Through their annual philanthropic event Derby Days, Sigma Chi raised about $34,000 to donate to Children’s Hospital of Alabama and the Birmingham Chapter of Catholic Charities, Sigma Chi president David Beasley said.

“Derby Days is our major philanthropy project for the year,” he said. “We raise funds by having brothers go out and sell advertising space to businesses around the state for an ad booklet, T-shirts and banners. Each sorority on campus participates by purchasing T-shirt packets with tickets to the week-long event.”

Sorority members participate in volleyball and tug-of-war competitions during the day and karaoke and dance competitions at night, Beasley said. During each event, those participating gain points for their sorority. The house with the most points wins $1,000 to donate to a charity of their choice, while second and third place winners gain $750 and $500, respectively.

This year, Pi Beta Phi placed first, Alpha Phi placed second, and Zeta Tau Alpha and Chi Omega tied for third place.

Katie Jones, a sophomore and a member of Alpha Omicron Pi, said participating in Derby Days allowed her to meet new people and help a great cause. “Competing in the dance competition was a lot of fun, but knowing that I was helping Sigma Chi’s philanthropy made it even better,” she said.

In 2009, Sigma Chi raised $32,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Alabama, which is part of the Children’s Network.

The organization’s 2009 donation is the largest single donation ever given to charity by an Alabama greek organization, said Taylor Ashy, 2010 Derby Days Chair.

Beginning in California in 1933, Derby Days spread to the South in 1935, reaching the University of Tennessee and the University of Georgia.

Soon after, the University’s Iota Iota chapter began hosting its own version of Sigma Chi Derby Days. Derby Days at the University is now in its 58th year.

“While we have fun during the week, raising funds and awareness for great causes has always been at the heart of Derby Days,” Ashy said. “Over the past eight years, Iota Iota has given almost $100,000 to Children’s Hospital of Alabama.”

Ashy said the organization again selected Children’s Hospital as a recipient of Derby Days proceeds because, despite the current economic climate, Children’s continues to work for the people of Alabama.

“Currently Children’s is working to raise funds to construct a new 332-bed hospital to replace the current 190-bed facility that has been in use for decades,” he said.

The loss of media attention surrounding the relief efforts in Haiti led the members of Sigma Chi to set aside a portion of their Derby Day proceeds for the Birmingham Chapter of Catholic Charities, which is working to support Haitian earthquake relief efforts.

“Now is the time when the Haitian people will need donations the most to help rebuild their country and their lives,” Ashy said. “We didn’t want to lose sight of that.”