Beta Theta Pi held its charity banquet in the Walter Rotunda on Saturday, raising more money than its members had originally hoped for.
The goal was to raise $10,000 but that figure was met before the event began, so organizers decided to raise it to $20,000.
Funds were donated to the Wounded Warrior Project, which assists injured service members, according to its website.
"We chose this project because we wanted to pick a project that we could really get behind and be proud of," said Sam Covert, the philanthropy chair of Ohio University’s Beta Theta Pi. "We liked the idea of giving back to those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.”
Requests for an updated amount of funds raised weren’t immediately returned by press time.
The organization spent about $3,000 of its own funds on renting the space, providing food and other expenses, said Covert, a senior studying accounting, finance and business pre-law.
“It being Beta's second year back on campus, we decided as a fraternity that we wanted to make sure we could host a philanthropy (event) that would be as big and as impactful as possible,” said Garrett Anderson, vice president of programming.
Event attendees included alumni and veterans.
“We are trying to get the Beta name (and) brand out there, and I think this event will help show everyone that we are here to stay and are going to be making an impact on this community and university,” Anderson said.
OU’s Beta Theta Pi chapter was suspended in June 2011 after alcohol violations but has since returned to campus.
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