Perfect Games hosted the 10th annual Charity Bowl, an event put on by Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity and Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority, on Saturday.

“The Charity Bowl is an event we host every year,” said Jesus Rodriguez, junior in construction engineering and president of the Omicron chapter of Sigma Lambda Beta. “It’s a great way to raise money and bring together Betas and Gammas from across the Midwest.”

Sigma Lambda Beta is a Latin-based, nontraditional fraternity.  While only boasting nine members here at Iowa State, more than 100 people attended the event.

“Even though we only have nine members, we still like to try and make a difference,” Rodriguez said. 

Partnered with Sigma Lambda Beta is Sigma Lambda Gamma, a multicultural sorority with 13 undergraduate members at Iowa State.

The Charity Bowl was started 10 years ago by members of Sigma Lambda Beta over dinner.

“The original plans were made on a napkin,” Rodriguez said. “Our founder is surprised and very pleased that we have taken this idea and made it into one of our best traditions. He had no idea this would be such a great success.”

All 23 lanes at Perfect Games were filled for this event. Teams of four to five people all competed against each other for a chance to win a trophy.

“It’s all set up to be a fun competition,” Rodriguez said. “We don’t see any profit from it. All money we make is given directly to [Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support], and we have systematically raised over $1,000 dollars every year.”

Participants traveled from around the Midwest to support the cause.

“This event is a great opportunity to meet other Gammas from around the Midwest and have fun while helping out a good cause at the same time,” said Evelyn Ramirez, a visitor to the event from the University of Iowa.

According to their official website, ACCESS was started in 1974 with the help of the ISU Government of the Student Body as a rape crisis center. It has expanded over the years to include a 24-hour crisis hotline and a shelter for the victims of rape or domestic abuse.

Their mission is “to address the roots and impact of domestic and sexual violence through services that enhance safety, empower survivors and promote understanding and social justice within our community.”

ACCESS works closely within Story, Boone and Greene counties.

The services offered by ACCESS include a 24-hour crisis hotline, shelter for women and their children affected by abuse, children’s programs, individual counseling, support groups, advocacy, community education and crisis response services.

They strive to “promote social change in the judicial, political and medical systems” and to “provide education and professional training to understand and end domestic and sexual violence.”