Delta Delta Delta Hosts 'Kicks for Kids' Tournament

by Rebekah Hardage, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

Delta Delta Delta sorority at Baylor University will be hosting its inaugural Kicks for Kids kickball tournament to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and children's cancer Thursday, Sept. 27 through Friday, Sept. 28, at the fields behind the Baylor Science Building.

"The kickball tournament is based on regulation kickball rules - but tweaked a bit for a philanthropic event," said Julia Johnson, philanthropy event chair. Sorority members will be serving as umpires and coaches of the 20 participating teams.

Area businesses have made generous donations for the prizes offered at the tournament. Both the winning and second place teams will receive gift cards to local businesses like Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden, Buzzard Billy's and The Elite Circle Grille. Nine gift baskets also will be auctioned off in a raffle. Tickets for the raffle can be purchased for $1 each or six for $5.

Opening ceremonies will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, with games beginning at 5. Friday's portion of the tournament will begin at 3:30 p.m. and the final game and closing ceremonies will be at 6:30 p.m.

T-shirts for the event are available in Penland and Collins Residence Hall cafeterias during the lunch hour or at the tournament itself. The t-shirt serves as a ticket to free food and fun. "Even if you don't have a Kicks for Kids t-shirt, come out and enjoy yourself at the kickball games," Johnson said. "Cheer on your friends, buy some food, and enter yourself in some cake walks and raffles!"

Kicks for Kids takes the place of Tri Delta's annual "Bears at Bat" baseball tournament. The change came as an effort to make the event a campus-wide activity.

Several members of Tri Delta had the opportunity to visit St. Jude's hospital in Memphis, Tenn., in July. "Changing our event to Kicks for Kids was our way of shifting the focus back to the kids," said Emily Wade, president of Tri Delta at Baylor.

Half of the proceeds will go to St. Jude's hospital and the other half will benefit the Kidsville wing at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco.

For more information contact Johnson at (817) 266-7771.