In the spring of 2008, a group of determined brothers started to plan a philanthropy event for the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. Their idea was to have a full contact/full pad football game between the Brothers of Phi Gam and another fraternity to raise money for the Sydney Gran Foundation.

The Sydney Gran Foundation was founded by Rosemary and Eddie Gran (running backs coach for Auburn University) in April of 2005 in honor of their daughter Sydney. Sydney was born with a rare disease known as Holoprosencephaly (HPE), but defied the odds to live 6 wonderful years. Sydney passed on to be with the Lord on May 31st, 2005. Sydney touched many lives not only in the Gran’s hometown of Auburn, but at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham where she was a patient. The Gran’s are currently donating the proceeds from the Foundation to a Family Assistance Fund at Children’s to help families who are less fortunate and need financial help based on their child’s health issues.

With persistence, the Inaugural Sydney Gran Classic took place April 20, 2008. The brothers of Phi Gamma Delta went on to defeat the brothers of Alpha Tau Omega 7-0. More importantly than the win, the fraternity raised around $19,000 to donate to the Sydney Gran Foundation. From now on, The Sydney Gran Classic will be an annual event sponsored by the brothers here at the Alpha Upsilon chapter.

Phi Gamma Delta would like to thank Eddie Gran, Drake Nunn, Chris Hughes, Lee-Scott Academy, Berney Office Solutions, Regions and Charter Bank for their help with this year’s Inagural Sydney Gran Classic!



Watch video highlights from this year's Sydney Gran Classic

Check out a few news articles written on this years Sydney Gran Classic at:
http://www.oanow.com/oan/sports/college/article/full_contact_fundraising/11418/
http://blog.al.com/trackingtigers/2008/04/auburn_fraternities_to_play_fo.html

For more information on the Sydney Gran Foundation visit: www.sydneygranfoundation.org