In the past, Grand Valley State University’s Gamma Phi Beta chapter has held sporting events such as the Gamma Phi Beta Moonball Tournament and the Gamma Phive K. This semester, they will host the first annual Gamma Phield Day, a new activity-based event to play off their name and support the nonprofit program Girls on the Run.

The event is scheduled to take place Saturday, Oct. 7, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. “Throwback games” like relay races, tug of war, water balloon tosses and giant Jenga will be set up on the North Lawn of the Kirkhof Center.

“I know field day was my favorite event of the entire school year,” said Hannah Svendor, public relations vice president for Gamma Phi Beta. “If you have the attitude and mindset to enjoy something you did when you were 10 years old, I feel you can really have a lot of fun at this event.”

Since the field day will be held on campus, the sorority hopes everyone will feel welcome to join in, relieve stress and have fun. To participate, people will have to pay for a ticket, check in and fill out a liability form.

Once registered, attendees can play the games freely, since the games will not be set up in brackets. The sorority also plans to air a college football game and sell popcorn and snow cones.

“I’m envisioning this being a very relaxed and fun environment,” said Autumn Jager, Gamma Phi Beta chapter president. “If you are bad at tug of war, then who cares? We’re just going to have fun with it.” 

All proceeds from the event will benefit Girls on the Run, a North American non-profit program that inspires confidence and healthy lifestyles for pre-teen girls through an interactive curriculum focused on running.

“Our philanthropic mission at Gamma Phi Beta is ‘Building Strong Girls,’” Jager said. “It’s definitely a lifestyle. This is something you can live out in your everyday life, and this is something that is incredibly important to all of us.”

While the Girls on the Run charity is the sorority’s philanthropic partner, GVSU’s Gamma Phi Beta has recently started working more closely with Girls on the Run of Kent and Muskegon counties.

To foster their new collaboration, Gamma Phi Beta invited people from this local Girls on the Run chapter to attend the field day. 

In addition, a representative from the local non-profit will come to the event around noon and discuss experiences in the Girls on the Run community. Svendor said this presentation will help people understand what the donations will go toward.

All money left over from the budget and money made from the event will be donated to Girls on the Run. With this contribution, girls in the program will receive shirts, shoes, lesson supplies and a starting budget for their celebratory 5K run at the end of the season.

“I’m excited to see the kind of experience this event can create for them because this is money they’ve never had before,” Svendor said.

Gamma Phi Beta will be tabling in the Kirkhof Center Monday, Oct. 2, to Friday, Oct. 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to sell tickets to Gamma Phield Day. The tickets will cost $4 during the week and $5 the day of the event.