Hannah Haseloff | Lariat Photographer
By Madi Miller
Reporter
The Delta Psi colony of Beta Theta Pi will host its first university wide philanthropy event since being reinstated on campus, from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the McLane Student Life Center’s sand courts.
The philanthropy event, “Beta Beach Bash,” consists of a sorority volleyball tournament and concert and is an event that the fraternity has done in years past. Cypress junior Omar Fierros said the fraternity was excited to bring back the tournament.
“The event was pretty popular on campus when it was started some years ago,” Fierros said. Fierros said members of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority were the last winners of the tournament.
Beta’s service and philanthropy chair, San Francisco sophomore Kevin Blouse, said he hopes to help bring back the tradition.
“It seemed like it had a lot of success in the past,” Blouse said. “By bringing it back, hopefully we can restore the tradition and help make it an annual event.”
Fierros said in the past, the tournament benefited Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization that raises funds for breast cancer research. This year, the group is supporting Restoration Haven, a ministry that helps restore at-risk communities.
The fraternity worked with the ministry last semester, helping tutor school-age kids involved in the ministry’s after-school program. Blouse said they are looking to raise money to help the organization. According to its website, Restoration Haven is supported by the community.
“They are a ministry that is devoted to mentoring and educating children and low-income families in Waco,” Blouse said. “We have been pairing with them, and this is our second semester now.”
Blouse said the organization’s goal is to raise $1,000 at this event through tank top and wristbands sales, which are required for admission to the event. All proceeds will go to Restoration Haven.
“I think it is pretty clear that education goes a long way,” Blouse said. “Giving them funding will provide them with textbooks and lots of other opportunities to help benefit their lives.”
The event consists of a sand volleyball tournament between sororities as well as live entertainment and food from Domino’s, Shorty’s Pizza Shack and Kona Ice.
This year’s musical guests include Taylor and the Wild Now as well as Honest Men, musicians who are all based out of Austin.
In order to attend, students must have either a wristband, which costs $5, or a tank top for $15. Students can buy wristbands or tank tops at the event, or at the Bill Daniel Student Center from 1 to 5 p.m. today.
