Pumpkins rolled and knocked over masses of paper towels while goats, sheep and llamas interacted with a crowd on the Sigma Alpha Epsilon lawn.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon held its second annual Pumpkins for Munchkins fall philanthropy event on Oct. 26 to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network and Dance Marathon, which will take place Jan. 15, 2015. 

Pumpkins for Munchkins drew a large crowd of local families, ISU students, greek community members and also the Ames Police and Fire Departments.

Mitchell J. Skatter, sophomore in aerospace engineering and the philanthropy community chair for Sigma Alpha Epsilon, got involved in every step of the event. 

The event raised $3,900 last year and gave them high hopes for this year. The event raised $18,006 as of 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Skatter said they have still more donations coming in and anticipates about $20,000 total raised.

Connor Young, senior in biology and president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, has one of the most important roles in the fraternity.

“The most important task is making sure that the chapter is being successful in the long term,” Young said. “I had to make sure that the entire chapter is motivated to support the cause of this event, realize its importance and why.”

The main focus of Pumpkins for Munchkins is getting families and community members out on a sunny, upper-60s fall day to participate in fun, safe activities, he said.

Skatter shared another reason the fraternity plans the event.

“We wanted to stop those negative stereotypes that fraternities [have], what people see us in the weekends,” Skatter said.

John Wilson, the chapter’s alumni adviser, said he was excited to be back at the event.

“It’s great to see them do [the event.] They took what they did last year, improved it, and I hope we can do it for a long time. This is an outstanding way to see the greek community in another way,” Wilson said.

Wilson applauded the men for taking the time to plan and host the event.

“It is great to see kids and families participate in the event,” he said. 

Last year, the event won the Best Philanthropy award from Greek Affairs.  

A pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving, pumpkin bowling, petting zoo, homemade apple pie, duck races and some classic music were some of activities people could find at the event.

Terri Roberts, a mother of a Sigma Alpha member, said her daughter loved the event.

“We love this event,” Roberts said. “My daughter loves the pumpkin carving and the petting zoo.”