On April 26, 2025 the Fresno Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter broke records for both registrations and fundraising. 99 brothers and guests registered for the event. Rain was forecasted that day, so the day before the committee met to develop Plan B. We moved the entrance and silent auction into garages, and made other arrangements to keep people dry. At 2:30 PM the rain stopped, the event opened at 3:00 PM and the weather was beautiful until hours after the closing at 6:00 PM. We cheated the Grim Reaper.
This year accompanying six undergraduate brothers was sweetheart Katelyn Malavé. Halfway through the tasting we sang the Sweetheart Song to Katelyn and past sweethearts Brooke Bell (1999-2000) and Michelle Heckel (1982-1983).
Silent Auction Donors: The following brothers supported the fundraising side of the event by providing silent auction items: Larry Calvino, Sergio Ilic, Jim Norquist, Warren Williams, Greg Baxter, Sergio Ilic, Brad Fischer, Dusty Lacefield, Bill Smittcamp, T.A. Heckel, Mike Patton, Rich Barsanti, Steve Coleman, Tom Licouris, George Matoian, Mike Gallo, Kenny Jelacich, Rob Bell, Mark Pasculli and John Ballinger.
Some items donated were from brothers who provided their own products: Mark Pasculli his Idaho wines, Mike Gallo and Kenny Jelacich gold-medal-winning aged cheddar cheese and gold-medal-winning olive oil, a gift basket that included George Matoian’s raisins and nuts and Brooke Bell’s Bouquet Of Sigma Chi Cookies by Sugarbell Cookies. These were all very special items that sold like hotcakes.
Silent Auction Buyers: The following brothers purchased the silent auction items which represented the major portion of the funds raised: Tom Beggs, John Garcia, Sergio Ilic, John Ballinger, Mike Patton, Matt Stevens, Jim Norquist, Mike Elliot, Tom Downing, Steve Pavich, Bill Matesso, Ted Tukloff, Dan Mueller, Dennis Schmal, Warren Williams, Larry Calvino, Rob Bell, Rich Barsanti, Elwood Enns, Kevin Wren, Rod Gavroian, Richard Egan, Steve Coleman, T.A. Heckel, Brad Fischer and Tom Licouris.
Last year the items sold for 70% of their retail value. This year they sold for 80% setting a record and indicating that our brothers were in the mood to support our endowment and our scholarship program.
$47,895 was raised for the Fresno Sigma Chi Endowment with two auction items to be sold at the August 21 Alumni Dinner Meeting. The money will increase our scholarships for our undergraduates by $2,000 per year, forever. The Wine Tasting Committee thanks everyone who supported this effort by attending, supplying auction items and purchasing the items. All overhead costs for the wine tasting are paid for by the committee members allowing 100% of the revenue to go directly to the Endowment.
Sergio Ilic, and Becky, and Michelle and T.A. Heckel created the Lobster Fest that netted $10,000 at the silent auction. A special thanks to House Corporation President, John Ballinger, and wife Susan for hosting the event for four years in a row.
It’s great to be a Sig!