According to the Tri-Sigmas' Web site, the Robbie Page Memorial was established in 1951 after the sorority's national president Mary Page's son died of polio.
The memorial's mission has evolved from searching for a cure for polio to helping children overcome illness and injury through play therapy, Allen said.
"(The program) incorporates more play time and ... makes (recovery) as fun as possible and easy as possible," Allen said. "It's just a way for the children to get through what has been going on."
She said events help to showcase the positive things Greek organizations can do for the community.
"I think every individual should be focused on helping out the community," Allen said. "I think organizations (with philanthropic programs) make it a lot easier."
Brittaney Hall, public relations co-chair, said to help create diversity on the roster, three divisions were created in the tournament.
"There (was) a residential college division, a fraternity division and a sorority division," Hall, senior from Florence, said.
Sigma Sigma Sigma raised $1,143 for the Robbie Page Memorial.
All of the proceeds went to play therapy programs for hospitals in Chapel Hill, N.C., and Dallas.
Harmon said the sisters of Sigma Sigma Sigma have been able to visit the hospitals and witness in person the cause for which they are working.
"It is really kind of nice and overwhelming," she said. "We get huge thank yous from the hospitals all the time."