With summer quickly approaching, many fraternities and sororities are hosting their final philanthropy events of the academic year. Below is a selection of philanthropy events that will take place in April.

Delta Tau Delta’s “Deltona Beach” 

When: Thursday, April 25, 6 to 8 p.m.

Friday, April 26, 3 to 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 27, 2 to 4 p.m. 

Where: Thursday’s event is at Delta Tau Delta Fraternity House, 401 E. John St., Champaign; Friday and Saturday’s events are at Frat Park

Cause: American Cancer Society

Delta Tau Delta, the oldest fraternity on campus, will host their annual Deltona Beach philanthropy Thursday through Saturday.

The philanthropy kicks off Thursday with a watermelon-eating contest at the Delta Tau Delta fraternity house. Friday’s event is a water balloon dodgeball tournament at Frat Park, said Dominic DeAngelis, member of Delta Tau Delta and sophomore in DGS. Deltona Beach ends Saturday with an event they call, “The Pit”.

“We have play-pit balls and we put them in a mud pit,” said DeAngelis, one of two “Deltona Chairs.” “We have slip and slides and two sorority teams in different colors that compete to get the balls. It’s a lot of fun.”

Overall, 17 sororities will be competing, and there are typically 8 to 12 girls on a team from each sorority, he said.

DeAngelis said his fraternities coach the teams.

“Everyone in our house participates and it’s a pretty fun event for a good cause,” DeAngelis said. “Any notoriety for the philanthropy is great, and this event does that.”

For the three-day philanthropy event, the brothers decorate the fraternity house to match the event’s theme.

“We decorate our kitchen and everything is very festive,” DeAngelis said. “(It) looks beachy and Hawaiian, and is just to get people into the spirit of the event.”

The annual event usually occurs during the fall semester, but was moved to the spring due to inclement weather and time conflicts with their other philanthropy events. 

All proceeds will go toward the American Cancer Society.

Alpha Xi Delta’s “Football FrendXI”

When: Thursday, April 25, 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Where: Frat Park

Cause: Autism Speaks

Alpha Xi Delta will have a flag football tournament at Frat Park on Thursday for their philanthropy, “Autism Speaks.”

Fourteen fraternity teams and a team of Joe’s Brewery staff members registered for the event, said Angela Rodriguez, internal philanthropy chair for Alpha Xi Delta  and sophomore in AHS.

In previous years, the sisters would host a scavenger hunt, but wanted to try something new this year. Thursday will be their first time hosting a flag football tournament.

Registration fees for each team were $100, which will all go toward the organization Autism Speaks.

“Just awareness about the cause is why we do these things,” Rodriguez said. “If someone doesn’t want to play football, they come out anyway because they want to help out the cause.” 

Alpha Delta Pi & Alpha Sigma Phi’s “Rollin’ in the Rough Capture the Flag Tournament”

When: Saturday, April 27, Noon to 4 p.m.

Where: Frat Park

Cause: Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Livestrong Foundation

The Alpha Delta Pi sorority and Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity are co-hosting a Capture the Flag tournament at Frat Park on Saturday. 

Kirstin Gidzinski, philanthropy chair for Alpha Delta Pi and junior in FAA, said that this will be the first time their sorority has collaborated with Alpha Sigma Phi for the event. 

“It is designed with teams of eight people that fraternities and sororities can both sign up for,” Gidzinski said.

Gidzinski said that events like Capture the Flag bring out more people, and are a better examples of community involvement than just a dinner.

“Active events allow you to pair up with a fraternity and better spread the name of the foundation you’re raising money for,” Gidzinski said. “Come out to the event because it’s a fun way to spend your Saturday while also helping out a good cause.”

Gidzinski said a barbecue dinner will also be held April 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Alpha Delta Pi house and everyone is welcome. 

All proceeds will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Livestrong Foundation.

Saher can be reached at [email protected]