The Quad was the center of sports action on Sunday. Pi Beta Phi held their third annual Angels in the Endzone flag football tournament. Proceeds generated will be donated to the sorority’s Read>Lead>Achieve philanthropy. The amount raised is still being calculated.

More than 16 teams signed up for the event. The games were played with seven people on each team. Each game lasted 25 minutes and no contact was allowed. The tournament was single elimination.

The winning team received a Buffalo Wild Wings gift card. In addition to the flag football games being played, there were raffles, a DJ and a bake sale at the event.

The tournament began when a former Vice President of Philanthropy for Pi Beta Phi wanted to create a fundraiser for the Read>Lead>Achieve foundation. She noticed that among other fundraisers, flag football was not represented. The tournament has received a strong following across the Quinnipiac community, especially with Greek Life, according to Pi Beta Phi chapter president Kaitlyn Clark.

Anthony Lancia took part in the event on Sunday. He is the president of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity.

“I wanted to come out here today (sic), support a good cause, and have some fun at the same time with my brothers,” Lancia said.

Senior Rachael Casanova of Pi Beta Phi also felt a sense of bonding during the event.

“It feels good,” she said. “It’s fun to hang out with your sisters and help to fundraise.”

Fundraising in past years has generated as much as $1000 for Read>Lead>Achieve.

The program intends to inspire “a lifelong love of reading that can unlock true potential creating a more literate and productive society,” according to the national Pi Beta Phi website. In recent years, the national organization has donated $1 million for literacy and has given away 1 million books to needy children.

The sorority encourages members to go out into local schools to help children as a part of Read>Lead>Achieve and their philanthropic message as a whole. Senior Pi Beta Phi member Stephanie Chapman remembers one story of hers as a part of the program.

“One day, after I was done with the homework club, the person that was running it came up to me and said ‘You know what Steph, the girl you were working with today… she has never ever responded to anybody the way she responded to you. The work that she got done today was beyond anything she’s done before.’”

Current Vice President of Philanthropy Amanda Miller also remembered her Read>Lead>Achieve experience.

“It’s rewarding to see the kids faces. They’re excited,” Miller said. “It’s someone younger than their teacher but older than them. They really look up to you.”

Given that it is a positive experience for all those involved, this fundraiser is something president Clark says her chapter looks forward to each year.

“We hope to keep improving every year,” she said.

Overall Clark was happy with the turnout this year, and those who attended say they had a great time.

“At the end of the day, it’s for charity and that’s what it should be about,” Lancia said.