Sigma Chapter at Washington State University has spent 80 years building their traditional Barndaze, a three-day event dedicated to raising funds for a philanthropy of their choosing. This year they will get to donate all of their proceeds, approximately $6,000, to the charity Pullman Child Welfare.
“I do think it's important, especially since this is a college town, there's not, you know, a huge economy in Pullman outside the college so there is a good amount of poverty,” Brother Connor Chapman, VNR-Philanthropy for Sigma Chapter, said. “So, giving back to the community is a really big deal for us.”
Brothers at Sigma Chapter worked together to host swing dancing the evening of March 31, mechanical bull rides and burgers April 1 and a man auction April 2. Participants include sororities and other groups of women, who also go into the running for the chapter’s Goddess of Demeter, who becomes Sigma Chapter’s Sweetheart.
Brother Chapman said the chapter raised funds through participation fees and selling food at the events, as well as the auction and sponsorships from local businesses.
He said the first day during their swing dance event, they raised $600. The mechanical bull rides and burgers brought in another $1,200. Sponsors donated roughly $3,000 and the auction earned them another $1,000.
“I think all in all, all the events went pretty well,” Brother Chapman said. “I think it was a good turnout.”
Brother Chapman said the chapter’s decision to give funds to Pullman Child Welfare was due to the organization’s impact in the community by supporting families in economic distress with necessities like food and clothing. The chapter has also donated to the organization in the past.
“I know I'm passionate about raising money, especially when it comes to charity, so I was just excited to do it,” Brother Chapman said. “I knew I could do a good job. I knew how to get the guys motivated, and I think we did a pretty good with it.”
He expressed that he would like to establish a strong relationship between Sigma Chapter and one specific charity that they can support every year. Brother Chapman said he wasn’t sure if it would be Pullman Child Welfare, but it was a goal he was working towards while a collegiate member.
Brother Chapman said he hopes next year the chapter can raise more money for whatever philanthropy they choose. He said he would also like to see the chapter reach out to local businesses earlier before the events to help raise more funds as well as spread the word about the event. He hopes to see more community involvement in the events as well as sponsorships.
Some advice Brother Chapman would give other chapters looking to hold a multi-day event is to plan very far in advance for everything. He said there will always be bumps in the road, but planning and being flexible is a great way to mitigate them.
