Indiana University of Pennsylvania fraternity Sigma Chi (Eta Omicron chapter) raised more than $30,000 for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation during its annual “Derby Days” philanthropy initiative.
The Huntsman Cancer Foundation is the fraternity’s national philanthropy. It supports the work of the Huntsman Cancer Institute, based in Salt Lake City, known as a global leader in cancer research and care.
The IUP chapter’s fundraising event was held during Derby Days, a national Sigma Chi fraternity event. On the IUP campus, the fundraiser includes friendly competitions with IUP sororities.
This year’s fundraiser was led by Nathan Dilello, a marketing major from Boyertown; Jonathan Pallerino, a marketing major from New Castle; and Anton Oberman, a marketing major from South Park.
The fraternity’s fundraising total was the highest amount raised during a philanthropy project conducted by an IUP fraternity or sorority during the 2025–26 academic year. IUP’s Sigma Chi fraternity chapter’s fundraising success also far exceeded the amount of funds raised by Sigma Chi chapters at larger colleges and universities in the Pennsylvania region.
The IUP chapter has 47 members. Its campus advisor is Jonathan Warnock, a faculty member in the Department of Anthropology, Geospatial and Earth Sciences.
“Balancing my life as a student at IUP while performing leadership positions in Sigma Chi has taught me that goals I once thought were beyond my reach are possible and has prepared me for success in my professional field of marketing and management,” Dilello said. “I give this university my full credit for everything it taught me as a young professional and will forever be thankful for my support system that stands by my side every step of the way.”
“When being asked what this accomplishment means to me, it brings me back to three years ago when I first joined Sigma Chi,” Pallerino said. “We had raised $13,000 towards the Huntsman Cancer Institute, and that was already an incredible milestone for us. The following year we reached $15,000, and the year after, we reached an amazing milestone of $20,000.
“To be able to reach $30,000 towards a cause that is beyond bigger than all of us—it means the world to not only me, but the alumni before us and our current brotherhood. The chapter of Sigma Chi at IUP has not only given me my best friends in life, but also a bigger purpose in the world we live in today. We can make a change, and we can potentially save a life by coming together and fighting for a cure for this horrible disease. This place will forever be a second home to me, and I’m more than proud to be a Sigma Chi. Thank you to everyone who helped us achieve our record-breaking goal. It means the world to us and the lives out there affected by cancer.”
While fraternities and sororities have a number of philanthropic events during the year, all of IUP’s 25 fraternities and sororities come together during the university’s Greek Week in April to raise funds for the national Make-A-Wish program, which answers requests from critically ill children. The IUP student-led initiative raised $4,300 this year, bringing IUP’s 26-year total raised during Greek Week for Make-A-Wish to more than $130,000.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. As IUP celebrates its 150th anniversary during the 2025–26 academic year, the university honors a legacy of educational excellence while looking toward a future of innovation, leadership in healthcare education, and public service.