Lambda Chi Alpha raised over $20,000 for the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) at its 8th-annual Mustache Bash last Thursday at the Gothic Theatre.
The event sold out, selling 1,000 tickets at $25 a piece.
The 1970s-themed party features live funk bands every year. This year, the three bands that played were Race Street Riot, The Foot and The Kinetix. Most members of these bands either attend or have attended DU.
“It’s good music to dance to. Everyone loves it, no matter how old they are,” said Ross Larson, president of Lambda Chi Alpha. “I think generally we’re a pretty social fraternity, but it’s really the theme that draws people, and the fact that it’s philanthropy.”
All of the proceeds from Mustache Bash go to the NSCD, one of the largest outdoor therapeutic recreation agencies in the world. NSCD provides therapeutic sports and recreational programs for people of any age and ability.
According to Larson, the event has become popular enough that Lambda has been able to donate $20,000 to the organization for the last three years. This year, the fraternity’s goal was $30,000. While the final figures are not yet available, Larson said he thinks they fell short of the $30,000, but still earned close to $25,000 after expenses.
In addition to ticket sales, Lambda fraternity brothers raised funds individually from friends and family. Some of these funds come from donations, while others through sponsorships. For every day a brother grows out his mustache, his sponsor donates a dollar. This year the fraternity earned about $8,000 from this kind of fundraising – about $6,000 more than last year.
“People are really more generous than you might expect, even in these tough economic times,” said Larson.
John Fery, Lambda’s external vice president, said he thinks 20 percent of the revenue the kids they sponsor receive comes from activities the kids plan on their own.
“The remaining 80 percent comes from donors, and we are their primary donor,” said Fery.
Lambda organizers commit about 10 hours of volunteer time every week for a month to make it happen, although Larson said much of their work goes unrecognized.
“They put on this epic party, but most of the people there don’t even know how it happened, or who was behind it,” said Larson.
Fery said a lot of work goes into the event.
“We couldn’t do it without the students who attend,” said Fery. “We’re counting on them to make it a success.”
Larson and Fery also said they agreed that Mustache Bash avoids many of the negative stereotypes that surround fraternity parties, such as excessive drinking. They admitted, however, that there are a couple of incidents every year simply because of the number of people that attend.
“I think we promote it the right way, though,” said Larson. “We just say this is for a good cause, and this is the good music we’re going to play. If you look at it statistically, one in five DU students come to this event. I’ve never seen another event that brings people on campus together like that.”
According to Larson, the national committee of Lambda Chi Alpha is opposed to Mustache Bash, because it is unique to the DU chapter. They want to maintain a national image, with uniform standards and expectations. However, the event has been such a success, the national committee continues to allow it.
The national Lambda Chi Alpha fundraiser is typically a Watermelon Bash in the fall, which Larson said the DU chapter hopes to start next year, in addition to Mustache Bash.
“I’m already looking forward to next year,” said Larson. “We pride ourselves in creating the largest social event on campus that is about having a good time for a good cause. It’s just about getting funky.”
