The Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity held a barbecue and concert charity event on Saturday afternoon to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
"We are trying to donate over $5,000 this year," said College sophomore Joe Payne, co-philanthropy chairman for Phi Kapp. The fraternity raised $1,500 through this weekend's event.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which helps fight blood-related cancers such as leukemia, myeloma and lymphoma, raises funds for medical research.
Funds from the Phi Kapp national office and the proceeds of every charity event held by the fraternity's Penn chapter are donated to the society.
"We host about three to four philanthropy events each semester," said Phi Kapp President Tavis Morello, a College and Wharton junior.
Phi Kapp -- located at 3539 Locust Walk -- put on quite an entertaining event for their guests -- Saturday's program included a raffle and a live band, which was led by a Penn and Phi Kapp alumnus.
College junior Jon Miscimarra did not need much persuasion to come to the charity event.
"I know a bunch of the people in Phi Kapp," he said. "They had cheap food and a live band... so why not?"
For other people, the charity event meant much more.
"I support any organization that fights cancer because my mom was sick" with cancer, said Wharton junior Bridget Weston.
College sophomore Peter Christodoulou thought the event "was very well organized" and that the live band was "an incentive for people to go."
Phi Kapp has been holding such barbecue charity events for the past few years, in addition to coffee houses, which feature performances from about four to five a cappella groups.
"A lot of times, we use our house because of its location for having philanthropy events," Morello said.
Alpha Kappa Delta Phi, an Asian interest sorority, will be hosting a coffee house at the Phi Kappa house in October.
The proceeds from this breast cancer awareness event will go towards the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
