Senior Pamela Clemo, along with other students from RPL 430: Planning Recreation Programs and Events, worked all semester to put together an event that could entertain a crowd while supporting a great cause.

The event highlighted several local acts including Aurorealis, Chris Allen, Fish n’ Chips and Mark Daisy. All proceeds went to Art Reach of Mid-Michigan.

“Art Reach doesn’t get the recognition they deserve (and) we would like to show them our support,” Clemo said.

All money raised will help to further the development of Art Reach’s classes, events and exhibits.

To encourage donations, a jar was passed around before, during and after each performance. The act that received the most money in their jar claimed victory, and all the money from the jars benefitted Art Reach.

“Winning is more important to me here than at other competitions I’ve competed in because I could say that I helped a good cause at the same time,” said Flint senior Judea Walker, who recited slam poetry.

Junior Renaldo Powell said Fish n’ Chips seemed to be the audience’s favorite act of the night.

There were also several raffles to compete in with prizes, such as four vouchers to a Pistons game.

Junior Olivia Quick said the group chose a cool and effective way to raise money.

“I’m always up to showing my support for a good cause,” said junior Sarah Faist.

PhiSignificant Pageant from CMLifeVideo on Vimeo.

Fourteen fraternity members showcased their talents, charisma and body in an attempt to win the title of Mr. PhiSignificant.

About 110 people gathered to support the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority in their tenth annual Mr. PhiSignificant Pageant Tuesday night at Broadway Theatre, 216 E. Broadway St.

Contestants competed through three different rounds consisting of an introduction in toga attire, a talent portion and a question and answer session. They were judged by a panel as well as by audience members who voted by donating money to their favorite contestant’s jar.

Coordinator of Mr. PhiSignificant, Allison Pavloff, said the event went as planned and will know the total amount raised by Sunday.

“It went very smoothly,” the Rochester Hills junior said. “I had a great committee for my first planned event, and everyone seemed to have enjoyed the night. Plus, it goes toward a great cause.”

All proceeds will go to the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation, whose main philanthropy is the National Kidney Foundation. Pavloff said the Central Michigan chapter raises the most money every year out of any Phi Sigma Sigma chapter in the country.

There were a couple guest appearances during transitions in the show.

Central Michigan University Fish N Chips A Capella group performed three songs, including a remix to Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We do It.” 2009

Mr. PhiSignificant winner, Bad Axe senior Kyle Post, also performed a vocal piece.

The talent competition consisted of multiple singing and instrumental acts. There was also an interactive trumpet performance to LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthemn,” a stand-up act and the display of cheer stunt.

Center Line junior Lael Johnson played two pieces on the piano and encouraged the audience to sing along to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.”

“We’re just a bunch of guys here trying to support a good cause,” Johnson said.

Milford senior Chase Houfek took third place and Troy sophomore Adam Cable was runner-up.

Derek Bartley was given a crown, robe and basket of gift cards after being announced 2011 Mr. PhiSignificant.

Bartley performed a scene from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” as he lip synced “Twist and Shout” and danced through the isles. He said the attire is his Halloween costume and felt inspired to do it as his talent.

When asked what he would buy with a million dollars during the question and answer period, Barkley said “time.”

“This is all just really fun and exciting,” the Clawson sophomore said. “I’m glad I could come support the ladies of Phi Sigma Sigma and at the same time, represent my fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi.”

More than 300 attended the a cappella concert fundraiser organized by “Justice for Lily,” a nonprofit group created in memory of two-year-old Lily Furneaux-Wolfenbarger, who died Nov. 20, 2010 allegedly due to the actions of her stepmother. The stepmother is in a Macomb County jail with a $1-million bond; an evidentiary court hearing is scheduled for April 27 and 28.

The Sunday concert helped raise $982 in a two-hour period.

The stage was decorated with pictures of Lily and pink balloons as Lily’s mother, Central Michigan University alumna Lauren Furneaux, spoke of her daughter and began the event.

“My blue ribbon is for child abuse and sexual abuse,” said Chico Furneaux, Lily’s maternal grandfather.

Chico, like many other attendees, wore a white shirt with a screen-print picture of Lily.

Three campus a cappella groups performed at the fundraiser.

“The last time we had Lily we went to an On The Rox show and she loved it,” Lauren Furneaux said.

Central Harmony began the concert with a rendition of “Zombie,” originally by the Cranberries. They were followed by On The Rox and Fish N Chips.

Canton senior Cayte Spaulding said her heart goes out to the family because two of her sisters were abused. She said she still remembers the hardships from that experience.

“I understand the importance in terms of awareness and supporting the families during what they’re going through,” Spaulding said. “I sympathize with the family.”

Lauren Furneaux said the fundraiser’s proceeds will be donated to grief counseling and a problem pregnancy center.

“Our goal is to raise awareness for child abuse and to save lives,” she said.

There are five big events coming in the summer and Justice for Lily has people writing it to support the cause, Lauren Furneaux said.

New Baltimore senior Emma Orczykowski was glad she came out to benefit the cause.

“I’d like to help out in any way that I can,” she said.

Donations can be given and more information can be found through the “Justice for Lily” Facebook page, at www.justiceforlily.com, by attending future events and sending donations to P.O. Box 312 Metamora, 48455.

