By Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

Second Annual “Kappa Klassic” softball tournament to benefit Lethbridge Special Olympics

Sep 12, 2018 | 2:25 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The public perception of sororities in both Canada and the United States can sometimes revolve around parties and initiations of new members as the school year gets underway, but for Kappa Beta Gamma at the University of Lethbridge it’s a little different.

They’ll be hosting their second annual “Kappa Klassic” softball tournament on Saturday, Sept. 15, with all the proceeds from the event going to support Lethbridge Special Olympics.

Marsha Ord, Kappa Beta Gamma’s Public Relations chair, wants to put the focus on the work the sorority does in the community.

“The tournament is a fundraiser that we created and executed, and it’s something we’re planning on running annually. We’re hoping by getting the word out we can see a bigger turnout from the community this year,” Ord stated.

Turnout for the first tournament, according to Ord was good, for the first year anyway.

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“Obviously, we’re looking to expand it to something citywide and get the community more involved. We had Kappa Sigma come out and help us out, and we had a lot of turnout from the school last year. This year we’ve seen a lot more turnout so far, and it’s working out a little bit better that way.”

The cost for a team to register is $50, and teams will be made up of 10 players.

Anyone interested in just coming out to cheer on the teams can pay $5 at the gate, and kids age 12 and under get in for free.

There’s also a sponsorship program, with white, blue and gold levels that cost $100, $200, and $300 respectively.

“Depending on the level of sponsorship, people could get their logos on the winning jerseys and things like that. It works out that they’re supporting the Special Olympics and getting their businesses’ name out there, while we’re getting out name out there too,” Ord said, adding it’s a win-win for everybody involved.

Ord says they want to get to a point eventually where more teams from businesses and groups in the community are getting involved, on top of teams from the university.

“We know it will take a while to grow the event to have the kind of success that we want it to have, because it’s for the Special Olympics and not for us,” Ord continued. “That’s why we really want to push it and grow the event.”

Special Olympics is Kappa Beta Gamma’s national philanthropy, and chapters all over the United States and Canada work with them.

Local chapters find their own ways to fundraise for them, and Ord says the Kappa Klassic grew out of other volunteering work the local sorority has done in the past.

“We’ve always volunteered [with Lethbridge Special Olympics] and they do a couple of big events a year, including the Polar Plunge, and we always put in some girls who take the plunge and work with them,” said Ord.

Games get underway at 10 a.m. and opening remarks will begin at 9:50 a.m. Teams are required to be at Softball Valley by 9 a.m.

“Once the actual games commence at 10 a.m. they’ll follow a double-elimination team schedule. It depends on how many teams actually register when the tournament will end, but we’re looking for it to end around 4 p.m.”

Locals wanting to register still can, by emailing kbgaipresident@gmail.com.

“We’re really hoping the community will come out and support us, and the Special Olympics,” Ord stated adding there will also be a concession and a 50/50 draw taking place as well.