Prospective new members should attend Thursday’s recruitment event featuring what Pi Kappa Phi does for serving others, specially through The Ability Experience – our outreach effort assisting people with disabilities.
Listen to a roundtable discussion from chapter members about the Ability Experience programming as well as other philanthropic efforts. Recruitment event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. with a presentation starting approximately 5:45 p.m.
Ability Experience
Pi Kappa Phi Omega (Purdue) chapter academic year programming
Throughout the school year, the Omega chapter engages its members and the Purdue community through outreach, fund-raising and education. The primary beneficiary of the chapter’s efforts is The Ability Experience, Pi Kappa Phi’s national philanthropy. Furthermore, 25 percent of its annual fund-raising efforts are contributed locally to assist the special needs classes at a local high school. Fraternity members support local agencies – the Arc of Tippecanoe and Best Buddies Purdue – with programming and support as well.
72-Hour David Feltner Memorial Bike a Thon
Established in 2011, the chapter members ride up to three stationary bikes for 72 straight hours leading up to, and concluding after, the annual homecoming football game. Riders commit to $10 per hour of cycling time and oftentimes includes chapter alumni and sorority members. The event is held in memory of Feltner, who died while a chapter member in 2011. Feltner was heavily involved in all facets of the chapter’s Ability Experience programming while a Purdue student. His parents continue to ride the final five minutes of the event each year.
Arctoberfest
Established in 2011, the chapter hosts a Halloween-themed costume party for clients of the Arc of Tippecanoe, a local chapter of a national organization serving adults with disabilities. Fraternity members team up with Best Buddies, a student organization, to interact with the largest outing of Arc clients of the year. The event includes carnival games, food and dancing for more than two hours. Arc clients compete for awards including scariest, most creative and funniest costumes.
War of Roses
Established in 2007, each spring the chapter engages members of the Greek community in a one- or two-week experience that includes empathy training, a disability dinner, sheet-sign competition, a single-elimination sorority flag football event, sorority fund-raising as well as a talent show. The primary contestant from each participating sorority also visits Omega’s outreach in the special needs classroom. The winner appears on the chapter’s composite the following year as Rose Queen. The capstone talent show is held in an on-campus theatre and draws nearly 600 people. Most years since 2014, SPIRIT! Theatre, a local stage troupe that teaches adults with disabilities, performs during the talent portion of the War of Roses. At the end
Special needs class assistance
Established in 2008, chapter members volunteer each school day in special needs classes at Lafayette Jefferson High School. Guys assist the teachers in engaging students with cognitive and physical disabilities. Fraternity members help the students with life skills, socialization and field trips.
Pi Kapp/Best Buddy Prom
Established in 2015, the fraternity teams up with a Purdue student group to offer a Second Chance Prom for people with disabilities. Clients of the Arc of Tippecanoe ask each other to the event and the two sponsoring groups plan the event. The springtime prom includes games and dancing.
Pi Kapp 100
Established in 1999, chapter members, alumni and guests cycle 100 kilometers from Zionsville to the Purdue campus. Similar to national Ability Experience events, riders and crew commit to fund-raising goals to participate. The riders arrive at the fraternity house on Moms Day each April. Over the years, chapter alumni and members from other Pi Kappa Phi chapters nationally have participated (other chapter participants have been in the area for Journey of Hope training). In 2016 and 2017, a mom of a chapter member rode, too.
Moms Day
Features Pi Kapp 100 arrival, reception (social hour), charity public auction (items brought, bought, made by moms – bidding against each other) with proceeds to AbEx or chapter improvement fund, silent auction (anything more than 35 items goes here and bidding runs from noon to 9 p.m.), banquet (archon state of chapter, JOH alumnus, chapter mom speaks, advisor update, keynote speaker).
Other Events
Pi Kapps participate in countless other Greek organization philanthropies, too. The two largest include Zeta Tau Alpha’s BMOC (Big Man on Campus) and PUDM (Purdue University Dance Marathon).