Mr. Fraternity competition raises $13K for philanthropy

Senior Kevin Gilmore danced around a stage in the Trabant University Center on Tuesday night, twirling a set of colorful ribbons while speakers next to him blasted Europe's "The Final Countdown."

Gilmore, who was trying to win the audience's favor in sorority Chi Omega's Mr. Fraternity competition, said he practiced the routine in his living room earlier that day. Despite preparing for the event, he was still nervous about participating in front of hundreds of people.

"I had only really practiced for two hours during the day so I really didn't want to mess up in front of the crowd," Gilmore said. "Once I got going though, I got in the zone of ribbon dancing and it was a great time up there."

Gilmore was one of 15 men from university fraternities participating in the sorority's annual philanthropy event for the Make a Wish Foundation, which benefits children diagnosed with cancer. The event also collected money for the New York-based nonprofit Pajama Program, which supports children who live in foster homes.

The event raised more than $13,000 for both organizations. Of the proceeds, $7,500 was donated to the Make a Wish foundation and helped grant the wish of 11-year old Sarah Zribik, who wished for a laptop with a pink case. The remaining $5,500 was given to the Pajama Program, to help children in foster care.

Zribik, who was diagnosed with a rare bone disease when she was nine years old, stood on stage before hundreds of people before the event started and thanked the audience for the donations they were about to make.

During the event, sorority sisters stood on both sides of the Trabant multipurpose room with collection buckets for each fraternity brother in the competition. To earn the title of Mr. Fraternity from the judges, as well as the donation of audience members, the men competed in three different categories.

Senior Pam Rasin, president of Chi Omega, said the event's purpose was to collect funds to help children who are in need.

"This event was about having a good time, but ultimately about benefitting the children in need," Rasin said. "The boys were genuinely talented and clearly put on a good show, though."

The pageant consisted of a superhero modeling portion, a question-and-answer session and a talent portion to determine who would be crowned the winner.

During the superhero portion of the program, fraternity brothers dressed as Captain Underpants, Batman, Quailman, Green Lantern, Captain America and even Charlie Sheen, and strutted down a stage to model their costumes to attendees.

The talent segment featured fraternity brothers such as senior Gabe Mendez, Inter Fraternity Council president and Kappa Sigma member, who played music with water glasses.

Mendez said it can sometimes be nerve-wracking to perform in front of hundreds of people.

"Fortunately for me, this isn't the first time I've participated in one of these philanthropy events, so having the experience definitely makes it easier," Mendez said. "However, you still always get a little nervous before you go on stage to perform a talent or something of that nature. It helps when you know a lot of people in the crowd too."

After competing, the contestants gathered on stage as scores were tallied. The sorority sisters asked for a final donation as the men performed an impromptu dance-off.

Once the winner was determined, Rasin and Stewart then announced the overall victor, senior and Alpha Epsilon Pi brother Ethan Barr, who won a pair of Philadelphia Flyers tickets.

Rasin said she was thankful for the Greek life community's participation in the well-attended pageant.

"At times like these, we're here for each other," she said. "We all support each other."