BU Greek Life, OCC, SG throw fair to keep ‘dream’ alive for terminally ill children

Boston University students spent the first day of Greek Week playing horseshoe contests, throwing darts and throwing pies at the Greek Week fair Monday afternoon on Marsh Plaza.

The fair was organized to benefit the Dream Street Foundation, with 100 percent of proceeds from admission fees going directly to the organization, said Amanda Lake, Off-Campus Council vice president.

“This year Greek Life, Off-Campus Council and Student Government are all chipping in to cover the costs of the event so that all the proceeds go directly to kids who are terminally ill,” Lake, a College of Communication sophomore, said.

Dream Street is a nonprofit organization that provides nationwide summer camp programs for children who are terminally ill, according to its website. More than 750 children and young adults attend Dream Street camps each summer.

Monday’s fair marks the first time Greek Life has asked other organizations and student groups to co-sponsor a Greek Week activity, said Jason Feldman, vice president of programming for the Interfraternity Council.

“I think Greek Life is always trying to find ways to spread our message. We figure to get more involvement from all kinds of students, it’s best to try to bring in different bases from around campus,” Feldman, a COM junior, said.

Linsey Zanchetti, a Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences junior who proposed the foundation as the Greek Week focus, said she found out about Dream Street from another sorority sister.

“It was in California, I decided to volunteer one summer,” she said. “Once I joined the camp, I fell in love with it.”

Zanchetti said she is still working on making Dream Street more well known outside of BU Greek Life.

“It really helps to get Greek Life organizations involved, but I don’t think enough people know enough about Dream Street,” she said. “We’re going to keep doing various programs to raise money and get the name out there.”

Sameer Patel, a School of Management sophomore who attended the fair, said while Monday had a good turnout by students, he would have liked to see more people there.

“There’s always room for improvement,” he said. “Things could always be a bit more organized.”

Patel said if all the fraternities and sororities in Greek Life always hosted philanthropic activities together as they did on Monday afternoon, student turnout could be even higher.

“When every fraternity and sorority is working together, it’s better that way,” he said.

Riley Allen, a College of Arts and Sciences freshman, said the fair seemed to be a success because everyone having a good time when he was there. However, Allen said more advertising could have been targeted toward the general BU student population.

“If I wasn’t involved in Greek Life, I probably wouldn’t be aware of today’s event, “ he said. “I personally didn’t hear any of my friends who aren’t involved in [BU] Greek Life talking about today’s event.”

Feldman said Greek Life, SG and OCC all used social media as one way of advertising for the event.

“I think also that just the sight of people with booths in Marsh Plaza attracts attention,” Feldman said. “It’s central to campus.”

College of General Studies sophomore Rogger Andrade said Monday’s fair was unique because it was not exclusively for members of Greek Life.

“Overall, today was a great way to start off the week,” Andrade said. “All the fraternities and sororities at BU were represented here today, and it was just good fun for everyone who showed up.”

Greek Week will continue with fundraisers through Thursday. Proceeds from the entire week will be donated to Dream Street, Feldman said.