Greek Week 2005 has arrived, and the Greek community has planned a multitude of crazy activities and contests — including a wings-eating contest, an X-Box tournament and the “Greek Olympics” — to raise money for various charities. This year, the Greek community has increased its fundraising goal, hoping to raise at least $60,000.

Through yesterday’s Diag Day events, fraternity and sorority members from the Interfraternity Council, the Panhellenic Association and the Multicultural Greek Council collected over 5,000 pounds of canned food for local food gatherers and raised over $1,200 for the campus chapter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Funds raised during Greek Week will also be directed to the Coach Carr Cancer Fund, Camp Heartland, the Wellness Community of Ann Arbor and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Michigan.

Travis Foley, co-director of the Greek Week steering committee, said much of the money was raised over the last two weeks through the efforts of individual houses and donations from local businesses, such as Big Ten Burrito, STA Travel and Buffalo Wild Wings. In addition to traditional events, such as the blood drive and various house-sponsored contests, Foley said a large part of the money is raised through ticket sales to Mr. Greek Week — a Miss America-type pageant of fraternity members — and Sing and Variety, the culminating event of Greek Week.

Foley said the steering committee’s biggest addition to this year’s Greek Week has been the iTunes Affiliate Program. Through this program, 10 cents of every $1 song downloaded through an iTunes link on the Greek Week website goes to Greek Week charities. Foley said the iTunes program has raised about $1,000 so far.

Greek Week co-director Lauren Rueber said another important part of Greek Week is the Journey of Hope presentation, which takes place in Rackham tonight. At the presentation, Greek Week beneficiaries and Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr speak to Greek and campus community members, and children from the Make-a-Wish Foundation and Camp Heartland share their stories.

“Journey of Hope motivates the community,” Rueber said. “Everyone can see what they are doing this for.”

Panhel spokeswoman Lindsey Fediuk said Greek Week is not only a good way to raise money to support local charities, but also a good way to highlight a different side of the Greek community.

“Greek Week not just a series of party events, which it can look like at times,” Fediuk said. “(It) is a great opportunity to see how strong the Greek community really is and what we can accomplish when all the houses get together and put their time and effort into something. People are proud to show their letters.”