Collegiate Times

Last year's Sudflood event at Top of the Stairs

Local bar Top of the Stairs will be opening its doors to students Saturday for an all-day concert, serving as a fraternity’s philanthropy.

The event, called Sudflood, is in its 22nd year and all proceeds will go toward Pi Kappa Phi’s philanthropy Push America, an organization aimed to help people with disabilities.

Push America was founded by Pi Kappa Phi in 1977 and has since helped several people with disabilities, regardless of age, in the nation.

“Pi Kappa Phi is the only Greek organization to have successfully founded and successfully run over a long period of time its own philanthropy,” said Adam Phillips, director of marketing and public relations for Push America.

There are about 160 active chapters of Pi Kappa Phi across the country.

“The idea is that all those chapters will do Push America events on their own campus to raise funds, but just as importantly to raise awareness of the abilities of people with disabilities, bringing to light everything people with disabilities are and can do,” Phillips said.

Sudflood is intended to raise awareness about the philanthropy. Six bands will be attending, including Carbon Leaf, which is headlining, Jake Troth, Always Morning, MELODIME, Ben G and Lloyd Dobler Effect.

Carbon Leaf, MELODIME and Lloyd Dobler Effect performed at last year’s event.

Alex Everline, coordinator of the event, said the goal is to raise at least $2,000. This event, however, does not bring as much money as its War of the Roses event in the fall, which brings in $5,000 to $6,000.

It is a common event among chapters in different universities, but, at Tech, it has contributed a considerable amount. Tech’s chapter has been recognized for raising money for the philanthropy. Phillips said it is in the top half of chapters.

While most of the money goes to Push America, the organization still returns a percentage to each chapter. At the end of the year, 25 percent of every chapters’ fundraising is returned through the Circle of Giving grant, so they can give back to local organizations in their communities.

The brothers at Tech have created a partnership with Pointe West Club located in Blacksburg, which focuses on helping adults with intellectual disabilities. The grants provided by Pi Kappa Phi have provided four picnic tables and have allowed them to build a garden area with a wheelchair accessible bed, according to Ben Herzog, Push America chairman for Pi Kappa Phi.

These grants are available because of the amount of money the chapter fundraises throughout they year, one of which is the Sudflood concert.

In the past, the concert has solely featured rock bands, but this is the first year there will be a rap artist. The price of the ticket for the 13-hour event is $17 and an extra $3 cover charge for people under 21.

“It’s going to be a really great time. If you like music, you should come out and enjoy 13 hours of music all day,” Everline said.

A version of this article appeared in the Apr 10 issue of the Collegiate Times.