Georgia Southwestern University’s Eta Theta Chapter of Sigma Chi was recognized for their work in raising funds for cancer research for the Huntsman Cancer Institute. The fraternity worked with sororities, alumni, donors, and businesses to raise over $30,000 for the Institute.
The GSW chapter raised the second most funds among all Georgia chapters of Sigma Chi, with only Georgia Southern’s chapter exceeding them. Derby Days is an annual fundraising event that the chapter uses to bring in most of their funds. Harris Bennett, Derby Days Fundraising Chair and junior, represented Eta Theta when the chapter was recognized in Salt Lake City this summer. “I’m so proud of what our chapter has accomplished,” said Harris Bennett. “Brothers Devon Smith [of Leesburg, Ga.] and Perry Bennett [of Americus, Ga.] were our leading chapter fundraisers and were just incredible.”
Harris Bennet also wanted to spotlight the work of sororities that partnered with them during Derby Days, including Kappa Delta’s Parris Purmort of Griffin, and Zeta Tau Alpha’s Adriana Hortelano of Ellaville, who both earned the title of Miss Derby for their fundraising efforts, with Kappa Delta slightly outpacing Zeta Tau Alpha. Perry Bennett described what raising money for cancer research was like. “The hardest part of working to raise money for cancer was feeling like, no matter how many people I asked and how much money they so graciously contributed, I needed to do more. There are so many people bravely fighting to survive this disease, and we have to battle with and for them with everything we have.”
