Berwick, Pennsylvania — recently established (Circa. 2025) Commonwealth University Fraternity Phi Delta Theta traveled and hosted an ALS fundraiser at the Elks Lodge in Berwick this past Sunday.
Their intention was to raise money for research for the neurodegenerative disease, with most proceeds allocated to the Live Like Lou Foundation— a fund meant to develop a cure. It is named after Lou Gehrig, the Yankees Player whose legendary career was abruptly ended by the disease in 1939.
At the Elks Lodge this Sunday, visitors could pay for raffle tickets which were $5 dollars each, purchase food for even cheaper, or participate in a bracket-based bowling event with a partner of their choosing or alone. In any case, there were entry fees for that too — prices ranging from $20 down.
“…From the raffle alone, we made almost $200 for ALS. Everyone had a pretty good time, and we sold 7 extra shirts, out of the ones we had.” CJ Stelega said, whose family owns the lodge which hosted the event.
However, at the chapter meeting following the event on Sunday, it was announced by fraternity president-elect Jace Weaver shared, “…$500 for it, which isn’t bad for us,” informing other members of their recent success.
Phi Delta Theta has a history of numerous fundraising attempts, for both in the name of their fraternity and other organizations. Whether it was back in Berwick the day before, helping with the Veteran’s Breakfast 2026 event, or participating in Walmart’s Angel Tree program, the motives of this fraternity are clear — helping the community, spreading friendship, sound learning, and rectitude.
“We are glad to see a lot of the young people coming out to the Lodge,” said one of the participants, CJ’s aunt. “…This bowling alley is from our time, so seeing your generation hosting in it is amazing.”
The lodge bowling alley, and most of its infrastructure, dates as far back as 1908. The lodge itself mainly attracts older generations, with most of its members consisting of senior citizens or late-middle-aged citizens. We young folks aren’t a common sight! Especially when the upstairs bar is the main attraction most of the week.
Not only did the fundraiser raise awareness and money for the Live-Like-Lou Foundation, it also brought some life into the old alley that was from Lou Gehrig’s time. In a sense, those who assisted at the fundraiser experienced sights and scenes from his time.
What’s next?
This is definitely not the end of Phi Delta Theta’s support for ALS.
In the coming days, and perhaps next semester for the fraternity, participation in the campus-wide Ice Bucket Challenge is on the calendar.
The Ice Bucket challenge first went viral in April of 2014 and has been an on-and-off trend across America ever since, and it has seemed to spread onto Bloomsburg’s campus too.
“We are waiting to hear back from the Instagram page for the campus ice bucket challenge,” assured Jace Weaver. “But, it is definitely on the agenda.”
