Campus leaders take pies to the face in sorority philanthropy event

On Nov. 13, students raised money for charity while destressing by throwing pies in the faces of campus leaders.

Alpha Delta Pi raised $1,870 at its second annual Pie-a-President philanthropic event, breaking last year’s $1,250 fundraising total. During the event, students could pie 78 leaders from different campus organizations in the face for $3 per pie. The event took place at Wynn Commons Friday evening and featured live music, raffle prizes and a bake sale. All proceeds will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“We are combining student leaders from all over campus, and the groups that they lead — the members — can come pie them for $3 a pie. The person who gets pied the most is going to get a sort of prize pack with gift cards to local businesses, and all the proceeds will go to the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House,” College senior and chapter President Izzi Spiridigliozzi said.

College junior Kelly Kennedy, who serves as philanthropy chair of ADPi, organized the majority of the event. Kennedy started securing locations and contacting leaders in the summer, Spiridigliozzi said.

After the event, students were given the opportunity to continue donating $3 to add one pie to the total pie count of their favorite president. College junior Sarah Simon of the Government and Politics Association was pied the most at the event, but ultimately, Engineering junior and Sigma Nu President Holden McGinnis, who is also a Daily Pennsylvanian sports editor, won "Most Pied" due to the additional $3 donations made in his name.

“I really tried to mobilize members of my organization to come, and our former president was the winner last year, so we wanted to win the title again,” Simon said.

ADPi also collected pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, which uses them to pay for heating and electricity. Two hundred pop tabs were donated in total, 150 of which were donated by Wharton and Engineering senior Ian Sibner.

Leaders from around campus chose to participate in Pie-a-President for a variety of reasons.

“I feel that Pie-a-Prez is an incredible way for student groups to create an impact away from the express purpose of their group. I’m looking forward to seeing across-the-University representation from groups as we all come together to support Ronald McDonald House Charities,” said Sean Collins, a College sophomore and chair of Penn Athletes & Allies Tackling Homophobia.

“I’m participating for several reasons. First and foremost, I’m familiar with the work that the Ronald McDonald House does, and it’s a great cause to support. Second, it’s just a lot of fun and a creative idea. I think it’s great that ADPi partners with campus leaders to get as wide a reach as possible,” said Eli Pollock, College senior and consul of the Polybian Society. “It really is a fantastic way to get as many students as possible engaged with philanthropy.”

He added, “I never thought I could have too much whipped cream shoved in my face, but I was proven wrong.”

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