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  • Jenny Pollock (left) and Melissa Anderson, members of Minnesota State University’s Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, create paper tacos for a display promoting their Feb. 1 taco feed to raise money for the Robbie Page Memorial Foundation. Pat Christman

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January 19, 2010

MSU sorority pitching in

Tacos used to raise money for needy kids

By Robb Murray The Free Press

MANKATO — Minnesota State University’s Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority is hoping the thought of tasty tacos and the chance to mingle with its members will help them raise money for a good cause.

A fundraising taco feed is scheduled for Feb. 1 at the Loose Moose Saloon. Proceeds will go to the Robbie Page Memorial, the main philanthropic endeavor for Sigma Sigma Sigma nationally.

Robbie Page, a group created to help find a cure for polio, now puts most of its efforts into play therapy. Since 1954, the group has funded more than $2 million in play therapy and “child life” programs around the country.

The foundation is completing a pledge of $75,000 each to major play therapy and child-life programs at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas and the University of North Carolina. The group supports major teaching hospitals where therapists are trained.

Play therapy, according to the Sigma Sigma Sigma national Web site, is a treatment where play is a medium for expression and communication between patient and therapist. Play helps the child relieve stress, understand illness, communicate fears and undergo treatment. Play therapy is used, for example, to help a child learn to swallow medicine, or to learn to live with an illness.

The money raised by the MSU chapter’s fundraisers go to fund those efforts, but the members are hoping to bring some play therapy to southern Minnesota as well.

Jenny Pollock, a mass communications major from Lakeville and philanthropy chair this year for MSU’s Tri Sigs, said she’s hoping to convince the national office, and perhaps find a little funding of her own, to bring play therapy to Immanuel St. Joseph’s Hospital.

“We’re just trying to give back to our community,” she said.

The taco feed sounds like a good one. Loose Moose provides the food and drink. And then during the “feed,” members of the sorority will mingle with anyone who cares to attend.

Raising money for a good cause, members say, is a primary mission for Greek organizations — despite what people may think, they say.

“Greek Life, especially at Minnesota State University, is not what you see on television,” she said.

Erin Bruesehoff, a junior corrections major from Cologne, Minn., said the Robbie Page play therapy cause is one that resonates with her and her sorority sisters.

“It gives kids something to do while they’re getting better,” she said.

And the taco feed, they say, is their biggest fundraiser of the year. In addition to tacos and the company of sorority sisters (and, reportedly, Miss Mankato, who will perform at the event), the fundraiser includes a silent auction. Items up for bid include donations from area businesses.

If all goes well, they hope they can raise several thousand dollars to help hospitalized kids.

“I hope we can do it,” Pollock said. “I’m doing everything in my power to make it happen.”

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