The brothers of the Gamma Upsilon chapter of Sigma Chi fraternity presented another successful Derby Days week at Mississippi State University.
Sigma Chi chapters all over the country devote a single week to Derby Days, in which all of the proceeds go to their national philanthropy organization. For the Gamma Upsilon chapter, the boys work hard each year to raise as much money as they can for the Catch-A-Dream foundation.
According to www.catchadream.org, the Catch-A-Dream foundation was made for the sole purpose to provide outdoor experiences in order to fill the gap created when the Make-A-Wish foundation established a national policy to exclude wishes that involved hunting or the use of firearms, bows and other hunting equipment.
While the Make-A-Wish foundation still benefits and changes many lives, the Catch-A-Dream foundation is here to grant the once in a lifetime hunting and fishing experiences for those children who are suffering from a life-threatening illness.
Each year at MSU, Derby Days week consists of the ‘Derby Darlings’ competition, a three-on-three boys’ basketball competition, the girls’ basketball competition, a week of fundraisers at local businesses and restaurants and the highly-anticipated Derby Days dance competition.
This year, there was a percent night at Local Culture, Libby Story and Juva Juice for fundraising, as well as a crawfish boil at Rick’s Café which included a live band and raffle for those attending.
The girls’ basketball tournament, held at the Joe Frank Sanderson Center this past Friday, is just another way that the sororities on campus can help benefit Sigma Chi, and the Catch-A-Dream foundation.
Many of the National Panhellenic sorority chapters on campus competed in this basketball tournament. Chi Omega won first place this year, with Pi Beta Phi following in second and Kappa Delta and Phi Mu tying for third place. These scores are part of the total to see which sorority will reign as the overall Derby Days champion.
Following the basketball tournament is The Derby Days dance competition. All sororities participating spent many weeks preparing for their moment of glory at the MSU amphitheater. The theme this year was “TV shows”, so there were routines set to themes like Hannah Montana, Gossip Girl, The Amanda Show, and a few throw-back shows such as Gilligan’s Island, Saved By The Bell, and The Brady Bunch.
Kappa Delta took home first-place in the Dance Competition for the fourth time in a row, with their Gilligan’s Island routine. Along with winning the dance competition, Kappa Delta also won overall Derby Days Champion.
Celia Andreo, a sophomore member of Kappa Delta, said that getting the recognition of first place was undescribable.
“So much work goes into Derby Days,” Andreo said, “Whether it be choreographing, painting, or basketball practice, but that’s what makes it so worth it.”
Last year, Sigma Chi was able to present an $80,000 check to the Catch-A-Dream foundation, which surpassed any amount the Gamma Upsilon chapter has ever fundraised. However, this year, the chapter was able to raise $100,000 for their philanthropy.
That money alone can fund trips for over 20 kids who are suffering from these life-threatening illnesses.