SigEp brothers shave heads to raise funds for cancer research
Caitlin Gray
Issue date: 3/16/07 Section: News
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As tiki torches lit the lawn of the Sigma Phi Epsilon house, onlookers purchased soda and hot dogs while watching the brothers of the fraternity shave their heads the night of March 14 for St. Baldrick's Day, a fundraiser for children's cancer research.
Participants were sponsored to shave their heads to raise money for cancer research as well as to provide support for those undergoing cancer treatment who lose their hair. The ceremony was held for the nine brothers who could not make the actual event held March 15 at Fado's Irish Pub, where four other organizations from the Philadelphia area unaffiliated with Drexel would also be participating in the event.
Thirty-five of the 58 members of Sigma Phi Epsilon went bald for the cause. Two alumni also came back to participate, including David Lee, former president of Undergraduate Student Government Association from 2003-2004. Lee, who raised the most money, with a grand total of $1,390, was the first person to lose his hair at Fado's.
The event raised $13,500. This event is monumental especially for Sigma Phi Epsilon because it is the most money they have ever raised in a fundraiser. The goal was originally $500, but as the event kept picking up speed, that goal was increased several times until it reached $10,000. They report that the money raised in this event alone is more than all the money they have raised in their five years at the University combined.
Brothers on co-op were sponsored by their companies, with donations received from Merck, Unisys, and Johnson & Johnson. Four of the fraternity's alumni paid a combined $30 for each shaved head the event produced. Senior Vice President Anthony Caneris and Drexel staff members from Residential Living also donated money. Hot dogs and soda were sold outside to passersby during the event, with 100 percent of the proceeds going straight to cancer research.
The international fundraiser began in 1999 when three reinsurance executives wanted to start an organization to help others, and has raised over $20 million since then. Sigma Phi Epsilon Special Events Chair Juan D'Angelo was interested in participating in the event as an individual, but was thrilled to see how successful it was when the other members of the fraternity got on board after he began planning it two months ago.
Participants were sponsored to shave their heads to raise money for cancer research as well as to provide support for those undergoing cancer treatment who lose their hair. The ceremony was held for the nine brothers who could not make the actual event held March 15 at Fado's Irish Pub, where four other organizations from the Philadelphia area unaffiliated with Drexel would also be participating in the event.
Thirty-five of the 58 members of Sigma Phi Epsilon went bald for the cause. Two alumni also came back to participate, including David Lee, former president of Undergraduate Student Government Association from 2003-2004. Lee, who raised the most money, with a grand total of $1,390, was the first person to lose his hair at Fado's.
The event raised $13,500. This event is monumental especially for Sigma Phi Epsilon because it is the most money they have ever raised in a fundraiser. The goal was originally $500, but as the event kept picking up speed, that goal was increased several times until it reached $10,000. They report that the money raised in this event alone is more than all the money they have raised in their five years at the University combined.
Brothers on co-op were sponsored by their companies, with donations received from Merck, Unisys, and Johnson & Johnson. Four of the fraternity's alumni paid a combined $30 for each shaved head the event produced. Senior Vice President Anthony Caneris and Drexel staff members from Residential Living also donated money. Hot dogs and soda were sold outside to passersby during the event, with 100 percent of the proceeds going straight to cancer research.
The international fundraiser began in 1999 when three reinsurance executives wanted to start an organization to help others, and has raised over $20 million since then. Sigma Phi Epsilon Special Events Chair Juan D'Angelo was interested in participating in the event as an individual, but was thrilled to see how successful it was when the other members of the fraternity got on board after he began planning it two months ago.
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