Kappa Delts raise $4,100 to fight child abuse during ‘Shamrock-’til-you-drop’
March 23rd, 2011 Posted in Arts and LifeStory & Photos by April Ashland
LOGAN—USU students and Logan community members celebrated St. Patrick’s Day last week with an event to help prevent child abuse.
Kappa Delta sorority’s annual Shamrock-’Til-You-Drop drew hundreds of people, said Kappa Delta President Tara Derber, who said she was proud of the turnout.
“We sold 750 tickets for our Shamrock ‘til you drop event,” she said.
The group raised $4,100 from three events throughout the week, including a fundraiser at Fox’s pizza parlor on Monday and Friday, a pancake breakfast on Wednesday, and the main event Thursday.
Derber said the money raised will be donated to two organizations, 80 percent ($3,280) to the Child and Family Support Center, and 20 percent ($820) to Prevent Child Abuse America.
Child abuse is more prevalent in Utah than most would like to believe—35,738 child abuse complaints in 2010, 8,342 of which were found to have merit, according to the Utah Department of Child and Family Services.
State laws on abuse can be found online at www.childwelfare.gov. According to Utah law, abuse is defined as “non-accidental harm of a child, threatened harm of a child, or sexual exploitation or sexual abuse.”
Sophomore Jade Green said the Shamrock event was a lot of fun.
“It’s obviously a big issue in our community that needs to be addressed, and events like this provide a fun atmosphere while educating,” she said. “It is a good way to reach our age group.”
Green said the event was fun and popular, and the reason was because people wanted to do something on a typically drinking holiday, and watch the Aggie NCAA basketball game.
“I think there were so many people there because they showed the Aggie game live, as well as having other activities,” she said.
Throughout the evening, groups of people showed up, mostly to watch the game, but also to participate in other events.
“We had a couple bouncy houses, a photo-booth, and games for people to win raffle tickets,” Derber said.
The group received donations from many community organizations, such as the Bluebird, Jamba Juice, Dillard’s, Chick-Fil-A, S.E. Needham Jewelers, Angie’s, Planet Beach, and ColdStone Creamery.
Audrey Moulton won one of the big baskets filled with Aggie gear.
“It was really cool,” she said. “I played a bunch of the games, they had normal games, like throwing balls through cutouts, and popping balloons and stuff, and I won.”
Derber was pleased with the outcome because Kappa Delta raised money for a good cause and raised awareness in the community.
“Child abuse is such a huge problem in Utah, but a lot of people aren’t aware that it’s such an issue here,” Derber said. “The more people that know about it, the more that can be done to stop it. Utah is the 8th highest state for reported child abuse. If we can prevent one child from being abused then all of our hard work and sleepless nights were well worth it.”
TP
Tags: child abuse, Kappa Delta, Shamrock
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