Clemson and USC students to come together to help community pool devastated by flood
February 16, 2016
When it comes to volunteer service, love of community trumps school rivalries at Murraywood Swim & Racquet Club. On Saturday, February 20, 2016, fraternities and sororities from both Clemson and USC, long-time rivals, will come together to help the Club, which was devastated by the October 2015 flood, take great strides towards recovery.
The volunteer event was initiated by three summer lifeguards at Murraywood: Josh Fields, a junior at Clemson University; Chandler Hawsey, a freshman at Clemson University; and Tab Hirsch, a sophomore at the University of South Carolina. The three boys are long-time friends, and don’t let school rivalry interfere with their camaraderie at home and at work during the summer. Fields and Hawsey are members of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Clemson; and Hirsch is a member of USC’s Kappa Sigma fraternity. The two fraternities will be joining forces on Saturday to help the damaged Club with construction demolition and debris removal in the Pool House, which was flooded up to its gutters in October 2015.
Publicized on Facebook, the event has gone viral. Catherine Taylor, Murrawyood lifeguard and sophomore at USC, has invited her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi, and her friend’s sorority, Phi Mu, to participate. Isabelle Cooper, Murraywood lifeguard and sophomore at USC has invited her sorority, Tri Delta as well. Over 60 college students and other community volunteers are expected to pitch in on Saturday. Other volunteers are donating food, drinks and money to make sure the students are well feed.
Local DJ Nate Richard has offered to spin tunes for the workers to make the event party-like. Like the other participants, his services are being donated.
Renovation construction on the Pool House is slated to commence in March with a completion date of May 13, 2016.
Murraywood Swim & Racquet Club
Murraywood Swim & Racquet Club is a member-owned, non-profit club operated by a volunteer Board of Directors. Founded in 1974 in the Irmo neighborhood of Murraywood, the Club is dedicated to providing affordable family exercise and social events.
Amenities include: Swimming lessons, swim team, junior tennis, adult tennis, tennis lessons and clinics, and family-friendly social events.
