A competetor in Anchor Splash performs a flip into the water. (Nick McCarthy)

Fraternities, sororities and non-Greek organizations such as the swim team, came together Saturday afternoon at the Dedman Center pool to participate in Anchor Splash, a philanthropy event hosted by Delta Gamma.

The event raised more than $8,000 from ticket sales and donations, and all the proceeds will benefit the visually impaired.

Anchor Splash is a major national philanthropy that has been held since 1966. More than 110 Delta Gamma chapters host the event annually.

The splash hasn’t been held at SMU for 30 years, as there was controversy about allowing the sorority to use the swimming pool. However, the Dedman Center decided to allow Delta Gamma to use the swimming pool in the middle of January this year.

“This is one of the biggest Panhellenic philanthropies and Anchor Splash is synonymous with Dee Gee,” Public Relations chair Jessica Abraham said. “To bring it back this year was a really big deal.”

The event included various pool competitions, such as a wet shirt relay, a tube relay and synchronized swimming. There was also a banner contest, a DJ and food.

“My favorite event by far was the synchronized swimming. It was hilarious,” Delta Gamma member and sophomore Mahan Garrett said. “And the swimmers in crazy-colored Speedos was a plus.”

The SMU Men’s swim team was the big winner of the day, and they received a large flat-panel TV.

Although the sorority only had a few months to plan the splash when it usually requires a year of planning, Garrett said it was a huge success.

“Everyone was coming up to us saying, ‘This was great, we had so much fun and can’t wait till next year,'” Garrett said.

Abraham was also pleased with the outcome of the event.

“We had a wonderful turnout this year. A lot of people came, and it will probably be about twice as big next year,” Abraham said.

The event raised funds for Delta Gamma’s Service for Sight philanthropy, which distributes proceeds to various foundations that assist the visually impaired.

“Philanthropy is one of the main foundations of a sorority, and the fact that DeeGee raised $8,000 dollars which shows how important philanthropy is for DeeGee,” Garrett said.

Beta Upsilon Chi members compete in the synchronized swimming portion of Delta Gamma’s Anchor Splash philanthropy event at the Dedman Lifetime Sports Center on Saturday afternoon. (Nick McCarthy)