Left to right: Luke Mitchell, PIKE co-philanthropy chairman; Will Young, PIKE philanthropy chairman; Jenna Claire Fisackerly; Jonathan Kent, PIKE president; Missy Fisackerly, Jenna Claire’s mother; and Brett Fisackerly, her father. The Zeta Beta chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) fraternity at Delta State University recently led events that raised more than $20,000 to help DSU first-year student Jenna Claire Fisackerly recover from a cerebral aneurysm earlier this semester.
“We were overjoyed to do this for the Fisackerly family during our annual Fireman’s Week of philanthropy,” said PIKE President Jonathan Kent. “Normally, the men of PIKE raise money for the local fire department or the Regional One Health Center in Memphis for burn victims. This year was different. With the unforeseen circumstances, we decided to raise money for Jenna Claire and her family. The week consisted of events over five days in which each Delta State sorority—Kappa Delta, Phi Mu, and Tri Delta—and PIKE competed to see who would donate the most,” said Kent, a senior health, physical education, and recreation major. Events included riding a cycling machine, a dodgeball tournament, an obstacle course, a fun run, and a social media challenge.
Fisackerly had been chosen by PIKE at the start of the semester as one of its “Dream Girls”—a select group of undergraduate women involved on campus and with the chapter, explained Luke Mitchell, PIKE co-philanthropy chairman and a senior biology pre-med major. “We chose to offer Jenna Claire a Dream Girl invitation because of her personable demeanor and her affiliation with members of the chapter. Jenna Claire is a freshman from Olive Branch, Miss., as well as a member of the Kappa Delta sorority at Delta State. When we were made aware of her medical emergency, the chapter unanimously agreed that our earnings during Fireman’s Week should be donated to her and her family in their time of need.”
Planning took a month, added Will Young, philanthropy chairman and a sophomore biology pre-med major. “We were determined to make it a week to remember,” he said. “We wanted to show everyone that when a group of guys comes together for a great friend and fellow Delta State student, the results will be better than you ever thought they could be.” Approximately 400 people donated, he estimated, mostly students, and also faculty, staff, and community members.
Young, Mitchell, and Kent traveled to the Fisackerly home to deliver the $20,200 check. They considered the experience “the greatest moment of our time being affiliated with PIKE,” said Kent.
“Our family was so humbled and amazed at what the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity did for us,” said Missy Fisackerly, Jenna Claire’s mother. “God’s love was truly shown through each of these young men. This money is such a blessing to us, not only in helping with medical and rehabilitation expenses, but also the fact that I am not able to work and help with bills while taking care of Jenna Claire, so that is one less worry for our family. We will forever be grateful for these wonderful, young men and the money they raised for us.”
