Sisters of Alpha Xi Delta Raise Money for Philanthropy
Alpha Xi Delta hosted their first annual Minute to Win It contest for autism awareness at Pollak Theatre on Tuesday, October 25 at 10:00 pm. The sorority raised $500 in ticket sales and all proceeds from the event went to the Autism Speaks organization.
Kae Crede, Public Relations Vice President for Alphi Xi Delta, said, “We chose ‘Minute to Win it’ because it is a fun and easy game show to copy. Since we are one of the newer organizations on campus it was tough finding an idea that has yet to be used, but we were really happy with the results.”
In lieu of the occasion, Pollak was transformed into a party atmosphere, complete with DJ Spirito, two hosts, music, decorations, and a crowd. A door prize was raffled off among each attendant, and the winner went home with a basket of candy and four tickets to Six Flag’s Frightfest.
The winning teams also received prizes for their achievements. Sororities and fraternities turned out in big numbers, each one rooting for their own contestants.
The concept of the event came from the popular TV game show of the same name. Teams of two competed against each other to see who could complete a task in less than sixty seconds. Elimination rounds would eventually determine first, second, and third place.
First up were Zeta Tau Alpha and Delta Phi Epsilon with a challenge called “the baby rattle.” One member of each team had to move 25 gumballs from one soda bottle to another, one at a time. As the seconds passed, Delta Phi Epsilon came out on top with time to spare.
Other events like “defying gravity” challenged contestants to keep multiple balloons up in the air without allowing them to touch the ground. “Extreme hanky panky” consisted of one contestant removing every tissue from a box using only one hand. Balloons and tissues were not the only things flying across stage as competitive contestants tried anything to achieve victory.
The semifinals pinned Delta Phi Epsilon against Phi Kappa Psi in a challenge called the “paper dragon” in which Phi Kappa Psi took the crown. Tau Kappa Epsilon and Zeta Tau Alpha played “flip your lid,” and Zeta Tau Alpha won in a matter of one seconds.
A short intermission boasted a stepping performance by Alpha Kappa Alpha and more music that riled the crowd up once again.
In the competition for third place, Delta Phi Epsilon and Phi Kappa Psi participated in “stack attack” where one partner constructed a 36 cup pyramid, and the other took it down to form one single stack. Both teams suffered a few falls of the pyramid, but after much concentration and determination, Delta Phi Epsilon won for the bronze.
The finals became a competition between Zeta Tau Alpha and another Phi Kappa Psi team. The Autism Speaks Foundation became the highlight of this challenge as their symbol is a puzzle piece. The teams were dared to construct an identical puzzle in the fastest time. All four contestants had to channel their inner child in order to construct the puzzle the quickest.
The final countdown revealed Zeta Tau Alpha as the overall winner of the first Alpha Xi Delta Minute to Win It challenge.
Crede, said, “The event was a lot of fun and it was rewarding knowing that we were able to raise money for Autism Speaks in such a fun way.”
With their first annual event for autism completed, Alpha Xi Delta proved they could win it for Autism Speaks.
PHOTO COURTESY of Kay Crede
