Football and Greeks "Run for Willie"

By Lauren McGlone
Collegian Editor
September 12, 2007

In an effort to raise money for the family of the late Wilson “Willie” Maldonado, Phi Gamma Delta (also known as FIJI), Delta Phi Epsilon and the La Salle football team are sponsoring a fundraiser Sept. 21, preceding a home football game versus t College of New Jersey.

The “Run for Willie” event will begin with two FIJI members running with the game ball, at a time, from the Philadelphia Museum of Art to midfield at McCarthy Stadium. A police escort will accompany the runners.

At midfield, the Maldonado family and Delta Phi Epsilon will greet the brothers of FIJI before kickoff.

At that point, the amount of money already raised will be announced to the family.

Willie Maldonado, a La Salle student, fraternity brother and football player, was killed in a car crash Nov. 10, 2006. He is survived by parents Wilson and Maribel, and younger brother, Christian, who wishes to attend Paramus Catholic High School, which would cost the family approximately $30,000 over the course of four years.

All proceeds of the “Run for Willie” event will benefit the Maldonado family and Christian’s high school tuition fund.

The fundraiser is the brainchild of senior communication major and FIJI brother Brian Arty

“I had heard about the FIJI chapter at the University of Virginia doing a run across Virginia a few years ago. Prior to the run, they asked families, friends and businesses for donations for the Jimmy V Cancer Research Foundation. I thought we could do the same and tweak it a little bit to raise money for Christian’s education and incorporate football with it, too, since Willie was on La Salle’s football team," Arty said.

Arty contacted Willie’s father regarding his ideas in July.

“He thanked us for what we were doing and said he couldn’t put into words what it means to his family,” Arty said.

Since August, Arty met with Dean of Students Dr. Joseph J. Cicala, FIJI advisor Bro. Joe Burke, Community Coordinator for Leadership Development Pete Lafferty and Associate Director of Community Development Mark Badstubner to discuss the logistics of the event. Efforts were aided by the contributions of Associate Director of University Life Chris Kazmierczak, football coach Tim Miller, Pete D’Orazio and Lieutenant Anderson of the Philadelphia Police Department.

La Salle’s Delta Phi Epsilon president Lauren Yabut immediately became involved in sponsoring it.

“When I found out FIJI was coordinating this fundraiser for Christian, I knew I had to be a part of this,” Yabut said. “Willie played such an important role in my life; I felt as if I owed this to him. He touched so many lives and his memory lives on through people who didn’t even know him that well.”

With this event, Arty wishes to make one message clear.

“We want to remind people of what happened to Willie based on one bad decision and how many people were impacted by it,” Arty said. “We want to raise awareness and remind everyone, especially college students, that we are not invincible. We don’t want anything like this to happen again.”

mcglonel1@lasalle.edu