Tau Kappa Epsilon Duluth Chapter raises significant funds for St Jude Research Hospital

DULUTH, Minn.– A fraternity chapter UMD has spent nearly a decade raising an impressive amount of money for St Jude Research Hospital.

Over the past eight years, the Tau Kappa Epsilon UMD Duluth Chapter has kept busy with fundraising for the organization.

Each yearly campaign involves collecting donations from friends, families, and local businesses.

The first year they began, the fraternity raised $4,500.

Last year their efforts earned them over $220,000.

“It started off real humble, with about 20 guys, and then it’s grown from there. I think they did about 4,500 that first year. Then last year, our seventh go around at it, we did just over 220,000 so it’s really scaled from what it first was,” explained Dillion Messicker, co-chair St Jude TKE Committee.

St Jude took notice of the group’s hard work, and three weeks ago they got to tour St Jude headquarters in Nashville.

They told Fox 21; it really put their effort into perspective.

“It’s just been the most amazing experience of my life. I was there about three weeks ago with 11 of us. We got a private tour there. So St Jude is just, it starts from an actual member. He did it because no kid deserves to die at the dawn of life. And it’s just a beautiful thing,” said Orlando Chavez, co-chair St Jude TKE Committee.

Coming up on November 15th, the annual St Jude silent auction gala will be taking place at Clyde Iron at 5:30.
Admission for this event is 65 dollars.

To RSVP and inquire about information such as dietary restrictions, you can contact Orlando Chavez through the fraternity’s email.