| Derby Days |
What is Derby Days?Derby Days is an annual competition hosted by the Sigma Chi fraternity. In the past, all of the traditional sororities on campus compete in a weeklong event to raise money for one or all of Sigma Chi's three official charities: the Huntsman Cancer Institute, Children's Miracle Network, and the Sigma Chi Foundation. Each day is a different event but the week always culminates in the Derby Darling competition - a pageant which crowns this year's Derby Darling and focuses on impact on the local, campus, and Greek communities. The Iota Omicron chapter of Sigma Chi has been hosting Derby Days at WIU since we first arrived on campus in 1987, but it has been the official philanthropy of Sigma Chi International for over 50 years.
Where does the money go?100% of proceeds from Derby Days go to registered/recognized 501c3 charities:
HCI is the preeminant cancer research and treatment facility. Founded by Sigma Chi brother Jon Huntsman, Sr. with hundreds of millions of his own dollars, HCI's Nobel-Prize-winning scientists have made it the model in cancer research. 100% of donations to HCI go to research.
Sponsored for years by Sigma Chi brother Merlin Olsen, Children's Miracle Network represents a vast collection of children's hospitals with funds going toward research, treatment, education, prevention, and services. Funds donated to CMN go toward local hospitals.
The Sigma Chi Foundation funds a variety of scholarships and leadership programs for members. Last fiscal year alone, the Foundation gave over $230,000 in undergraduate scholarships and over $1.6 million to leadership programs such as Horizons, Balfour Leadership Training Workshop, and CHOICES - more than twice that of any other Greek organization. |
