The Alpha Phi Delta (APD) fraternity and Nu Zeta Phi sorority (NZP) hosted Military Mayhem on Thurs. April 10. All proceeds, which came to over $200, went to the Wounded Warriors Project, APD’s national philanthropy.

Veterans and current members of the U.S. Armed Forces were auctioned off to Pace students.

“Military officers fight for our country, and we want to give back,” sophomore education major and new sister of Nu Zeta Phi Kathryn Trujillo said. “Wounded Warriors is one of Alpha Phi Delta’s philanthropies, and all of the money raised tonight goes toward injured military officers.”

The auction started with six military officers who attend Pace, including an officer and first semester Pace student named David Hampe who has been on medical discharge from a branch of the armed forces.

“This is definitely a great cause. I’m a medical discharge veteran myself, so I know what it is like to be severely injured and to have to go to others for help,” Hampe said. “I couldn’t be happier to support such a cause.”

Louis Fortes, a 23 year old sophomore at Pace and marine, has also dealt with injuries- specifically a herniated disc that required neck surgery and fusing his spine. Fortes said that he was stationed in North Carolina for two years, but was never deployed because of his injuries.

“It’s nice to go to this event and to support troops, especially Wounded Warriors,” Fortes said. “If it was any other circumstance, I might feel uncomfortable being bid on for a date. But, since the money is going toward the Wounded Warrior Project, it’s awesome.”

The bids for dates with the veterans and two NZP sisters ranged from about $10 to $40 dollars each, with sisters of Nu Zeta and brothers of APD hosting and running the auction.

“It’s a great feeling helping a brother out regardless of what branch they serve,” said history major Balbino Rodriguez Bocelli, who was also in the armed forces and raised money by auctioning a date.

The purpose of the date auction, again, is to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project- but that does not mean the dates don’t have to be serious ones. Domenica Esteban, a Nu Zeta Phi alumnus, allegedly met her husband at the auction. She and her current spouse graduated Pace in 2006, and they proved that bidding on a date with a military worker could potentially become more than just going out for a good cause.

APD brothers are proud to have sponsored this event and raise money for their philanthropy. One of the military vets in attendance at the event is a brother of the fraternity, and his brothers were proud to be able to support the cause.

“We love our country and we support it, and so we support the troops,” senior criminal justice major and Alpha Phi Delta brother Patrick Schreiner said.  “Without America, there would be no APD.”

Correction: The Pace Chronicle misidentified student Balbino Rodriguez as a U.S. veteran. This student is not a veteran as confirmed by officials on campus.