Sigma Chi fraternity to give back

Next week Chantel McConnell will think twice before chasing the wrong guys down an alley, a mistake she made last year when her competitive nature got the best of her.

During a Derby Days event, a week of fundraising for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals organized by Eastern New Mexico University's Sigma Chi chapter, McConnell and other participants had to hunt down Sigma Chi members and steal their derby hats before they reached their fraternity home on East Second Street.

"During the 'Hunt a Sig,' we all crammed in a Toyota Yaris and we were scoping people out and saw a group of guys with hats on," said McConnell, a junior from Roswell. "We jumped out of the car and chased them down an alley. They turned out to be random children with baseball hats on. It was so embarrassing."

But McConnell said it's all in good fun and being an early childhood education major, the money they raise during these events goes toward an organization she says tugs at her heart strings.

Christina Calloway: Portales News-Tribune

Derby Days Chairman Jerrid Williams, center, signs up Derby Days veterans Katy Hollifield, left, and Chantel McConnell for this year's events Monday inside Eastern New Mexico University's Campus Union Building.

"I just love helping people and I have a special place in my heart for children in need," McConnell said.

Children's Miracle Network is an organization that raises money for children's hospitals and has a goal to keep funds in the community in which the money was raised. Event Chairman Jerrid Williams said the Children's Miracle Network hospital they're raising money for is in Amarillo.

Williams, a junior from Grants, said this year he's hoping that his organization, with the help of ENMU and the community, can raise $10,000. Last year he said they reported raising nearly $3,000.

"I really want to reach the $10,000 mark and anyway the community can help Sigma Chi do it would be phenomenal," Williams said.

Williams said the community can participate by simply donating money to any Sigma Chi member or participant of Derby Days, who will be easy to spot because they will be wearing Derby Days T-shirts with greyhounds on them.

He said participants will be going around the community from business to business to request donations and he says all proceeds will go to Children's Miracle Network.

In addition to door-to-door solicitation, Williams said each participant of the Derby Days events pays $25 to participate as a donation. The events, which start April 1 and run throughout the week, vary from a sing-off competition to a trivia night about Children's Miracle Network.

On the last day of Derby Days, Williams said they will deliver the funds they raised to their Children's Miracle Network contact in Amarillo.

Katy Hollifield, a sophomore broadcast journalism major from Roswell, participated in last year's Derby Days and said she can't wait to do so again.

"It was one of the first campus-wide events I participated in," Hollifield said.

She said raising money in Portales and Clovis made her aware of how giving the local communities are.

"I loved seeing how helpful the rest of the community was," Hollifield said. "One manager of a store couldn't donate on behalf of the store but wrote a personal check instead."

She said the events get competitive but it's for a good cause.

"I thought it was cool that we got to raise money for kids," she said. "I'm glad they picked an organization devoted to children. I can relate to kids."