When Alpha Omicron Pi sorority changed its longest-running philanthropy from a basketball to a dodgeball tournament, its members weren't sure if it would work.
The 40-year-old philanthropy's changes brought in 20 teams and raised $825 at Irving Gym Saturday.
Alpha Omicron Pi sorority president Blythe Grayson said it decided to change the sport of the tournament, which does not get played often, to attract more people.
"Most people haven't played dodgeball since elementary or high school years," she said.
She said the event charged $35 a team and $5 for spectators to raise money for the juvenile arthritis foundation and for dystonia research.
"The reason that is our philanthropy is because that's a disease that affects all ages, men and women, and all races," Grayson said.
The double-elimination tournament began at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and lasted until the early afternoon. The tournament had male, female and co-ed team categories, with teams having six to eight people, she said.
About 120 people participated in the dodgeball games and 25 came to watch, she said. The turnout for the tournament was better than past tournaments, she said.
"Since this is the first year we've done this, we didn't know what to expect," she said.
Breanne Mulkey, dodgeball committee co-chairwoman, said the committee of 20 sorority members started planning for the tournament three months ago.
"It's great to see [the tournament] actually come to life," she said. "I feel like it's my baby."
Mulkey said the sorority saw the interest for the basketball tournament was waning in past years, so they decided to change the tournament.
The sorority will continue with the change and keep the event as a dodgeball tournament, she said.
Allyson Schwenger, dodgeball committee co-chairwoman, said each of the sorority's 74 members had to get a company to sponsor at least $50 for the committee.
A large part of setup for the tournament was recruiting teams from fraternities and sororities, Schwenger said. She said it was rewarding to hear fraternity and other sorority members excited for next year's tournament.
Winners
- Co-ed: Army/Navy team
- Women: Sigma Kappa sorority
- Men: Theta Chi fraternity
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