Two hot dogs a minute may be unfeasible for some people, but not for Stephanie Alvarez, who consumed ten hot dogs in just five minutes. Alvarez was one of seven contestants at Sigma Nu”s Sausage Fest hot dog-eating competition Saturday.
“It”s a very different philanthropy that no one has done,” said Becca Papineau, who attended the event with her friends.
Participants had the opportunity to buy hot dogs and hamburgers as well as to compete in the hot dog-eating contest and basketball tournament. The Sausage Fest is the first philanthropy put on by Sigma Nu”s University of Idaho chapter in five years, said Chris Filler, one of the philanthropy chairs for the Greek house. Briggs Jackson, president of the house, said they got the idea for Sausage Fest from the chapter at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
“I contacted many presidents around the country and asked what sort of things they do for their philanthropy, and after we came across the one at UC Santa Barbara it seemed like it would have been the most unique for this campus,” Jackson said.
Jackson said the hope for the 2016-2017 year is to have two philanthropy events, one for each semester. Sausage Fest, which they plan to make an annual event, would be held on Dad”s Weekend in the fall, he said.
“We feel like that would be a lot bigger turn-out, a lot of the dads would be interested in joining the competition,” he said.
Jackson said they will have to figure out how to accommodate more participants, however. At this Sausage Fest, there were over 200 people, he said. He said the proceeds totaled more than 500 dollars, which will go to St. Jude Children”s Research Hospital, an institution he said has had a long partnership with Sigma Nu.
“It just feels good to be giving back, and finally like, kick-start a philanthropy that I think has the potential to last for several years,” Filler said.
Jackson said later, they plan on meeting some of the people who receive help from St. Jude in order to provide moral as well as monetary support.
“It”s a great cause, something in the area that we really feel like we can connect with,” he said.
Nina Rydalch can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NinaRobin7