Sing It, Act It, Play It is sponsored by Moore Media Records. It will take place at Central Michigan University’s Wesley Center, 1400 S. Washington St., and will benefit Bike & Build, an organization Williamston senior James Slider is participating in this summer to bike across America and build houses for those in need.

Slider, president of Moore Media Records, said he worked with a lot of local musicians and the Trap Door Improv group to get the event set up.

“We thought it would be really cool to put on a show that would entertain a lot of people and then give all the money to charity,” he said. “I know it’s going to be a really really excellent show just because we have a lot of talented performers.”

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with the a capella show beginning at 6 p.m. A capella groups Fish N’ Chips and Ebb N’ Flow will be singing during the first act of the show. Trap Door Improv will perform at 7:30 p.m., and an acoustic concert featuring Bloomill, Joe Hertler and Chano will begin at 9 p.m.

Admission is $4 per act or $10 to see all three. Food and drinks will be served between acts.

Slider is hoping that because the show is hosted at the Wesley Center, instead of in a bar, the performers will generate a diverse crowd base.

“It’s very family-oriented,” he said.

Battle Creek senior Anna Trupiano is looking forward to performing with Trap Door at the event.

“It’s a really great opportunity for us to meet different audiences that Trap Door Improv hasn’t gotten to perform for,” she said. “Hopefully we’ll get a different type of crowd in.”

Trupiano is Slider’s girlfriend and is extremely supportive of his dedication to bike across America.

“We really wanted to help him raise money,” she said. “We can’t bike across America, but we’re doing our part to help.”

CMU alumus CJ Opperthauser said when he was approached by Slider and asked to play with his band Bloomill for Sing It, Act It, Play it, he immediately agreed.

“I know James is a great athlete and whenever he does any type of biking charity it’s going to raise a lot of money,” Opperthauser said.

Opperthauser has high hopes for the event turnout.

“Between all the followings that everyone has,” he said, “it should be a pretty good crowd.”

But Fish N Chips made the pop song and many others its own Friday night at the Broadway Theatre, 216 E. Broadway St. in front of a crowd of about 300.

“We have a lot of fun singing everything,” said Troy junior Josh Lee, a group member. “I love singing Katy Perry, I think it’s fun to put a different spin on her.”

Fish N Chips is a 14-member male acappella group that has existed at Central Michigan University for about 10 years, said Kevin Troshak, a Howell senior and group member.

Troshak said the group has performed all around campus and usually performs one big concert per semester.

The group will perform at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 for “Sounds of the Season” in Moore Hall’s Townsend Kiva. The event will be the first time all of CMU’s a cappella groups will perform on the same stage.

In addition to Fish N Chips, the Mountain Town Singers, Central Harmony, On the Rox, Ebb N Flow, Northern Rhapsody and the CMU Brass Quintet are all planning on performing.

Fish N Chips performed a number of different songs including “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley and “Living on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi.

The group also performed a three-way combination of Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie,” Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite” and “Teenage Dream.”

Harrison senior Nathan Heath uses his vocals to provide the beat to the group’s music.

“My freshman year, I went to a Fish N Chips concert and saw the beatboxer and thought, ‘you know that’s really cool,” Heath said.

He said he frequently makes beats in elevators, or at Walmart and gets strange looks. People have asked him how he does it and whether or not he is even human, he said.

Marysville freshman Chelsea Witherspoon and Port Huron sophomore Annjanette Kohl said they loved Fish N Chips’ Friday performance.

“They have a lot of fun with it, so it’s entertaining,” Witherspoon said.

She said she saw the group practice at Sweeney Hall and the towers and was impressed.

Kohl said the group flows well from song to song.

“I liked how the beatboxing wasn’t evident, but was crucial in the background,” Kohl said. “It was really good, I enjoyed it.”

The all-male a cappella group’s rendition of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” received a roaring standing ovation.

They were not the only group on stage that night.

The all-female a cappella group On The Rox joined the gentlemen for a spring concert Saturday in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium.

“This was one of the better concerts,” said Tecumseh sophomore Sarah Nowak, a singer in On The Rox. “A lot of preparation went into this show and everyone was really dedicated.”

The performance opened with a video introducing the members of both groups.

On the Rox kicked off the night with a cover of Jordin Sparks’ hit song “Battlefield.”

The girls were clothed in matching white shirts and black pants as they swayed to the beat.

Then it was time for Fish N Chips to hit the stage.

The group opened its performance with Gavin DeGraw’s “Chariot.”

On The Rox alumni joined the group in singing ’80’s pop-rock song “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar.

The groups transformed their appearances for the second half of the concert.

On The Rox came out in matching pink and black and Fish N’ Chips donned blue and white baseball T-shirts.

“I love performing with the boys,” Nowak said. “They balance our craziness out and they make us laugh.”

Nowak said she was a bit nervous about performing for a full house.

“It’s a little intimidating during the show,” she said.

Wixom sophomore Ryan Anderson performed several solos for Fish N Chips, including one from ‘N Sync.

Both groups performed songs from all different time periods including Kings Of Leon’s “Use Somebody” and ‘N Sync’s “This I Promise You.”

“We were really nervous before,” Anderson said.

Fish N Chips had a beat-boxer creating a vocal background beat throughout the concert.

“It’s good for us to show off what we got,” Anderson said. “As long as people are coming, we’ll keep putting on a show.”