Greek organizations come together to raise money for charity, scholarship

The end of the semester usually becomes a busy time for VCU students. Yet the Greek community found time to support some philanthropies, especially the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., which last week sponsored its annual step show. Marquis Jordan, the group’s president, said the step show, sponsored in memory of the Sigma’s late fraternity brother Larry Brown, has been an annual event since 1993.

“He (Brown) suffered an asthma attack and died during a stage performance in the late ’80s,” Jordan said.

Don Parker, also a member of Phi Beta Sigma and a VCU graduate, said shortly after Brown’s death a scholarship fund was set up, and money collected from the step show goes toward scholarships for high school students.

“Every year there is a church service in the Farmville area for Larry’s memory, and the money raised at the service also goes toward scholarships,” he said.

So far, Parker said, his fraternity has raised about $30,000 for scholarship funds, and the step show has attracted students from such other universities as Christopher Newport, George Mason and Virginia Union.

At least five Greek organizations participated in this year’s show: Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Delta Sigma Theta, Zeta Phi Beta and Phi Beta Sigma.

A Delta Sigma Theta member, Keondra White, said attending such charity events and seeing the number of people there to the show emphasize how much people support the Greeks and what they stand for.

“My sisters and I always try to come down from Fairfax whenever the Sigmas have their step show,” she said.

Crystal Pratt, a member of the Sigma’s sister organization, Zeta Phi Beta, said the Sigmas gave scholarships to students, one collegiate and one high school, from last year’s charity earnings.

Parker said he is satisfied with this year’s turnout as well as last year’s, but he was not satisfied with the behavior of the Greeks at this year’s ceremony.

“It’s good that the Greeks at VCU have come to support the cause, but the attitude has changed since I’ve graduated,” he said, referring to members of some organizations who verbally insulted other organizations. “I don’t want to discourage anyone from coming to support us, but there is a respectable way to participate in the show.”

White said she, too, had problems with insulting remarks toward organizations at the show.

“It was a little disrespectful for Greeks to use a charity event to antagonize other Greek organizations. We should put aside petty bickering for functions such as these. Overall, it was a good show, and I’m glad that I had an opportunity to be a part of it.”

Another Greek organization conducting a charity event, Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, sponsored its ninth annual Mr. Greek VCU male beauty pageant to raise money for the Special Olympics.

Lauren Hofmann of ASA who chaired the event, said the sorority adopted the Special Olympics as its philanthropy in 1976.

“Every year we have the Mr. Greek pageant,” Hofmann said, “and all proceeds go to the Special Olympics. We also have a rock-a-thon every fall semester to raise money for one of our sisters, Stacey Lyon, who donated one of her kidneys to her brother, and insurance wouldn’t pay for it.”

All the money they raise from the rock-a-thon, she said, goes toward Lyon’s medical expenses.

Hofmann moderated the pageant along with last year’s Mr. Greek winner, Delta Chi member Juan Veizaga.

Six judges chose this year’s winner based on a 100-point scale for four segments of the show: formal wear, swimwear, talent, and question and answer. Keri Danna-Link, assistant director of VCU’s Leadership and Greek Life, helped judge the pageant.

The six contestants, Jason McKenzie of Theta Chi, Andrew Pfeiffer of Kappa Sigma, Richie Masters and Jeremy Rosen of Delta Chi, and Justin Pitts of Alpha Kappa Lambda offered their talents, which ranged from violin and piano to “learning how to cook gourmet on a college budget.”

Pfeiffer also won best talent for his piano performance with Masters placing second. Pitts, who taught the audience how to cook Ramen noodles, placed first.

Still, Rosen took home the title of Mr. Greek VCU 2003.

Rosen was asked what he had learned from his fraternity brothers during the question-and-answer segment of the show.

“The most important lesson I’ve learned is leadership, which caused me to become more active in many activities on campus,” he said.

Rosen, vice president of his fraternity, won a trip to the Jefferson Hotel priced at $1,000 and a $75 gift certificate to Havana 59 restaurant.

“I didn’t expect to win at all,” he said, “I’m mostly excited that people came out to support Alpha Sigma Alpha’s cause, because that’s what Greek life is all about – supporting its members.”

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