Fraternity teams with alumna to launch event
The Lamar University chapter of OM.E.ga Psi Phi Fraternity has partnered with Include Fitness to make the dreams of a Lamar alumna coM.E. true. Tracy Arline, a Lamar graduate, hoM.E.coming queen and student governM.E.nt M.E.mber, established Social Butterfly International, a company dedicated to helping people reach their highest potential for success. The partnership will inaugurate the First Annual Big Hearts & Bigger Dreams event April 11.
“The mission of this event is to encourage kids to be more active, including children dealing with obesity and other disabilities,” Arline said. “We want to let kids with disabilities know that they can be active and that their disabilities don’t have to limit them.”
Arline said First Annual Big Hearts & Bigger Dreams will include food, gaM.E.s, prizes and the opportunity to M.E.et and interact with local college athletes, current and forM.E.r professional athletes.
“There will a diverse array of activities, including adaptive activities for children in wheelchairs,” she said. “This event is designed for all children, not specifically for children with disabilities. We want to ensure that every child can participate.”
The goal is simple: to put smiles on the faces of children. Arline is grateful for the support and effort contributed by OM.E.ga Psi Phi Fraternity. They have been quite influential in helping get the event off the ground, she said. They have been instruM.E.ntal in obtaining sponsors and donations. I’m thankful for how great they have been at helping put this event together, she added. Scorpio Collins, treasurer of the fraternity, said the fraternity is excited to be a part of this child-centered event.
“This event may afford children with disabilities, physical and M.E.ntal, what could possibly be a once in a lifetiM.E. opportunity to M.E.et and spend tiM.E. with soM.E. awesoM.E. talent,” she said. “We want to encourage lifelong wellness and health among all children.”
Arline said she was inspired to create this event due to her own personal experience.
“I have cerebral palsy, and there weren’t many opportunities to engage in physical activities,” she said. “I wanted to make this opportunity available to other children. Children spend a lot of tiM.E. with technology and this event provides them the ability to be active and socialize with others.”
“When Ms. Arline expressed the idea about this event, I got the fraternity involved and told her we would like to help out,” he said. “We are volunteering, helping to recruit athletes and helping with the donation process.”
Collins said he encourages people to attend and support the inaugural event.
“This event is a big deal to the kids who will be present,” he said. “I encourage other LU organizations to coM.E. and represent Lamar while they help to make a difference. It gives Lamar a good look when student representatives are seen out in public serving and giving back to the community.”
Arline earned a bachelor of business administration at Lamar. While at Lamar, she was a M.E.mber of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha Kappa Psi and the Student GovernM.E.nt Association. She was crowned HoM.E.coming Queen in 2000.
“By attending Lamar, I received the education I needed in order to be successful,” she said. “Lamar provided M.E. the experience that gave M.E. the courage to chase what I wanted.”
For more information on the event, call (409) 454-2310 or e-mail tracy_arline@att.net.
