ATO, AGR, Delts hosting philanthropy events at WKU this week

Amanda Young

It’s a busy week in the Greek community with three different fraternities hosting different philanthropy events.

Alpha Tau Omega, Alpha Gamma Rho and Delta Tau Delta are each hosting separate events to raise money for their charities of choice.

Alpha Gamma Rho will host the Strong Topper Classic — a strongman competition — at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Ag Expo Center.

“It’s more like a strong person competition,” said AGR senior Kaelin Ditmore, noting that both men and women, Greek and non-Greek, are eligible to participate.

Teams of four will participate in five events from tossing bales of hay to truck pulling. The first four events are for individuals while the final competition is a relay for the whole team.

Entry fee for teams is $100. Spectators will be charged $2 with all proceeds going to the Center for Courageous Kids — a non-profit organization that provides a cost-free camp for children living with serious illnesses.

This is the first year for this event, but Ditmore said he hopes for success.

“If it turns out well this is something we plan on doing in the future,” Ditmore said.

On the same say, ATO will host Wounded Warrior Run — a one-mile race around campus to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.

“The Wounded Warrior Project is a non-profit organization that helps veterans,” said ATO President Diego Leal Ambriz. “They provide them with services such as therapy, counseling, to help include them back into society. They provide them with the resources they need to treat their body injuries.

“Several of our fraternity members are party of ROTC so they have seen how this organization helps veterans. They feel really passionate about it.”

The run begins at 6 p.m. on South Lawn and should take participants about thirty minutes to complete, Leal Ambriz said.

Participants are encouraged to show off camouflage attire during the run.

After the run, there will be a guest speaker from the Wounded Warrior Project, Glenn Kunkel, who will share his experiences with Wounded Warrior, as well as being a veteran.

All of the proceeds will go directly to Wounded Warrior, Leal Ambriz said.

“Two dollars comes in. Two dollars goes out. All the proceeds as they come go right to the Wounded Warrior Project,” he said. “This is our first event. We are really counting on the support of the community here at WKU to make sure we can raise money for this good cause.”

The Delts are hosting their fourth annual Oktoberfest, including the Miss Oktoberfest Pageant.

Oktoberfest lasts all week with competitions between Delta Tau Delta and the sororities on campus.

Among the usual activities, the organization added a pumpkin-carving contest to the list of competitions for this year.

The fraternity gives one pumpkin to every participating sorority to carve and enter into the contest. On Tuesday, members from Delta Tau Delta will judge all entries.

“We’re looking for a pumpkin that’s original and creative,” Stefan Gavula, senior Delt member, said.

The philanthropy, however, is the Miss Oktoberfest pageant on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. in Garrett Ballroom.

Sororities may enter up to three contestants from their organization to show off their letters, homecoming dress and a Halloween costume.

The money raised from contestant entry fees and the $3 admission will be donated to the American Cancer Society, specifically for breast cancer research, Gavula said.

While there are many events happening on the same day, Leal Ambriz encourages everyone to participate.

“We’re impacting the community in a positive way,” he said. “As Greek organizations, that’s what we’re all about.”