Greek Week at UC Aims to Raise $36,000 for Make-A-Wish

Greek Week 2009, themed “The ‘90s – Smells Like Greek Spirit,” takes place April 20-25 at the University of Cincinnati. This annual spring tradition celebrates UC’s 11 sororities and 21 fraternities as they come together to support the wishes of children sponsored by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The week of games and friendly competition aims to raise $36,000 toward that goal, says Greek Week President Candice Burnam, a 21-year-old junior allied health sciences major and member of Chi Omega sorority. “I think Greek Week shows every one of our chapters’ dedication to community service,” says Burnam, who’s from Madisonville. She says the most intensive fundraising was held over winter quarter as the Greeks launched a massive letter-writing campaign, requesting support from friends, family and alumni of their chapters.

Vicki Marsala Calonge, UC assistant director of Student Activities and Leadership Development (SALD), adds that each year, UC’s sororities and fraternities contribute more than 20,000 hours of service to the community and to their individual Greek philanthropies.

UC’s Greek organizations have more than 1,200 members and represent about 4.5 percent of UC’s total undergraduate student population. Fraternity and sorority life have been a part of UC’s campus community since 1840 and emphasize scholarship, leadership and personal development.

Greek Week will also support the Cincinnati USA community with its annual blood drive to benefit the Hoxworth Blood Center.

Events are scheduled to take place rain or shine.

Greek Week Highlights

Monday, April 20

10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Order of Omega Blood Drive
Location: Tangeman University Center (TUC), Room 400-B

11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Greek Barbecue
Location: McMicken Commons
All members of the UC community are invited to join the Greek social organizations for the free barbecue and formal kickoff of Greek Week.

7 p.m.-10 p.m.
Greek ’90s Trivia Night
Location: Great Hall, TUC
A trivia competition pays special tribute to the ’90s. The winner will be determined by the highest point total.

Tuesday, April 21

1 p.m.
Dodgeball
Location: Stratford Heights (courts behind the Lambda Chi Alpha House)
Teams are composed of six players in a single elimination tournament. The first team to eliminate all opposing players or the team with the greatest number of players remaining at the end of the regulation time will be declared the winner.

7 p.m.
Step-Off Show Finals
Location: TUC Great Hall
Each chapter will prepare a Step presentation with a minimum of four members. The first-place finish earns the winning team 50 points.

Wednesday, April 22

Noon
Sand Volleyball
Location: Stratford Heights (courts behind the Lambda Chi Alpha house)
The men and women will be playing three-on-three in a round-robin tournament.

6 p.m.
God & Goddess Competition Finals
Location: TUC Great Hall
A Greek talent show featuring bands, dance performances and signing. The first-place winner scores 50 points toward their Greek Week total.

Thursday, April 23

11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Pie-in-the-Face
Location: McMicken Commons
Each chapter will select one UC representative – a chapter member, or a student, faculty member, staff member or administrator – to take a pie in the face to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Prizes will be awarded to chapters who raise the most money at the pie-throwing contest.

7 p.m.
Lip Sync Competition
Location: Great Hall, TUC
Greek organizations do their best song-and-dance routine to a pre-recorded ‘90s soundtrack.

Friday, April 24

Noon
Belly Flop Contest
Location: Campus Recreation Center
One participant per chapter will be judged on creativity, costume, crowd reaction and quality of their belly flop.

4:30 p.m.
UC Baseball Greek Night – UC vs. Villanova
Location: UC Marge Schott Stadium
UC’s Greek organizations team with UC Athletics for a special Greek night. A member of UC Greek organizations will lead the national anthem preceding the game. One of the sponsored Make-A-Wish children as part of Greek Week will throw out the opening pitch. Greeks will solicit donations for the Make-A-Wish campaign and will be selling Make-A-Wish bracelets at the game. Baseball Greek night will also feature a Greek coney-eating contest and a pie-eating contest.

6 p.m., April 24 - noon, April 25
UC Relay For Life
Location: McMicken Commons
Greek organizations will be represented in the largest student-organized community service event on campus. UC’s annual Relay For Life for the American Cancer Society works to eradicate cancer through supporting programs toward cancer research, treatment and education.

Saturday, April 25

11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Greek Games
Location: Sigma Sigma Commons
Games including building a human pyramid, the egg toss, tug-o-war, a dizzy bat course, a chariot race (with the chariots made of a team of three players from the same chapter), and slip ‘n’ slide .

Greek Week comes to a close at the Greek Awards Banquet at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 28, in TUC Great Hall, with the announcements of the winners, Greek awards for excellence and the total of funds that were raised.

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