The sandy volleyball courts on South Green are a popular diversion for students looking to enjoy the springtime sunshine.
Friday,
Backdrop Magazine
is hosting its second annual volleyball tournament. The tournament begins at 4 p.m. on South Beach and continues until one team stands triumphant. It is a single-elimination tournament with 12 teams of six people each. Entry fees are $5 per person, $30 per team.
Registration ends once the tournament begins, but players can simply show up with their team of six and $30 to enter. The first and second place teams will receive free t-shirts.
The event will also feature food, refreshments and live music from Ohio University student Jenna “DJ Jenesis” Stenger, a junior studying journalism.
Volleyball is a sport all can enjoy regardless of skill level. It’s easy to play, fun to learn, and serves a social function at the university, a fact proven by its popularity.
“We just wanted to do something fun to finish out the year,” said Rebecca Zook, assistant marketing director at
Backdrop Magazine
and a sophomore studying journalism. “The tournament was a huge success last year, we raised over $300 for PassionWorks, so I’m excited for this one. It’s a fun time for a good cause.”
Backdrop
hopes to make the tournament a tradition and use it as a fundraiser for different charities each year. The magazine wants to focus on Athens-based charities in order to help the local community as much as possible, Zook said.
More than half of the tournament’s proceeds, $3 of every $5 raised, will be given to the Peanut Butter & Jelly Project, which is a supplementary food program operated through Athens County Children Services.
Many kids in Athens County rely on reduced or free lunches during the school year, but are left without a steady source of sustenance in the summer. The program provides peanut butter and jelly sandwiches so that school children don’t go hungry during their break.
Event promotion has been facilitated by ImPRessions, a student operated and nationally affiliated public relations firm on campus.
“
Backdrop
is one of twelve clients that ImPRessions currently works with,” said Ali Cupelli, account executive for ImPRessions and a senior studying strategic communications. “They chose the charity and we worked to promote the event and make sure it’s a hit, we want to coordinate effectively in order to raise as much as possible for the PB&J Project.”
Considering the amount of kids that rely on school lunches and the approaching end of their academic year,
Backdrop
considered this an important cause.
“I love DJing the
Backdrop
events. The energy is always super high just because everyone there is really passionate about the cause and their organization,” Stenger said. “So raising money is their number one priority and as the DJ, mine is to make sure everyone has fun while doing it.”
If you go
What: 2nd annual It’s Backdrop, Beach! Volleyball Tournament
When: 4 p.m., Friday
Where: South Beach
Admission: $30 per team.
sn002310@ohiou.edu
