Fraternity tournament fundraises for autism awareness

Proceeds from a Phi Sigma Pi soccer tournament benefitted organization Autism Cares.

Kelsey Lazicki, a junior from St. Joe’s University, cheers on her teammates during the Phi Sigma Pi ninth annual ICR Philly Cup soccer game on November 9th. Proceeds for the event go to the Autism Cares Foundation. Jenny Kerrigan | TTN
Kelsey Lazicki, a junior from St. Joe’s University, cheers on her teammates during the Phi Sigma Pi ninth annual ICR Philly Cup soccer game on November 9th. Proceeds for the event go to the Autism Cares Foundation. Jenny Kerrigan | TTN

This past Saturday, members of co-ed fraternity Phi Sigma Pi laced up for their Philly Cup soccer tournament.

The fraternity holds the tournament each year to raise money for the Autism Cares foundation.

 “This is the only event like this that our chapter holds,” Bridget Fitzgerald, the Inter-Chapter Relations Chair of Phi Sigma Pi, said. “This is huge for our chapter, and everyone gets involved.”

 Autism Cares works to better the lives and experiences of the autistic. Jon Campione, the Inter-Chapter Relations co-chair of Phi Sigma Pi, said this year the fraternity has raised roughly $2,000 to donate to the organization.

The fraternity raises money through the soccer tournament by asking participating brothers to pay an entrance fee.

The brothers aren’t required to participate, but anyone who is a member of Phi Sigma Pi is encouraged to join the tournament.

“All of the visiting brothers and sisters are invited to stay with us in our homes for the weekend,” Fitzgerald said.

“It’s always great to see our brothers step up and take on the responsibility to show everyone what a great city Philadelphia is.”

Students from schools like West Virginia University came to play in the tournament .

“This is my second year coming, and it’s always just really cool to meet everyone because meeting people from other chapters, and seeing how they do things is awesome,” Sarah Hohenwarter, a senior at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, said.

Fitzgerald said it was interesting to see members of the fraternity come together.

The team huddled, mingled, danced and, of course, played soccer.

“It is a great feeling knowing that all of these people are here to support such a great cause and that they are donating their time,” Campione said.

Julia Chiango can be reached at  julia.chiango@temple.edu

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