This week we had the pleasure of speaking with Nick Mazzanti, Philanthropy Chair of Drexel University’s Beta Theta Pi. Learn how Beta Theta Pi spread #UnexpectedAmazingness in a BIG way this year, raising over $4,500 for local families with cancer!

Bacon Bash photo

What is the name of your school and/or student group?

My name is Nick Mazzanti and I’m a senior Biology major at Drexel University in the fraternity Beta Theta Pi.

 

How are you involved with BHH?

Bringing Hope Home is the philanthropy group that our fraternity is associated with.  I am our philanthropy chair so I coordinate fundraising and volunteering events to benefit BHH and the families that they serve.

 

Tell us more about your involvement: What did you like about it?

Some of our involvement is as followed:

  • We held our first annual Bacon Bash event in the fall of 2015. The event consisted of bacon cooking competition and a bacon eating contest.

Bacon bash kevin sarah nick tyler

  • Every year since our founding 2-3 years ago, we participate in the HOPE Reunion at the Phillies game. We helped BHH set up and wrap up the event as well as face painting for kids and DJing some country music for the event by yours truly.

BHH hope reunion selfie with caitlin

  • We helped in the AAF in December by picking up presents from the headquarters and delivering them to homes throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.

toy drive tyler nick BHH

How did it feel knowing you made such a positive impact on local families with cancer?

 

“For me, when I first got introduced to Bringing Hope Home when I joined Beta I absolutely loved it.  I’ve never met a better group of people before in my life that constantly spreads kindness and selflessness to everyone around them.  I wanted to help as much as I could because everyone deserves help and the BHH team already works extremely hard.  There’s always a way to help and get involved.”

 

It is really rewarding knowing that you’re making a positive impact on so many families.  Everyone knows someone who has or had cancer so it really hits home.  I plan to do cancer research after I graduate but it feels good to help in other ways besides doing lab work.  Everyone in Beta Theta Pi has the same passion as me.  We are always so excited when we have a chance to help BHH host an event, and especially when we can raise money on our own and surprise the team with proceeds to help families.

 

Any future fundraising/volunteer plans?

We have a fundraising event coming up on Thursday, February 18th at 9pm at Wahoo’s located on Chestnut Street on Drexel’s campus.  We are also planning a golf outing on June 4th, which will hopefully become a tradition for us like the Bacon Bash.