`Derby Days' race for charity

Last night marked the beginning of Derby Days at Penn, a week-long fundraiser sponsored by the Sigma Chi fraternity. Throughout the week, teams of women compete to raise money for a chosen charity. Funds are generated through entrance fees, rates charged to attend open events and advertising sales for the fundraiser's promotional pamphlet. Although last night's meeting was the first Derby Days event, the official kick-off will take place today with teams making banners in the first competition. The fundraiser, sponsored by Sigma Chi's national organization, features a different event each night. Penn's chapter will donate to the Children's Crisis Treatment Center for Abused Children of Philadelphia. The daily events range from a scavenger hunt to a casino night. "It's fun and it's for a really good cause too," said College junior and Sigma Chi brother Jon Blotner, this year's Derby Daddy, the fundraiser's chairman. One of the goals of Derby Days is "to inspire other students and other fraternities and sororities to go out and make a difference," Blotner added. "It's possible to make a difference and still have fun doing it." CCTC provides programs designed to help physically and sexually abused children to psychologically recover, as well as to provide quick medical care for those abused. The non-profit organization helps over 12,000 children each year. "It's a local cause, something that's more immediate," Engineering sophomore and Vice Derby Daddy John Hession said. "It's not like cancer research where we give money and don't see the effect." The fundraiser was first organized in 1894 at the University of Kentucky, earning its name while traditionally held the week before the Kentucky Derby. Interested women formed teams of five to 10 students last week, with each member required to pay an entrance fee of $12. Each team was then assigned a Sigma Chi brother or pledge who is "sort of like their slave for the week," Blotner said. The fundraiser boasts 33 participating teams this year, compared to the over 20 teams that competed last year. The band Virginia Coalition will perform at a downtown concert on Thursday as the highlight of Derby Days, with Penn band the Ally opening the concert. In addition to raising funds through entrance fees and open event fees, the Sigma Chi brothers have put together a pamphlet of advertisements from various companies that have contributed to the cause. The pamphlet will be distributed to participants as well as students on Locust Walk. The program's chairs claim that this year's event will be better than ever. "This year's Derby Days is really standing out," Hession said. "We're just taking it to another level." It "looks like it's going to be the biggest Derby Days ever," Blotner said, adding that the event "just keeps getting bigger and bigger." "It's sort of becoming a staple on campus," he added, noting that this year's goal is to raise $7,000. Throughout the week, teams will compete to rack up points and hopefully win a prize at Saturday's Award Night. Although the teams are traditionally populated by women, Hession said that men who wish to participate are not turned away. But the more popular way for men to participate in the fundraiser is to attend open events and parties. Blotner said that Derby Days should be looked upon as an example for others involved in the Greek system. "We'd really like to use this as a jumping block for more fraternities to put more of an emphasis on charitable functions," he said. College sophomore Sue Breslin, a team captain, said her experience with Derby Days last year caused her to want to participate again. "It was fun," the Alpha Chi Omega sister said. There was "more to it than just socially getting together and partying. You knew it was for a good cause and it was towards something... towards helping others."

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