The Kent State Greek community raised more than $24,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) at Songfest 2012 Saturday night.

Songfest, the Greek community’s annual philanthropy event, brings sororities and fraternities together through singing, dancing and acting for a good cause.

Delta Gamma, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Lambda Chi Alpha and Delta Upsilon won first place overall for the Songfest competition based on their performance and fundraising.

With the money raised, MDA will provide 160 therapy consultations, 241 support group sessions, 344 minutes of MDA research and 803 flu shots to those with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases, as well as send 30 children to MDA summer camp for a week.

Brandon Lezenko, a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, said winning the competition left him feeling overjoyed.

“I feel speechless,” Lezenko said. “I didn’t think we would sweep the entire competition. It was great that we came together to put as much effort as we could into [the cause].”

Delta Gamma, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Lambda Chi Alpha, and Delta Upsilon brought MDA summer camp to life with their performance. The group ended the dance by walking Olivia Campbell, a Delta Gamma sorority sister with muscular dystrophy, down the middle of the stage. The crowd erupted in a round of applause for Campbell.

Alpha Phi, Sigma Nu and Kappa Sigma performed a mock presidential debate and asked each “candidate” questions about MDA.

Alpha Xi Delta, Alpha Tau Omega, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Phi Delta Theta took students inside the body of a person with muscular dystrophy in their skit to show the affects of the disease on the body.

Delta Zeta, Delta Lambda Phi, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Phi Sigma Kappa introduced Batman to fight muscular dystrophy.

Sigma Sigma Sigma, Sigma Chi, Sigma Tau Gamma, and Alpha Epsilon Pi’s skit featured a fictional telethon. During the “telethon” part of the group danced, while others pretended to answer phone calls.

Chi Omega, Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Kappa Tau and Delta Tau Delta portrayed a child getting bullied on the playground and how he grew up to become a hero to one of his bullies.

Brianna Foraker, vice president of philanthropy and community service for the Panhellenic Council, said she was overwhelmed with the effort put into the event.

“I was amazed,” Foraker said. “The amount of practice and time that people put into this – I don’t have words to describe it.”

Megan Yendriga, junior nutrition major and member of the Chi Omega sorority, said the competition “was great.”

“I really enjoyed it,” Yendriga said. “It’s great how it brings the whole Greek community together.”

Dan Wilgus, sophomore communication studies major and member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, said he enjoyed the event.

“The performances were very inspiring,” Wilgus said. “It made me realize how lucky we all are for what we have.”

Contact Matt Orszag at [email protected].