February Sleep-Out Termed a Success
Contact: Andrew DeFilipp, Public Relations, Beta Eta Chapter of Beta Theta Pi, (207) 581-4161
ORONO – Beta Theta Pi, the University of Maine’s oldest fraternity, held its 14th annual Sleep-Out on February 23, 2007 to raise money and awareness for Rape Response Services of Bangor.
On that frigid Friday night, the 37 brothers of the Beta Eta chapter of Beta Theta Pi participated in their 12-hour sleep-out. They spent the night on the front lawn of Beta Theta Pi, 12 Munson Road. The event was the culmination of weeks worth of fundraising. The brothers grossed $4,100 in donations. $800 of which was prizes for their raffle, which included a UMaine hockey autographed jersey, a Brian Urlacher autographed Chicago Bears hat; and $3,300 in cash.
Robert Dana, UMaine’s dean of students, opened the event.
Rape Response Services is an organization that helps to educate the Maine community about the issues surrounding rape, while also providing services to counsel and prevent rape cases.
Brothers sold tickets to hockey fans coming and going from the game that night. Also, a bonfire burned throughout the night as the central symbol of this annual tradition.
Rape Response Services provides crisis intervention, support groups and community education in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties. The organization’s efforts are essential in preventing rape and counseling those affected by the crime. The 2006 Beta Sleep-Out raised $2,200. This year brothers surpassed the fraternity’s goal of $3,000.
Beta Theta Pi recently donated the check to Rape Response. Rape Response Service Executive Director Kim Roberts-Fer said that the money given to them from the fraternity goes into a fund they use at their discretion, and that the money is counted on year after year.