The Sigma Alpha Epsilon brothers organized a new philanthropy, called Pumpkins for Munchkins, which was Sunday, Oct. 20. 

The fraternity has been talking about doing Pumpkins for Munchkins since last summer, when philanthropy chairman Dillon Bauer was instated, but they have really focused on it in the past couple of months.

Chapter President Connor Young oversaw the whole event, making sure everyone did what they were supposed to get a good outcome.

The aim for this event was to do something big and different, Young said. 

“We thought it was a change of pace from most other philanthropies on campus,” Young said. “No one has anything like this event going on this year, so we thought it would be a great idea to have a fall festival.”

Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s main fundraising event is called Slices for the Kids, which will take place in March.

“The crowd doesn’t get a lot of children or parents or anything to that,” Bauer said. “So if we want to raise more money for Children’s Miracle Network, we need to branch out into more of an audience, instead of just college students.”

Carving and painting pumpkins, seeing a petting zoo, getting your face painted, and buying apple and pumpkin pies were all options at the event. They charged $5 for attendance. 

“We wanted to do something that would attract more of a community base, like children, families, and Iowa State students,” Bauer stated. “Not just the greek community.”

The fraternity’s main purpose behind the event was to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network, which in turn provided other benefits for the guild of brothers, Young said. 

“It’s good having something that the guys can all get behind, and having a cause to unite the house,” Young said. “It always builds brotherhood when you have the guys working towards a common goal.”

Something unique about this event was the fact that the theme was closely tied with season. Bauer said that’s the main reason Sigma Alpha Epsilon wanted to do it at this time. There also are not many events going on in Ames that provide the same opportunities.

In preparation of Pumpkins for Munchkins, the house was divided into different committees and given distinct tasks, such as getting the pumpkins, getting tickets printed, getting decorations and getting it advertised.

“It was a house effort in all,” Bauer said. “For our previous [events] we only had a couple people doing it, but this one was big and everyone could help out.”

This is the first year for the event, but it is hoped to continue, Young said. 

“I hope other fraternities start to do something like this,” Young said. “So hopefully we can be trend setters now.”

The event was Sunday, Oct. 20, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house.