Sorority Set To Raise Funds For Cystic Fibrosis

Delta Phi Epsilon’s male pageant event Campus Man is set to make its mark for philanthropy on February 6. As part of a long-standing tradition of many of the FIU Panhellenic sororities, grand philanthropy events raise thousands of dollars for various charity foundations and philanthropic endeavors. Keeping with their ideals of dedication, pride and excellence, the women of Delta Phi Epsilon are daring the FIU community to watch the throne this week as they pass the crown down to the new reigning Campus Man 2012.Various sisters of the sorority chapter, along with the current Campus Man, Joseph Roa, are coordinating Monday’s event, which called for months of planning. “I work closely with my team and our current Campus Man” says Julie Goncalves, the sorority’s vice president of programming. For Roa, the approaching pageant does not come without recalling the success of the previous year.

“Giving away my title will be bittersweet,” says Roa, the 2011 Campus Man. “I feel like I have grown tremendously this year and a significant part of that growth can be credited to ‘DPHIE’ and the relationships that I have built with some of its members. But I know that the time has come to pass the crown. But before I go, I want to make sure that my last philanthropic event as the current campus man goes well and we raise a ton of money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.”

The women of Delta Phi Epsilon are promising an entertaining night. The event will consist of four rounds, including a talent portion and a lighthearted round fittingly named “help a ‘DPHIE’ in distress” with eliminations occurring after the second round. It will be a survival of the fittest, as the bid for the Campus Man throne will prove to be tough. All male FIU students are encouraged to get involved for the cause.

The real winners in sorority pageants, however, are the worthy causes they support each year. For the women of Delta Phi Epsilon, that cause is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lung and digestive system of approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States.

“This philanthropy is very important to us because it means a lot to our sorority to help an organization that many times gets overlooked. It also means a great deal to our organization nationally because it was co-founded by a sister of Delta Phi Epsilon,” says Goncalves.

The organization has an extensive relationship with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “For over 50 years, internationally, Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority has devoted time and effort to raise funds for the research foundation. The Alpha Gamma chapter wishes to continue raising funds in order to provide CF patients with the hope of another tomorrow,” says Goncalves. Sisters old and new continually dedicate their time to the cause in great lengths.  “Mafe” Peña Zavarse, an alumna of Delta Phi Epsilon is excited to return to her chapter for the philanthropic event.

“This year it means a lot to me since I am part of the committee for the Great Strides Miami Walk to raise funds and awareness about CF. Just this week, the FDA approved a drug to treat CF and that was all possible because of all the money that’s been fund raised for the cause,” says Zavarse.

“Watch the Throne, Campus Man Edition” will be held in the GC Ballrooms. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $3 pre-sale and $5 at the door. Tickets can be purchased from any sister of Delta Phi Epsilon or in GC during January 30-February 6th from 12 p.m-2p.m.