Alpha Theta Chapter at the University of Maryland held a cornhole tournament April 25 and raised $2,000 which was donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in honor of Brother Mitch Gryszkiewicz, who committed suicide in July of 2014.
Brother Giles Stanton, VNR-Philanthropy for the Alpha Theta Chapter, said funds collected at the event were combined with their larger philanthropy event, Alpha Gamma Rhodeo which was held March 29, to make their donation.
“Knowing what you're doing is like going towards a good cause and being able to do it with your brothers — it makes it a great time, and it doesn't really feel like you're putting work into it, because you know that it's all for something bigger and something better.”
He said several brothers brought their cornhole sets to the chapter house and set up in the parking lot. The chapter created a bracket-style game that allowed them to narrow down to the team that won. Winners from the event received $50 gift cards from a local restaurant.
“Suicide prevention is a topic that touches so many lives, and coming together as a chapter and community to raise awareness made the day really meaningful."
Brother Stanton said each team paid $10 to participate and sold food to raise funds for the donation. He said brothers who wanted to participate in the tournament were encouraged to find a teammate who wasn’t part of the chapter. Brother Stanton said this was to help bring more people in for the event. The chapter also shared a flyer on social media and used word-of-mouth to invite people from campus and the community to the event.
The winning team of the tournament was Seamus Ruane and Brother Alex Mink, VNR-Alumni Relations at Alpha Theta Chapter.
“Winning the tournament was a great experience, but the real reward was being part of something that supports such an important cause,” Brother Alex Mink said. “Suicide prevention is a topic that touches so many lives, and coming together as a chapter and community to raise awareness made the day really meaningful. I’m proud to have played a small role in something bigger than just a game.”
Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity is proud to see its chapters supporting causes that impact their local communities, including national organizations like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The National Fraternity is partnered with BetterMynds to provide brothers with easy access to mental health. To receive your three free telehealth visits, go to www.bettermynd.com. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or are in emotional distress, dial 988 for around the clock support.
