Zeta Beta Tau scores an overtime victory for Rory

The Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity at the University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign, once again
sponsored a day of Powder Puff football. This tournament delivered pigskin excitement and also raised $2,700 for The Rory David Deutsch Foundation.

“There were some great games and great fun for a great cause,” said Barry Glass, a University of Illinois junior and Zeta Beta Tau member. He had been involved in the event for the past two years. “Our new philanthropy chairman, Ryan Kooperman, did an incredible job. He planned the event, contacted the sororities, reserved the fields, scheduled the games, and oversaw the action on game day.”

Kooperman took over the chairmanship after previous chairman, Jeffrey Holmes, graduated. After meeting Ross and his sons at a summer camp program, it was Holmes who selected The Foundation as the event’s recipient charity of 2005.

This year’s tournament, held April 1, 2006 featured twelve sorority teams and, as in previous years, brothers of Zeta Beta Tau, Chapter Rho, served as coaches. The tournament’s final championship game involved Delta Delta Delta (Tri-Delt) and Gamma Phi Beta. It was a contest that went into overtime before Tri-Delt claimed the victory. The winners received a ZBT football jersey with “Powder Puff Champs 2006” printed on the back of the shirt. The jersey of the game’s MVP, Krystal Kniep (‘08), had the additional honor inscribed on the back of her shirt. Jessica Klein, Gamma Phi Beta (‘08), received Honorable Mention.

The participating sororities pay a $130 tournament entry fee. “In advance of the tournament, and at our kick-off event the night before, we make sure everyone involved knows about The Foundation and the work that it does,” said Glass. “We share the story about Rory, and what we are really playing for. This is something we will continue to do year after year.”

The Foundation has also benefited from another Zeta Beta Tau effort. Proceeds from its “Sober Drivers” program have been donated to The Foundation in the past. Last spring, the program raised approximately $650 for The Rory David Deutsch Foundation.