As the March Madness tournament
continues, we find ourselves left to 8 teams left as they compete to win not
only the prestige of beating out 31 other teams in this fundraising battle, but
also $50 dollars and points towards their team! This week, we thought it might
be interesting to interview one of the teams in the top eight: ZBTeam, and get
some insight onto how they feel about getting their fraternity involved in
Relay For Life.
When asked about his own
involvement with Relay For Life through ZBT, Matthew Fay responded, “It’s a
group effort, and a great bonding opportunity.” He explained that each member
of the fraternity has made an effort to get involved in fundraising. They all
donate, and whenever any of them are available, they work together to raise
money for Relay. However, although all the brothers work together as they
battle it out for the number one spot on the bracket, as a team, they really
depend on their philanthropy chair, Josh Stroker. As Bryan Kadlec, a second
year engineer put it, “We have a fine philanthropy chair.” As chair, Stroker
has put in hours of work not only organizing their fundraiser, ZBT’s Lemonade
on the Lawn, but also making all of the baked goods to be sold himself. Kadlec
reports that he is “proud of Josh more than anybody.” Stroker has said to him and
other members of the fraternity that getting involved in Relay is the most
amazing project he has undertaken so far in his two years here at UVA. “It was
his job to organize it, but he’s definitely been the most involved. However, we
all try to help him as best we can; it hasn’t been just him,” said Fay, while
elaborating on the influence Stroker has had on the organization of ZBT’s
awesome effort to raise money for this year’s Relay For Life.
Although Stroker has taken the lead
(rightfully so) on moving ZBT up (hopefully) into the final four, it is obvious
that the entire fraternity is proud of what they have accomplished so far. Alex
Weinberg, a first year pledge, reports that until he pledged for ZBT, he hadn’t
really heard of Relay For Life. However, he has stated that he feels “proud” of
his fraternity for all the hard work they’re all putting in.
When asked about how the brothers
felt about representing a greek organization, all agreed that they hoped to
perhaps inspire other fraternities and sororities to get involved as well. As
Fay put it, “I would really recommend other fraternities to do it, I mean, it’s
a really good cause.” Kadlec agreed. “We hope to start a trend.”
Confident in their chance at the
title of March Madness Champion for 2012, the brothers present during the
interview joked around about why they thought it would be incredible to win.
Fay stated, “It’s not a competition,” only to be quickly countered by Kadlec,
who earnestly insisted it was. “However,” he qualified soon after, “If we win,
it means we raise a lot of money.”
ZBT is quickly emerging as one of
the most successful teams in this year’s Relay event. Let’s all try to share
the same enthusiasm as we push into the final two weeks till Relay 2012!
As always, with Relay Love,
Relay For Life at UVA
