Big event raises big bucks

Zeta Tau Alpha’s Big Man On Campus shattered its goal of raising $115,000 by more than $40,000. \nThe event, an all-male talent competition that raises money and awareness for breast cancer, raised $157,000 and, after expenses, will contribute $129,000 to the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation.\nJunior Nate Schnader was crowned this year’s official “Big Man On Campus” because of his vocal talent in singing “Have a Little Faith in Me,” and his fundraising, which totaled about $18,000. Schnader exceeded his personal fundraising goal by about $8,000.\n“(Schnader) just has had so much heart and so much passion for BMOC,” said Ashley Spataro, Zeta’s assistant philanthropy chair. “And that’s why he won. He deserved it so much.”\nSchnader, a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, performed at last year’s BMOC as well. He said he was able to raise more money this year because he had a better understanding of how the fundraising worked. Schnader began scouting local businesses and sending letters asking for donations during the summer. \n“It’s just amazing to be part of something that big and that moving,” he said. “I picked out my song in the summer and tried to perfect it early so I could focus on what really was important, which was raising money for the cause.”\nZeta raised $112,000 last year, Spataro said. \n“I could never imagine that we would exceed our goal by that much,” she said. “I still can’t even believe it – we are literally in shock.” \nSpataro said the event couldn’t have been so successful without all 21 contestants, which was something Schnader knew and emphasized throughout the rehearsal process.\n“If there’s one thing I want to make clear, it’s that it was about all of us,” Schnader said. “It was cool that I won, but everyone else deserves credit for raising the money. In this event, really everyone’s a big man on campus.”\nZeta member Lizzie Evans agreed that all the contestants worked hard to contribute both their time and talent to BMOC this year.\n“(The contestants’) dedication to raising money for breast cancer is incredible,” Evans said. “We couldn’t do BMOC without them.”\nZeta President Lindsey Tenbarge compared this year’s show to “American Idol” because of the talent she said the performers had.\nDuring dance-offs and musical acts, contestants played a variety of characters on stage, including Nemo, Jack Sparrow and Patrick Swayze, to comply with this year’s cruise theme.\nSophomore Arielle Dorsky, who attended the event, said the acts were good and that it was worth attending on Friday night. Dorsky said the main reason she attended was because she believes in the event’s cause.\n“(It) gets people involved while entertaining,” Dorsky said. “And a ticket can save a life.”\nSpataro said the success of this year’s BMOC couldn’t be attributed to one thing, but it definitely involved dedication.\n“Every single Zeta put her heart into BMOC,” Spataro said. “When 110 women are so passionate about something, you can accomplish big things. And that’s what we did.”