Pi Kappa Phi peddles for their philanthropy

All the brothers of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity participated last week in their 36-hour bike-a-thon event Pedal for Push to help raise money for their national philanthropy, Push America. To raise the money, the Pedal for Push event was held in conjunction with a penny war.

“This is our fourth annual Pedal for Push event, it raises money and awareness for people with disabilities,” said Pi Kappa Phi Vice President and senior literature major Mike Murphy.

The brothers of Pi Kappa Phi biked for 36 hours straight on the two stationary bicycles donated by Bodyplex from 8 a.m. Tuesday until 8 p.m. Wednesday, biking through the hottest day of the week and all through the night.

“Part of being a brother is raising money for philanthropy,” said sophomore psychology major Chris Irvin. Irvin was one of the brothers who helped man the bicycles.

The money the fraternity raised was based solely on donations placed through the penny war, a competition between GCSU’s sororities. The event had a general donation jar and each sorority had a separate jar on a table in front of the tent in which donations could be placed. Whichever sorority had the most money by the end of the 36 hours won and split the money with Pi Kappa Phi to donate to a charity of their choice.

This year the event raised $530, half of which went to Zeta Tau Alpha, the winner of the penny war. ZTA donated the money to its own national philanthropy, breast cancer education and awareness.

Pi Kappa Phi’s President Will Hutchinson explained that Push America is Pi Kappa Phi’s national charity, and that chapters from all over the country hold events to raise money for the organization. Pi Kappa Phi is the only fraternity with its own national philanthropy.

“When I was going through the pledge process I was really drawn to the philanthropy (of Pi Kappa Phi),” Hutchinson said.

According to their website, Push America was created by the fraternity in the 70’s to encourage a commitment to service in the brothers while educating the public about the “abilities of people with disabilities.”

In addition to other projects such as construction of accessible facilities for the disabled, the organization has been cycling in events across the country since 1988. In 1987, Pi Kappa Phi alumnus Bruce Rogers cycled across the country to raise awareness of the mission of Push and has since become an essential part of their philanthropy. Nationally, Pi Kappa Phi has raised nearly $8 million for Push America.

Posted by Molly Holmes on Oct 1 2010. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.