BYX Island Party,

About the event

Since its founding at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2012, Beta Upsilon Chi has hosted an annual Island Party Week. Island Party is a week of events and outreach in the Greek community on the campus of the University of Tennessee. The week culminates in our Island Party Concert, a free concert for college students. This week focuses on philanthropic donations for a local charity, Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries (KARM), as well as evangelical outreach to students on campus.

KARM is a non-profit organization founded in Knoxville in 1960 to serve men, women, and children through a variety of progressive ministry programs designed to break the cycle of homelessness. KARM seeks to rescue the poor and needy of the Knox area by providing recovery services in Jesus’ name. Knox Area Rescue Ministries continues to open its doors to the area’s homeless and hurting—extending overwhelming biblical hospitality and using their ministry formula of Rescue + Relationships = Restoration to help rekindle lost hope. KARM provides meals; overnight, emergency and long-term shelter; and residential recovery services to the poor and homeless, victims of domestic violence, displaced families and disenfranchised men, women and children throughout the Knox area.  Services also include community meals three times a day, seven days a week, including holidays; job training; employment and educational assistance; counseling services; and rehabilitation programs. Serving over 1,000 meals and providing a place to sleep for over 400 people every day, BYX partners with KARM both financially and through volunteer service to impact the community. We would like for you to become a partner with BYX as we present our Island Party to benefit Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries.

Why should you sponsor?

Your donation is supporting the mission of Christ at the University of Tennessee through Beta Upsilon Chi and locally through KARM. If you cannot make a donation for Island Party, we encourage you to consider supporting KARM directly and supporting both BYX and KARM in prayer.

Hugh Gentry

The Alpha Zeta chapter of Beta Upsilon Chi was assembled in the Fall of 2011 when Harrison Collins contacted the national office about starting a new chapter. Close friends were contacted about getting involved and the first meetings to discuss and pray began to take place. In order to raise the necessary funds for starting the new chapter, the Founding Fathers decided to work together on the first BYX at UT Golf Tournament. Throughout the semester these men grew in unity together through unofficial BYX events like the golf tournament as well as socials, a date party, and an open party. The founders’ goal was to create an environment at the University of Tennessee where college men could grow spiritually, socially and academically. These men worked diligently to achieve this but trusted that God orchestrated all things to happen and all glory is His. In November of 2011, Beta Upsilon Chi invited the first officer core to attend National Officer Training. In the next semester, Executive Director Jason Hoyt and National Advisor Nick England visited Knoxville to formally start the chapter. On January 17, 2012 the 21 founding fathers of the Alpha Zeta Chapter of Beta Upsilon Chi were initiated as members into the fraternity.

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