Student magician raises money for philanthropy

On a night of magic and mischief on the appropriately  timed date of April Fool’s Day, nearly 500 people made their way to the Strand Theatre for a philanthropic performance.

Last Tuesday sophomore Bill Boaz preformed his renowned magic tricks as a way to raise money for his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, philanthropy event.

“I became interested in magic at the age of four,” Boaz said.

“I was watching TV and saw David Copperfield making a glass ball float – an illusion I now perform a version of in my own show – so I told my parents, and they saw I was instantly enamored by the art,” Boaz explained.

This event was a first time production for the fraternity.

In the past, “Miss OWU” was hosted as Sig Ep’s spring philanthropy.

Former Sig Ep president, senior Jake Miller, said the fraternity decided last year would be their final “Miss OWU” pageant.

“We decided to change our philanthropy event this year because the magic show attracts people of all ages, Greek life or no Greek life, whereas Miss OWU attracted a more narrow audience,” Miller said.

“We also got to open the event up to the community of Delaware,” Miller added of the magic show.

Boaz said the fraternity’s switch paid off and that the money they raised nearly doubled what they received last year.

Boaz performed two sets of magic to benefit Sig Ep’s national philanthropy, Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“A number of our brothers are now, or have been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters,” Boaz said.

“This organization was especially important to Jakob VonDerVellen, a brother who was very active in BBBS before he passed away in a car accident two years ago.”

“In addition, it was just recently named as our fraternity’s national philanthropy,” Boaz added.

By charging five dollars at the door, the brothers were able to raise about $2 thousand for their cause.