Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity hosted its TKE Week philanthropy event for the first time in four years.The four-day fundraising event ran from Feb. 18 to Feb. 21 and benefitted St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital. The week consisted of different events every day including a bike to St. Jude’s, volleyball tournament, benefit night at Tropical Smoothie Cafe and a casino night.
The fraternity has not held TKE week on campus in recent years but decided to bring it back this semester. TKE’s philanthropy chair Rob Stewart said, “It seemed like a really awesome opportunity. We figured if we could find a way to do lots of inexpensive events throughout the week, we could raise lots of money and not spend as much.” On Monday, TKE members set up exercise bikes in the cafeteria and took turns riding them throughout the day to bike their goal of 390 miles, the distance to St. Jude. The men ended up hitting the 390 mark early in the afternoon and continued to bike an extra 102 miles totaling at 492 miles.
Other Greek chapters on campus participated in a volleyball tournament on Tuesday night held on Spring Hill’s sand courts. Members of TKE acted as referees and coordinated the tournament throughout the night. The fraternity held a benefit night at Tropical Smoothie Cafe on Wednesday. Patrons of the restaurant could mention TKE when ordering, and a percentage of their meal cost was donated to St. Jude. The men will wrap up the week with a casino night on Thursday that will include various games, activities, and food for guests to enjoy.
Greek organizations on campus also came out to show their support throughout the week and help raise money for St. Jude. All seven of the other Greek chapters on campus belonging to IFC and Panhellenic Council participated in the events of the week, and some even created multiple teams to participate in the volleyball tournament. Junior Simone Smith of Delta Gamma said, “I came out to support my sisters playing volleyball tonight and to support TKE and St. Jude.”
All proceeds of the event went directly to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital. In 1978, TKE chapters across the nation partnered with St. Jude to help fight childhood cancer. According to St. Jude’s website, TKE fraternity has pledged to raise $2.6 million before the year 2022.