Pikes sponsor public telethon

By Daron Walker

Pi Kappa Alpha (Pikes) fraternity will be the local site for the National United Cerebral Palsy Telethon Friday and Saturday.

The Cerebral Palsy Telethon is the first community project this semester for the fraternity, which is trying to improve its public service record.

“We’re trying to get more involved in the community,” said Pikes President David Hochberg. Most of the 110 fraternity members are involved in the telethon project.

Pikes’ members will be manning four Contel-donated phones on Friday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

“We have almost every member of the house involved in the telethon. It’s our first event of the year. The guys are really up to doing more community work,” said fraternity member Bob Ryan. “We have started off the semester on a good note.”

For the telethon, Pikes has set a total pledge goal of $4,000. Pikes member Mike Silverman believes the $4,000 can be obtained over the weekend.

“I believe it’s (the goal) realistic. Everybody in the house will donate an hour of their time. It’s very attainable,” Silverman said.

Pikes fraternity has been involved with the Cerebral Palsy Telethon, along with the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon, for several years, according to Hochberg. He said the fraternity has been very successful over the years in raising funds for the fight against Cerebral Palsy.