Members of the 2017 Pi Kapp 100 team pose for a photo on April 8, 2017.
With a myriad of events, Pi Kappa Phi members celebrated Moms Day on April 8, 2017, amid picture perfect weather.
The event started with the 12:30 p.m., arrival of the Pi Kapp 100, a 100-kilomter fund-raising cycling ride from Zionsville to the chapter’s front steps. The ride included Amy Fisher, mother of undergraduate Mark Fisher. It was her second consecutive Pi Kapp 100 and she and her son led the group’s arrival at the house on April 8.
More than 20 riders and crew raised, more than $2,000 for The Ability Experience. Thus far in 2017, the chapter has raised more than $15,000 for people with disabilities.
After the arrival and lunch for the riders and crew, moms (and their guests) were able to visit with their sons and attend any of the variety of on-campus events related to Purdue’s Springfest.
At 4 p.m., moms gathered for a reception where they could view items displayed for a silent auction in the basement of the house. Multiple items were up for bid including baked goods, potted plants, sports apparel and homemade items.
From 5 to 6, there was a public auction of larger items included a food cart, picnic baskets and gift cards.
The chapter raised more than $8,000 through the two auction formats that covered the cost of the moms day events along with funding a house improvement project or assisting in the chapter’s annual Ability Experience fund-raising.
President Chad Hellan presents a State of the Chapter address during the April 8 banquet.
In the evening, the chapter traveled to The Trails for a Moms Day banquet and program.
President Chad Hellan gave a state of the chapter address and told moms that the chapter had a 3.11 average GPA in the fall and a 3.15 last spring. Furthermore, moms learned that the chapter raised $69,689 for philanthropic purposes by the end of last fall, ranking it No. 1 on campus. At the fraternity’s national awards presentations in January, the chapter won the executive, champion master chapter, outstanding service and recruitment & retention awards.
Journey of Hope Alumnus Mark Fisher addresses moms.
Hellan was followed by Mark Fisher who explained the various chapter Ability Experience events during the school year – the David Feltner Memorial Bike a Thon, Arctoberfest, War of Roses, Lafayette Jefferson High School’s special needs class assistance and the Pi Kapp 100.
He also spoke passionately about the Journey of Hope – how he and his older brother, Thomas, both participated in different years. He lauded his mother, Amy, who did a ride along on JOH and was a two-time rider in the Pi Kapp 100.
Mrs. Fisher talked of her Greek experience and how proud she was of her two sons.
The keynote speaker was former Kappa Kappa Gamma national president Pris Gerde who spoke about her Greek experience and how she admires the programming done by Pi Kappa Phi at Purdue.
Pris Gerde
In all, there were more than 250 people who participated in the 2017 Pi Kappa Phi Moms Day.