My name is Renee Marinez, and this
year will be my third year as a member of Pi Beta Phi. Each year we have held
several philanthropy events; Angels in the Outfield, Pi A Pi Phi, and Noodles
for Knowledge. My favorite event is Angels in the Outfield. It is a wiffle ball
tournament that Pi Phi has held for the past three years. The objective of the
event is to have teams pay to sign up for the event, and then we would donate that
money to our philanthropy, Read > Lead > Achieve. The women of Pi Beta Phi
co-host the tournament with the University of Cincinnati Baseball team at Marge
Schott Stadium. This event is special to me because I have been able to watch
it become more successful each year during my time in Pi Phi.
This year we had 18 teams sign up
to participate. In addition to the money we raised from those teams, we held a
competition within Pi Phi to increase our donations. The competition, Pi Phi
Penny Wars, raised nearly $200 toward Read > Lead > Achieve. The Pi Phis who did not win the Penny Wars had to get
pied in the face during the event. That competition was something
that we added this year in order raise more money for our philanthropy.
The UC baseball team has participated
each year since the event was established. This year the players were
designated pitchers and referees. The guys are always enthusiastic about this
event, and look forward to it each year. They are really sweet, and don’t mind
taking pictures with us while we throw what we know, or make them line up with
their backs facing the camera while one of our members holds up a sign saying
“Look at those butts!”. They get to meet and work with our members, since
Pi Phis are designated as coaches for the teams that sign up to play. The guys
are always willing to help. Their participation and positive attitudes make the
event so much more enjoyable. And I mean come on, a
little eye candy doesn’t hurt either. ;)
The
players were able to pie penny wars participants that lost the competition. They
were ecstatic when I told them that they would be the ones throwing the pie at
us. They smiled from ear to ear in every picture we captured during that part
of the event.
“I
like how Angels in the Outfield is an event that not only raises money, but
also brings Greek life and athletics together to socialize. I also think it’s a
great place to network and get to know each other a little more and see the
great people that attend UC, and how we can come together and be apart of
something that is bigger than ourselves.” –Manny Rodriguez SS #2
–Ryan Noda INF/OF #14
“I like how it
brings our team and Greek life together. It creates relationships that might
now happen outside of the event. It also allows us to bring awareness to
illiteracy. It shows us something bigger than ourselves.” –Joey Thomas C #7
