By Miki Canak in College Days, Feature Story on April 15, 2024
The event promotes fire prevention and encourages safety consciousness
On Sunday, April 7, Ripon College students from Phi Delta Theta were running laps around downtown Ripon to fundraise for the Ripon Area Fire District. Promotional phrases and excitement were heard from a megaphone, as well as from a large assortment of students who were gathered in the downtown area.
Scott Oscarson and Tyler Hebein, first-years, wearing firefighting gear for the Phi Delta Theta philanthropy event. Photo Courtesy of Miki Canak.
The event lasted from 10 am. until 2 pm. Gabriel Drake, a junior at Ripon College, as well as the philanthropy chair and vice president of Phi Delta Theta, said that this event is held annually for the fire department to buy new equipment, and to raise additional funds for supplies and equipment needed to serve the community.
“We run a mile around the Downtown area in full firefighter gear to raise awareness, and we stand here and ask for donations for the fire department, as well as to provide an obstacle course for anyone to do,” Drake said.
“I believe that this is for a good cause, it is for fire prevention, and for teaching kids, and to provide for kids in our area,” Ripon Area Fire District Assistant Chief Heather Donovan said.
She added that teaching the youth is important and that it is crucial for the fire department to do so to introduce the promotion of safety consciousness within the community’s children, which in turn is better for the encouragement of fire prevention as a whole.
Although Phi Delta Theta tries its best to help out the Ripon Area Fire District, Drake mentioned that they have not always had consistent weather, and as a result, the success of this fundraising event varies year after year.
“My Freshman year especially, we had some bad weather, so the turnout was not as good as we would have liked. It is a bit colder now than it was last year. Regardless of the slightly cooler weather this year, we have raised a decent amount of money for the fire department,” Drake said.
A Ripon area fire truck. Photo Courtesy of Miki Canak.
This has been a long-standing tradition between Phi Delta Theta and the local fire department that started in the early 2000s.
“There is a great relationship that we have with the college, which gives us a different avenue in the community,” Donovan said.
Phi Delta Theta helps the fire department every year with their chicken and barbeque grill as well.
“This is what we do to help out the fire department since they help our community so much,” Drake said.
They hope to see a similar turnout next year, and the Ripon Area Fire District is excited to continue helping the community.