Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity Pies the MIT Community for Innovation Africa

On May 1, AEPi stationed themselves on the steps of the Student Center where students could donate money for the chance to pie professors, administrators, and other students in the name of charity.

Each donation bought a ticket for a raffle to pie a “pie-ee”. The more money donated, the better the odds of being selected and the bigger (proportionally, of course) the whipped cream pie.
 
“It’s immensely fun getting pied. It is something we see in the movies and we secretly always wanted.” Noam Buckman ‘16, President of fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi), expressed these sentiments with regards to their annual philanthropy. “It’s a great way to fundraise…and for the MIT community it’s great comedic relief.”
 
This year funds went to Innovation Africa, an organization that brings clean water, food, medical care, and light to poor villages. Buckman said the fraternity picked this charity “because of its widespread impact as well as its connection to innovation and technology…things that we as MIT engineers feel a connection towards.”
 
Last year the group raised over $30,000 for Save a Child’s Heart, dubbing the MIT chapter the “Record Holder in Official Philanthropy” for the international fraternity. This year AEPi raised over $32,000, and AEPi’s national Philanthropy Program Coordinator attended to help with the event and gather insight on potentially bringing it to other campuses.
 
As a Jewish fraternity, AEPi adheres to tzedakah, Hebrew for charity. “…we have a responsibility to pay back our community,” stated Buckman. “Its something that is a core tenant of our fraternity and how we’ve all been brought up,” echoed Maxwell Haubenstock ‘17, Philanthropy Chair of AEPi. “I view it as a responsibility that we have, and we work to make sure it’s something we follow through with.”
 
“It’s a win-win event,” said Buckman. “Students love the idea of pie-ing their friends. Pie-ees love the ability to contribute to a positive organization, and we love running a successful philanthropy campaign…and providing something fun and meaningful to the MIT community.”
 
This year, over 20 student leaders were pied. Non-students were not spared either. Notable pie-ees this year included, Bob Ferrara, Stu Schmill, Chris Peterson, and Professor Daniel Jackson. Some students were even lucky enough to be pied by Chancellor Barnhart, Provost Schmidt, and President Reif.
 
“This year I pied a friend and got pied multiple times, both are a lot of fun,” said Haubenstock. “Walking across the Harvard Bridge in a whipped cream-stained shirt got me some interesting looks.”
 
To find out more about this initiative or donate visit AEPi’s page athttp://aepi.mit.edu/philanthropy/