The McGill Tribune, McGill University Student Paper - November 21, 2000

McGill fraternity raises funds for Children’s Foundation

by Grace Carter, The McGill Tribune

The Montreal chapter of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity has awarded a cheque for three thousand dollars to the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation. The donation, which will go towards the Foundation’s oncology department, is the second contribution it has received from a group of university-aged students this year.

The bulk of the money was generated at “Concert for a Cure,” a fundraising event put on by the Pi Lambda Phi on October 23 at Café Campus on Prince Arthur. Four local bands volunteered their services, playing to a crowd of about 400.

The concert was organized by Robbie Praw, the Pi Lambda Phi public relations representative. All proceeds from the event went towards the fraternity’s gift to the Children’s Foundation. The fraternity’s President, Neil Rubin, hopes that the success of Pi Lambda Phi’s fundraiser will reflect favourably upon public perception of fraternities in general.

“The event was special because for once fraternities as a whole were being publicized as doing something good for the community instead of being arrested for some drinking or hazing incident… it really was a win-win situation for everyone involved.” Praw explained why the frat chose the Children’s Foundation. “It took us a long time to decide what charity we were going to support. We eventually chose the oncology department of the Children's Foundation because cancer is something that affects all of us. We wanted to focus on children, specifically, to help give sick kids a future they might not have otherwise," Praw noted.

At the moment, it is unclear whether Pi Lambda Phi’s donation money will go towards research or equipment. According to Emmanuelle Rondeau, the Foundation’s special events coordinator, is still negotiating which areas are in greatest need of assistance

Pi Lambda Phi is not the only fraternity giving to charity this season. Last Thursday, Phi Delta Theta held its “Hearts for the Homeless Marathon” event. Fraternity members played cards for 18 hours in the Shatner Building to raise money for the Old Brewery Mission, a non-profit organization that provides shelter and food to Montreal’s homeless.

Another fraternity, AE Pi, has raised funds for the McGill Cancer Center this term, with a 24 hour gangster movie marathon held outside the Leacock building on October 24th.

The Montreal Children’s Foundation receives approximately 30,000 contributions a year and raises close to ten million dollars.