The sun set over Dunn Meadow as Delta Phi Epsilon pitted childhood memories against cystic fibrosis.
The #TBT with DPhiE event Thursday evening raised money for the sorority’s national philanthropy by offering childhood favorites like cartoons, inflatables and games to college students.
Leslie Palans, DPhiE’s vice president of programming, said throwing back to students’ memories from the ‘90s would let them appreciate the simplicity of their own experiences.
“We thought that a lot of kids with cystic fibrosis don’t have a normal childhood because they’re in and out of the children’s hospital with breathing treatments,” Palans said. “We want every kid to have a childhood.”
Attendees paid $10 at the entrance but could also purchase tank tops for an additional $10 to $15.
“Our goal is between two to three thousand (dollars),” Palans said. After paying for the food and activities, she said the money would go directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, DPhiE’s national philanthropy.
Palans said the sorority used daily hashtags to raise awareness of the event and contacted other members of the Greek community.
Students sat in circles holding paper plates with dinosaur nuggets, Oreo dirt cups and lemonade in their laps. “Rugrats” episodes played on a wide screen on the grass.
Tables were set up with Mad Libs written on chalkboards and dated board games in boxes.
Mollie Levin, a sister in DPhiE, shaded a kitten in one of the coloring books sitting nearby.
“When we’re done, we’re going to send them to the kids in the hospital to send them cheer,” Levin said.
The telecommunications junior said she planned to write an uplifting message in the margins and said she hoped others would do the same.
“I want to send positive vibes over to the kids to make sure they know they’re in our prayers and our thoughts,” she said.
Caitlyn Huynh, a contemporary dance senior in DPhiE, hurtled with Frankie Allen through a multi-colored inflatable obstacle course.
“There’s a lot of people here who are Riley people, and I like Riley people, so I’m having fun,” Frankie said.
Frankie came to the event with her adopted sister and mother, Zoe and Cheryl Allen. Zoe was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth and has been involved with the IU Dance Marathon for several years.
“Things like this help (Zoe) because she sees people come out, and I think it raises attention to the disease that she does need to take care of herself,” Cheryl said.
In cystic fibrosis patients, a defective gene causes mucus to build up in the lungs, pancreas and other organs, complicating breathing and food digestion. Zoe has a gastronomy tube that delivers nutrition directly to her stomach.
Cheryl, who works at Campus Card Services in the Indiana Memorial Union, said her girls love being at IU and spending time with the fraternities and sororities on campus.
“I can’t thank them enough — Zoe feels loved here,” Cheryl Allen said. “Sometimes you have to step outside of the family unit and be accepted, and Frankie and Zoe never feel more loved than when they’re here.”
