Holding a Barbie doll or a couple of Hot Wheels cars is not normally how one would picture standing in line to get into a party hosted by Tau Kappa Epsilon.
However, this was the scene at TKE’s Halloween Bash 2012 held on Oct. 25 at The Grand theatre in New Albany. Daniel Matthews, business marketing and management junior and chapter president of TKE, said The Grand was chosen because the building is so large and the capacity would not fill up easily.
TKE hosts many parties throughout the school year, but members said the real reason behind these parties can be unknown. Matthews said not many students on campus realize TKE is a non-profit organization.
Matt Harbert, business finance sophomore and president of the candidate class, said his point of view has changed since deciding to become a fraternity member.
“At first, the thought of a fraternity in my mind was drinking and hanging out with friends,” Harbert said. “I was very surprised with how much TKE was involved in, from local events to internal fundraising. It really surprised me and made my ambitions to join much greater.”
Any profits made from events they hold benefits one of the four charities TKE supports.
The charities include St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Kosair Children’s Hospital and the Alzheimer’s Foundation.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is TKE’s dominant charity. The research hospital was founded by a TKE alumnus, Danny Thomas, 50 years ago and is one of the international philanthropies of TKE.
This is the second year for the St. Jude toy drive. The toy drive began on the night of the Halloween Bash and continues until Dec. 15.
Toys were used as the admission for women to get into the Halloween party for free, and roughly 150 toys were collected.
Last year, the toy drive began at the beginning of November.
Matthews said by starting it earlier this year, the chapter hopes to raise more toys than in the past.
About 500 toys were donated last year and driven down to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
Matthews said in an effort to increase the number of toys donated last year compared to previous years, collection bins will be placed at local businesses in the community.
“Last year, we just had one bin at IUS,” Matthews said. “This year, we are going to try to get bins at multiple local businesses, like Louisville Athletic Club in Clarksville and Sam’s Food & Spirits in New Albany.”
TKE also held a volleyball tournament, Spike for a Cause, in September with all proceeds going to St. Jude.
“For me, St. Jude really stands out because of how truly great their mission is,” Harbert said. “Talking to families that have had children as young as three getting cancer, fighting the treatments and then never seeing a bill from the hospital is such an amazing thing.”
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the most recent charity to be added to the TKE list.
“Last year, a TKE member came forward and asked the fraternity to sponsor Susan G. Komen because it was an important cause for him personally,” Matthews said. “His grandmother had been diagnosed with breast cancer.”
In an effort to show support, Matthews said the chapter agreed to make Susan G. Komen for the Cure the fourth charity TKE supports.
One event TKE hosts to fundraise for of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is a semi-formal dance, called the I Heart Boobies Bash in February.
At the dance, “I Heart Boobies” bracelets and T-shirts are also sold to raise money. Attendees can also become ribbon sponsors.
Alzheimer’s Foundation and Kosair Children’s Hospital
The Alzheimer’s Foundation is the second of TKE’s international philanthropies. Former President Ronald Reagan was a TKE alumnus and suffered from Alzheimer’s later in his life.
Matthews said no large events are held benefiting the Alzheimer’s Foundation, but TKE does fundraise for the charity throughout the year.
Matthews said Kosair Children’s Hospital was also chosen two years ago as one of TKE’s charities because it is an important local cause to support.
During the summer, the chapter works a traffic stop in Louisville for Crusade for Children. All proceeds collected benefit Kosair. TKE also fundraises for Kosair throughout the year.
In 2011, TKE raised a combined total of approximately $18,200 for its charities. Matthews said this amount is up from 2010, and the chapter continues to raise the total every year. Matthews said he was happy overall with the Halloween Bash.
“Any time you bring that many people together to have a party where there are no altercations, is a beautiful thing,” Matthews said. “By offering guests a special deal on admission by donating a toy, we got this year’s toy drive off to an excellent start. I look forward to seeing the total amount of toys we have for the children at St. Jude Children’s Hospital when the toy drive ends.”
By KIM KERBY
Staff
kdkerby@ius.edu
