Pictured above: O’Hara’s clam-eating contest winner Andy Baltensperger. Photo by Adam Gordon, Daily Pennsylvanian
The brothers of Pi Kappa Alpha have a long and distinguished history of charitable fund-raising and public service to the community and the University of Pennsylvania. Sometimes, the fund-raising occurs under very unusual circumstances.
As reported in the December 8, 1983, issue of The Daily Pennsylvanian, a Pi Kappa Alpha pledge played an important role in raising funds to be used to bring 400 children, then living in area shelters, orphanages, and hospitals, to the Annenberg Center for Children’s Play Day.
O’Hara’s Fish House sponsored a clam-eating contest to raise the money for the Theater for Children charity organization. Eight fraternities, four each from Penn and Drexel, sent robust trenchermen to compete by devouring the most clams in a six-minute time limit. Judging the contest were representatives from Channel 10 television, WPEN radio, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
The winner was a Pi Kappa Alpha pledge, Andy Baltensperger, who downed 151 clams in the time allotted. When asked why he competed, Andy replied, “I’m only doing it because it’s for charity and because I’m pledging the best fraternity on campus.”
Thank you to brother Baltensperger and all other Beta Pi volunteers for their time and efforts on behalf of this worthy charity.
