ZBT fraternity raises funds for Children’s Miracle Network

Zeta Beta Tau fraternity is rolling out its seventh annual philanthropy event on Monday to raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network.

The fraternity will be in front of the Student Union between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. all week collecting signatures on a six-foot ball as part of its Get on the Ball campaign, which supports its national philanthropy organization: the Children’s Miracle Network.

According to its website, the Children’s Miracle Network is a charity that helps children suffering from common childhood afflictions like asthma and broken bones, or fight bigger challenges like birth defects or cancer.

Daniel Balva, ZBT’s internal philanthropy chair, has been involved with the event for the past three years and has seen it grow each time.

“We’re just trying to help the community as much as possible by working with the rest of the students on campus and the faculty members, just trying to get everyone to participate and help a great cause,” Balva said.

Many community members will be coming together to help the fraternity reach its goal of 12,500 signatures by the end of the week.

“Miss Orlando and other Miss America organization representatives will be at the event between Monday and Wednesday and students are welcome to take pictures with them as well,” Balva said.

Local radio stations XL 106.7 and 102 Jamz will also be in attendance on Tuesday and Thursday to help promote the event. Sponsors have volunteered to donate a certain amount of money to the charity for each signature the fraternity is able to collect.

“There are different sponsorship packages that the businesses can choose from. One of them is donating six cents per signature. It sounds like a small number but it definitely adds up,” Balva said.

Pat’s Liquor, Gray’s College Bookstore and the Moat Sports Grille are among the sponsors listed to participate this year. Balva, a junior double major in English and creative writing, assisted in reaching out to the community for sponsorship and is looking forward to giving back.

Signing the ball is free since the fundraising will come from the sponsorships ZBT has collected, but students will have other opportunities to donate money to the cause if they are interested. There will be a station where students can pay $1 to pie someone in the face. There will also be $1 raffle giveaways and miracle balloons, which can be bought for $1 each. Free food and Jeremiah’s Italian Ice will be available throughout the week as an incentive for those who take the time to sign the ball.

At the end of the week, Balva and his fraternity brothers plan to take a trip to tour a hospital and meet the children and families being supported by the Children’s Miracle Network.

“It’s definitely motivational and it inspires us to continue working with the organization and fundraising for them on a year-long basis,” Balva said.