Ellington

Sophomore Alan Grove spent nine days last spring in the center of Cajamarca, Peru, making connections with the locals and witnessing homes struck with poverty. This year, he hopes to share the experience with 10 of his fraternity brothers.

Theta Xi fraternity plans to go to Los Cerros, Dominican Republic, for nine days in March, partnering with Courts for Kids in order to build a multi-use sports court for children. Members of the fraternity will be fundraising $24,000 for the cost of the court and their trip expenses. About $5,000 of that money goes toward the court, and the other half of the costs will be paid by the local community.

Grove first built a multi-use court in Peru last spring with Courts for Kids, which inspired him to get his fraternity involved in the second project in the Dominican Republic. He said he wants his brothers to experience growing a relationship with the community and seeing the impact the court makes on it.

“I really want to make the same kind of impact in the community in Dominican Republic just like I saw in Peru,” Grove said. “I think the other thing I really want to get out of it is just in my brothers, [to have them] see the poverty but also see the joy despite the poverty.”

The fraternity has fundraised about $1,500 to $2,000 so far, $200 of which came from shoveling snow a few weeks ago. They plan to fundraise the rest of the money by charging for handyman work, as well as through an etiquette dinner, silent auction, benefit concert, and block party in the spring.

“Philanthropy and just mainly serving people in general is part of our oath and part of our mission as a fraternity,” said Grant Gustafson, Theta Xi president. “We’re always trying to find ways to do that.”

He said he’s excited to see the impact the trip makes on his fraternity and see his brothers change in the process.

This is the second time Gustafson will be going to the Dominican Republic. He said, this time, he will get to see the world in a new way as well as share it with his brothers.

“Going back there, I think what I’ll get to see is a new side of my brothers,” he said. “That’ll be the biggest thing: that sense of fulfillment.”

Sophomore Michael Cross, a Theta Xi member, said he was most excited to see how the court will make a difference in Los Cerros. The local community struggles with prostitution and drug trafficking, and Cross said he hopes the courts will give children a better alternative to spend their time.

“[The valuable experience] will be just knowing the impact that this court will have after we leave,” Cross said. “I know how much sports have had a profound impact on my life. It will be awesome to know that … sports can help save them from [the issues in the community].”

Reach Features Editor Hayat Norimine at features@dailyuw.com.