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Students find fun in philanthropy

Members of Phi Delta Theta – sophomore biology major Wesley Lam and senior e-commerce major Dylan Malloy – spend their half hour shift on the teeter-totter goofing off, singing and doing tricks at their ALS event Tuesday. Fraternity members raised money by collecting donations, selling tickets for their Zumbathon, and selling items at their various events. / photo by Stephanie Ball
Members of Phi Delta Theta – sophomore biology major Wesley Lam and senior e-commerce major Dylan Malloy – spend their half hour shift on the teeter-totter goofing off, singing and doing tricks at their ALS event Tuesday. Fraternity members raised money by collecting donations, selling tickets for their Zumbathon, and selling items at their various events. / photo by Stephanie Ball

Alison Rodriguez
Staff Writer

Karla Rendon
Staff Writer

What used to be a single day event turned into a week full of games and fun as the men of Phi Delta Theta raised money and awareness for the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation.

The event started on May 8 with their ALS information booth where they were selling wristbands for $1 to support their cause, as well as allowing students to make sack lunches for the poor.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.

Other events during the ALS week included a Zumbathon, taking place at Latin Steps Fitness in West Covina, a Rock painting and their annual 24-hour teeter totter event in Sneaky Park.

The Zumbathon was organized by senior public relations major Anthony Juarez.

Originally intended to be his senior project, Juarez used the opportunity to support his organization’s philanthropy.

“To raise awareness for ALS everyone usually hosts a walk,” Juarez said. “ I figured why not do Zumba? It’s more fun; you get a good workout and have fun while dancing.”

“I realized during this event that things like this are really important,” Mason Sustayta, junior liberal studies major and philanthropy chair said.

“Getting messages from students and others saying ‘I really appreciate it’ or ‘How can I help?’ and they’re not even a part of our frat really has an impact on you. “

The Phi Delts finished off their weeklong event with a 24-hour teeter totter.

“The fact that they’re giving so much of their time for their cause, it really shows dedication” sophomore athletic training major Lindsay Gonzalez said.

During the 24-hour teeter totter there was also food, a DJ, a projector to play video games and water games for people who came out to support the riders.

Laughs echoed throughout Sneaky Park as the students played, ate and had a good time.

“I’m kinda jealous because I wish I was on a teeter totter,” sophomore criminology major Ashley Harris said. “It’s different and interesting. I think philanthropy should be more important because, honestly, not a lot of things go to charity.”

With this all of the week’s events Phi Delta Theta raised $300 for the ALS Golden West chapter, to benefit hospitals in the Inland Empire.

“It’s part of ULV’s mission and it’s one if the reasons we came here,” freshman physics major Ashley Hernandez said. We’re not just college students, we don’t just care about partying, we care about making the world a better place.”

Alison Rodriguez can be reached at alison.rodriguez2@laverne.edu.

Karla Rendon can be reached at karla.rendon@laverne.edu.

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