As Halloween approaches, known for its creative costumes and bags full of candy, an organization within Housing and Residence Life, Women for Women, has chosen to keep the weekend “sweet” in a different way.

Women for Women is hosting their second annual Smashing Pumpkins for Little Munchkins Softball Tournament, a fundraising event at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 and 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30, at the Kauffman Fields. Teams will compete in a bracket-style tournament.

There will also be a home-run derby starting Saturday that will cost $2 to enter.

On Sunday, the first game starts at 11 a.m. and both championship games start at 5 p.m. A Halloween costume contest will take place on Sunday.

“It’s exciting,” said Brittany Berry, a sophomore hospitality management major, who is also co-president of W4W. “We are donating to a children’s museum. There are a lot of sponsors this year, and that has been awesome.”

Berry said that many local sponsors have helped setup the event. Border Grill will be selling food at the event and will donate a percentage of profits to U.P. Children’s Museum as well. W4W said that other sponsors like Main Street Pizza, UpFront & Co., Casualties and others help made the event possible.

Berry said that the event will feature the Double Trouble DJs, face painting and games such as ladder gold and bean bag toss.

“One thing different from last year is that we are trying to do things that involve kids,” Berry said.
W4W advisor Kate Sartori said that last year W4W donated roughly $800.

Sartori said that 16 teams registered for the event this year, many of whom competed last year. Team sizes range from 10 to 15 people depending on the team.

There is no admission for spectators of the softball games. There will also be a raffle that participants are eligible to win prizes from sponsors. The prizes include gift cards and other prizes from the sponsors.

Women for Women was started in 2007. Since then, the organization has been responsible for a number of fundraising and awareness events, including: “8 Inches,” “Self-Acceptance Week” and “Walk for Domestic Violence.”

For more information on Women for Women, email Justine Samek at [email protected], Angie Barber at [email protected] or Brittany Berry at [email protected].