The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini

    Phi Gamma Nu event to raise money for relief effort in Haiti

    With the recent devastation in Haiti, many students at the University have been eager to help. This weekend, members of the business fraternity Phi Gamma Nu are doing their part.

    “When we sat down at our first meeting, we knew we wanted to do something for Haiti,” said Jessica Sturdy, junior in ACES and member of the Phi Gamma Nu philanthropy committee.

    This “something” is a scavenger hunt — the “Hunt for Haiti” — scheduled to take place from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, February 20.

    Participants will meet by the bell tower on the south quad at 12:30 p.m. to check in, Sturdy said. They will be in teams of four, and at 1 p.m. they will set out with a list of 50 items to find or tasks to complete on campus. Teams are required to document each task using a digital camera.

    The first, second and third teams to finish or complete the most items on the list by 3 p.m. will be awarded prizes.

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    There is a $10 per person registration fee, and all of the money raised through the event will go directly to UNICEF, said Ellen Landgren, junior in LAS and Phi Gamma Nu’s philanthropy chair.

    “We chose UNICEF because 100% of money donated goes directly to Haiti,” Sturdy said. “Other organizations will take a percentage, and we want all of the money we raise to benefit Haiti.”

    The event is open to anyone and everyone who wants to take part.

    “Students, faculty members and people from the Champaign Park District are signed up. Even my 14-year-old brother is coming down with some friends,” said Landgren. “We’re trying to make it as campuswide as we can.”

    To join in on the hunt, participants can register online or on Saturday at check in. They can sign up with a team of four, or sign up individually and be placed on a team, Landgren said. Links to the online registration form are on the Hunt for Haiti Facebook page, as well as IllinoisForHaiti.org.

    The scavenger hunt will not be like regular scavenger hunts, Landgren said. Some items on the list will be fun tasks, while others will require participants to find obscure and peculiar items.

    “We tried to come up with creative ideas that aren’t central to a student, that way if you’re not a student, you will still be able to do it,” Landgren said.

    Phi Gamma Nu will also be raising money by selling raffle tickets. For $1, participants can purchase four raffle tickets. Over $1,500 worth of prizes have been donated by different businesses, Landgren said.

    Some of these prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place winners, and others will be given away through the raffle. The organization that has the most participants will be given a pizza party at Papa Del’s Pizza in Champaign, Sturdy said.

    Currently, about 85 people signed up for the event, but Phi Gamma Nu hopes to have over 100 participants. With the registration fee, raffle ticket sales, and other donations, the fraternity hopes to raise over $1,500.

    All of the prizes were donated to the event. Prizes include GPS navigation systems, gift cards for gas, gift cards for restaurants and other items, said Roy Landgren, owner of Sunrise Electric Supply in Addison, IL. Sunrise Electric Supply donated several of the prizes that will be given away on Saturday.

    “I’ve been pretty fortunate in life, the people in Haiti need some help,” Roy Landgren said. “I think it’s a clever idea and UNICEF is a good operation.”

    Both Sturdy and Ellen Landgren are excited to see how many people will come out for the event.

    “It’s funny to see people who you don’t even know so excited about it,” said Landgren. “Everyone in PGN is really excited too. We’re all spreading the word, and we’ve really enjoyed planning it.”

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