By Rachel Bryant

Every year UK’s matchup against Tennessee falls on the same day as another event with thousands of spectators. Because this year’s game is scheduled at night, the Greek community will strut their dance moves a few hours earlier than normal.

Greek Sing, a philanthropy hosted by Chi Omega and Sigma Alpha Epsilon which benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation, raised more than $100,000 last year.

The event is a dance competition among the Greek community on campus. Each chapter involved picks a theme and develops a dance routine to perform. Chapters earn points based on participation, fundraising efforts and their dance performance.

Kaelyn Query, Chi Omega’s Greek Sing chair, said it is normal for the event to be on the same day as the Tennessee game, but this year the game is at night instead of the afternoon because ESPN wanted to broadcast it.

Because of the game, Greek Sing will be at 5 p.m., and intermission and length of judging time will be shorter, said Will Decker, Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s Greek Sing chair.

Even with the game being scheduled for the evening, presale tickets for Greek Sing are higher than in the past, and participation is the same, Decker said.

However, Query said she is worried the number of tickets sold at the door will be lower.

“People might be worried about missing the game, but Greek Sing will end 30 minutes before game time,” she said.

Lindsey Peterson, a senior Delta Zeta member, said she is planning on attending both Greek Sing and the basketball game.

“Greek Sing has always been a big tradition at UK, as well as basketball,” she said. “But [Greek Sing] is about coming together for a great cause and I don’t think any chapter is going to have problems with participation.”

This year, Chi Omega and Sigma Alpha Epsilon made it their goal to donate $115,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. To raise the extra $15,000 without raising ticket prices, Chi Omega and Sigma Alpha Epsilon are working with local restaurants around Lexington, Decker said.

“It works great on both sides because we bring them a lot of business on nights when they otherwise probably wouldn’t be as busy, and they give us an agreed-upon percentage of sales for the people we attract,” he said.

According to the Make-A-Wish Foundation Web site, each wish costs about $7,000. If Greek Sing raises the  $115,000, about 16 wishes could be granted.

The chapter earning the most points will receive $1,000 to go toward its philanthropy. The overall winner will receive $500 and the winners in the sorority and fraternity categories will receive $250 to go toward the their philanthropies.