Sy Barash Regatta
Encyclopedia
The Beta Sigma Beta
Sy Barash Regatta was named for a Beta Sig, Sy Barash, a prominent State College businessman and civic leader who died of cancer in 1975. One year later the first Regatta
was staged at Stone Valley. Beta Sigma Beta
is a local fraternity at Penn State University established in 1913.
The Regatta remained at Stone Valley at 1983, when the need to accommodate upwards of 15,000 people necessitated its move to the more spacious Bald Eagle State Park. In addition to the canoe races and tug of war competitions, the Regatta featured fantastic musical entertainment. Some of the performers featured included Joan Jett
, The Hooters
, the Romantics and Ziggy Marley
, REO Speedwagon
, 38 Special, and Blues Traveler
.
At its peak, the Beta Sigma Beta
Sy Barash Regatta was the largest single-fraternity philanthropy in the country. By the end of its 15th year, it had raised over $300,000 for the Centre County unit of the American Cancer Society
. And the Beta Sigma Beta Sy Barash Regatta is listed as an American Cancer Society $100,000+ Excalibur Contributor.
Unfortunately, increasing costs, such as insurance, cut into the amount of money that could be donated and in the mid 1990s the Regatta was discontinued as the Beta Sigma Beta
philanthropy. Now Beta Sigma Beta is involved in another philanthropic event called the WE ARE....Curing Autism Now 5K run/3K walk which is in its fifth year and has raised $500,000 since its first year.
A popular saying for the event was, "Regatta Believe!"
Beta Sigma Beta
Beta Sigma Beta is a Greek-Letter college fraternity.Beta Sigma Beta Fraternity began on October 22, 1910 at Cornell University when four students who had been denied participation in Cornell's existing fraternities because of their religion decided to form their own secret society...
Sy Barash Regatta was named for a Beta Sig, Sy Barash, a prominent State College businessman and civic leader who died of cancer in 1975. One year later the first Regatta
Regatta
A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...
was staged at Stone Valley. Beta Sigma Beta
Beta Sigma Beta
Beta Sigma Beta is a Greek-Letter college fraternity.Beta Sigma Beta Fraternity began on October 22, 1910 at Cornell University when four students who had been denied participation in Cornell's existing fraternities because of their religion decided to form their own secret society...
is a local fraternity at Penn State University established in 1913.
The Regatta remained at Stone Valley at 1983, when the need to accommodate upwards of 15,000 people necessitated its move to the more spacious Bald Eagle State Park. In addition to the canoe races and tug of war competitions, the Regatta featured fantastic musical entertainment. Some of the performers featured included Joan Jett
Joan Jett
Joan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular...
, The Hooters
The Hooters
The Hooters is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By combining a mix of rock and roll, reggae, ska and folk music, The Hooters first gained major commercial success in the United States in the mid 1980s due to heavy radio and MTV airplay of several songs including "All You...
, the Romantics and Ziggy Marley
Ziggy Marley
David "Ziggy" Marley is a Jamaican musician and leader of the band Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. He is the oldest son of famed reggae musician Bob Marley...
, REO Speedwagon
REO Speedwagon
REO Speedwagon is an American rock band. Formed in 1967, the band grew in popularity during the 1970s and peaked in the early 1980s. Hi Infidelity is the group's most commercially successful album, selling over ten million copies and charting four Top 40 hits in the US...
, 38 Special, and Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler is a rock band, formed in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987. The band has been influenced by a variety of genres, including blues-rock, psychedelic rock, folk rock, soul, and Southern rock...
.
At its peak, the Beta Sigma Beta
Beta Sigma Beta
Beta Sigma Beta is a Greek-Letter college fraternity.Beta Sigma Beta Fraternity began on October 22, 1910 at Cornell University when four students who had been denied participation in Cornell's existing fraternities because of their religion decided to form their own secret society...
Sy Barash Regatta was the largest single-fraternity philanthropy in the country. By the end of its 15th year, it had raised over $300,000 for the Centre County unit of the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
. And the Beta Sigma Beta Sy Barash Regatta is listed as an American Cancer Society $100,000+ Excalibur Contributor.
Unfortunately, increasing costs, such as insurance, cut into the amount of money that could be donated and in the mid 1990s the Regatta was discontinued as the Beta Sigma Beta
Beta Sigma Beta
Beta Sigma Beta is a Greek-Letter college fraternity.Beta Sigma Beta Fraternity began on October 22, 1910 at Cornell University when four students who had been denied participation in Cornell's existing fraternities because of their religion decided to form their own secret society...
philanthropy. Now Beta Sigma Beta is involved in another philanthropic event called the WE ARE....Curing Autism Now 5K run/3K walk which is in its fifth year and has raised $500,000 since its first year.
A popular saying for the event was, "Regatta Believe!"