Students paid Derby Days mural wall to raise money for Valley Children’s Hospital

Derby Days, a week-long celebration that combines raising money for charity with a little bit of friendly competition, began at Fresno State in 1966 and has been a Sigma Chi tradition ever since.

“Derby Days is a philanthropy event hosted by Sigma Chi here at Fresno State where we try to raise as much money as possible for Valley Children’s Hospital,” said Logan Mann, an ag business major.

As tradition goes, the annual mural painting contest kicks off the week of Derby Days activities.

“It’s been a tradition I think ever since we started Derby Days and so at Fresno State you see the wall painting you automatically think Sigma Chi,” said Eric Tatum, Sigma Chi alumnus.

The cinder block wall in the parking lot of Sigma Chi serves as the canvas for the brightly colored works of art. Each 8-by-8-foot mural is designed and painted by teams made up of Sigma Chi members and members of participating sororities.

“It starts with an idea among the sororities. They have to make a decision on how to incorporate their theme into a mural onto our wall,” said Adam Peters, a media, communications and journalism major.

The painted walls at Derby Days are more than just a friendly competition. Many of the murals are stunningly beautiful and have become part of the history and culture at Sigma Chi.

“The walls are iconic and what’s cool about it is it’s almost like a shared experience because if you visit other chapter houses they, too, also have walls that have been painted because of Derby Days,” Tatum said.

Teams have 24 hours to complete their mural before it is judged and competition points awarded – those points add up to dollars that will go to Valley Children’s Hospital.

“Last year we donated around $30,000, and we’re trying to reach that again.” Mann said. “Currently, we’re around $12,000, but we have a couple more days, so we’re going to continue to reach out to more businesses and more alumni.”

The dollars going to Valley Children’s Hospital as part of Derby Days are raised through t-shirt sales, event admission fees, and donations from community members, business sponsors and Sigma Chi active members and alumni.

To date, Sigma Chi Derby Days at Fresno State has raised more than $200,000 for Valley Children’s Hospital.

You can see this year and last year’s Derby Days murals at the Sigma Chi Fraternity house on Bulldog Lane near Millbrook Avenue.