On Saturday, Alpha Phi Delta fraternity hosted its first annual APD Fall Classic, a charity softball tournament for the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
The Starlight Children’s Foundation is a national organization which provides an array of in-hospital, outpatient, school and home-based programs and services to children and their families during an illness and recovery.
Michael Attard, a child life specialist from the Stony Brook University Hospital, said the money donated from the softball tournament will provide amenities for the hospital, such as a fish tank in the pediatric waiting area, as well as laptops and video games for the children.
Proceeds for the tournament were donated from local and national businesses as well as ticket sales. PepsiCo., Dunkin Donuts, Collegiate Greek and Metromint helped sponsor this event by donating food and drinks to players and spectators.
Anton Pagi, a brother of Alpha Phi Delta, came up with the idea for the APD Fall Classic.
“I wanted to help children and get everyone involved while doing it,” Pagi said. “The Starlight Foundation was very helpful and through this event we’ve raised around $4,000.”
Alpha Sigma Alpha, Epsilon Sigma Phi, Alpha Chi Rho, Theta Phi Alpha, Sigma Delta Tau, Delta Sigma Phi, Phi Iota Alpha and Alpha Phi Delta participated in the softball tournament.
Performances by the Stony Brook Dance Team and Stony Brook Color Guard kicked off the game.
Theta Phi Alpha and Delta Sigma Phi played Alpha Sigma Alpha and Alpha Chi Rho in the first game, with a score of 21-2; Theta Phi Alpha and Delta Sigma Phi were the winners of the first game.
Keith Mojavi Wright, director of fraternity and sorority life at Stony Brook University, attended the softball tournament and said the event was a fantastic display of different organizations working together.
“To bring organizations from different councils together is something we should have done from the start,” Wright said. “Alpha Phi Delta should be commended for such a successful event.”
Sunil Seoparson, tournament player and brother of Delta Sigma Phi, agreed with Wright.
“I really respect Alpha Phi Delta for getting this event together and getting people more involved,” Seoparson said.
In the second game, Epsilon Sigma Phi and Alpha Phi Delta played Sigma Delta Tau and Phi Iota Alpha, with Epsilon Sigma Phi and Alpha Phi Delta securing the win with a score of 12-6.
The final matchup was Theta Phi Alpha and Delta Sigma Phi against Epsilon Sigma Phi and Alpha Phi Delta. Theta Phi Alpha and Delta Sigma Phi won the tournament with a final score of 12-4.
Stephanie Leonette, tournament player and sister of Theta Phi Alpha, came out to play softball for a good cause and to promote good relations with other Greek organizations on campus.
“People tend to stereotype fraternities and sororities, and an event like this shows that we do good things for the community and for others,” Leonette said.
Wright felt the event should be the “benchmark” for Greek life and different organizations working together only increased its success.
“This event showed that no matter how different the organization is, culturally or socially, they are more alike than they think,” Wright said. “This is only a sign of greater things to come.”
