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Notre Dame is a top university in education, an epicenter for Catholic tradition and home to a remarkable football team. However, one can’t speak about Notre Dame without mentioning the sense of community created by the residence halls. There is a reason the hall you live in is a part of your Notre Dame introduction. There is a reason the dorms have mascots and nicknames and even some rivalries. But aside from the formal dances, section dinners and a couple t-shirts, your hall can give you so much more: a place to volunteer, fundraise and give to a cause. Most dorms have one signature event every year where their residents come up with a unique way to raise money for charity. This list gives a brief description of each dorm’s signature event and highlights the special few that have become staples of life on campus.

Alumni: In the Alumni Iditarod, one or more Dawgs jog around South Quad in 15-minute segments, guaranteeing that someone is always jogging for a consecutive 24 hours. This year, 240 laps (170.71 miles) were run around South Quad. Alumni raised over $15,000 for Martin Hall at Holy Cross College in Bangladesh this year.

Badin: Between a polar plunge, bake-off and high heels race, Badin Hall has come up with an assortment of entertaining events to help raise money for St. Margaret’s House, a women’s shelter in South Bend.

Baumer: Walk through the most terrifying haunted house on campus at the Baumer Boo event, with all proceeds going to South Bend Center for the Homeless.

Breen-Phillips: Hoops for Hope is a 3-on-3 basketball tournament in support of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word. BP also has a meal auction where bidders can get a chance to eat with ND celebs, including women’s basketball coach Niele Ivey and Fr. Pete, in support of Meals on Wheels South Bend.

Carroll & Lyons: These lakeside homes present Volley for the Vets, a sand volleyball tournament to raise money for the South Bend Center for Veterans.

Cavanaugh: The Cavaret offers dinner and a show with food trucks and student performances on North Quad, with all proceeds going to St. Margaret’s House.

Dillon: While some may know Dillon Hall from its annual Rockne Rally, the Big Red also host the Dillon Open, a mini golf tournament to raise money for the Dismas House, which provides housing and support for previously incarcerated men and women.

Duncan: For the past six years, Duncan Hall has held a stair climb in Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 11. Proceeds go to HEART 9/11, which helps rebuild communities recovering from disaster. Students run or walk 110 flights of stairs to pay tribute to the first responders who climbed the 110 flights of the World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks.

Dunne: Castles for a Cause is the signature event for Dunne Hall that includes blanket-making and cardboard castle-making. The Sentinels then camp out in their cardboard castles on North Quad to raise money for the South Bend Center for the Homeless.

Farley: The Farley 5K is a lot more than just a race, with an egg hunt and prizes included in the fun. All proceeds go to Our Lady of the Road, a Catholic Worker house that offers hospitality in South Bend.

Fisher: One of the most iconic events of the year, the Fisher Regatta, involves student groups constructing and racing boats across St. Mary’s Lake. The creativity of students comes out during the regatta, and all proceeds go to St. Adalbert’s, a local Catholic school.

Flaherty: Flaherty Fights is a 5K color run that raises money for the St. John’s Cancer Institute. Crossing the finish line will guarantee you get doused in pink in support of Breast Cancer awareness.

Graham Family: Graham Family’s official signature charity event is not yet determined, though they have teamed up with Holtz’s Heroes for a food drive already. Holtz’s Heroes is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving former head coach Lou Holtz’s legacy.

Howard: Totter for Water describes the 24-hour period when the Ducks teeter totter nonstop to raise money for Engineers without Borders, a group of engineers that support communities around the world.

Johnson Family: Johnson Family Feud is the best way to show off your knowledge of Notre Dame trivia and also supporting the Holy Cross Missions in Bangladesh.

Keenan: In an elaborate and entertaining show full of performances and comedy sketches, the Keenan Revue has Notre Dame students laughing and donating to Dismas House.

Keough: The Chariot Race is a battle between Keough sections to build and race chariots across South Quad. Proceeds go towards Reins of Life, which provides equestrian therapy for disabled children and adults.

Knott: Not only does Knott Hall host an iconic hot dog eating contest for the Ronald McDonald House, they also join the Circle K Club and knit blankets for kids undergoing cancer treatments through the Aidan Project.

Lewis: The Chicks serve up some late night brunch at Lewis House of Pancakes, or LHOP. This year, the women of Lewis Hall raised just under $12,000, which will fund 47,000 meals for the Food Bank of Northern Indiana.

McGlinn: At McGlinn Casino Night, a good time is in the cards. Guests dress to the nines and try their hand at card games, fundraising for St. Adalbert Catholic School.

Morrissey: Morrissey Manor hosts an annual game watch on South Quad for the first football game of every season. The event benefits the morale of the student body.

O’Neill Family: With two signature events, O’Neill Family Hall has twice the fun! In the fall, the 40 Yards for a Cause race raises money for the South Bend Center for the Homeless. In the spring, O’Neill hosts Mrs. ND, a talent competition between ladies from each women’s dorm. Ticket sales from the show benefit the St. John’s Cancer Institute.

Pasquerilla East: Silent Night Silent Auction happens right around the holidays where items and baskets are bidded on to raise money for Hannah’s House in Mishawaka, a faith-based organization that supports pregnant women.

Pasquerilla West: Everyone can have fun in the sun with Snow Cones and Slides, the Purple Weasels’ fundraiser for Our Lady of the Road.

Ryan: This 5-on-5 bracket basketball tournament is played in wheelchairs to raise money for the River City Challenged Athletes, which provides support to local athletes with physical disabilities.

Siegfried: During a cold day in the South Bend winter, the Ramblers ditch their warm coats and pants for t-shirts and shorts to raise money to support the South Bend Center for the Homeless in an event they call Day of Man.

Sorin: Since 2022, Sorin College has hosted Otterfest, a two-day music festival that raises money for The Music Village, a musical arts center in South Bend. Sorin College also hosts Kick-It for Kevin, which raises money for cancer research in honor of Kevin Healey, a former Sorin resident who passed away due to cancer in 2009.

St. Edwards: In collaboration with United to Beat Malaria, the men of St. Edward’s Hall ask for donations in return for a stylish hair style: a mullet! Last year, Mullets against Malaria raised over $14,000 towards eradicating malaria.

Stanford: Right before Notre Dame gears up for 40 days of Lent, the Stanford Mardi Scraw party offers cajun food, king cake, music and masks. Proceeds from the event go to Live Well Water, which helps provide clean water to the people of Nicaragua.

Walsh: The women of Walsh Hall put on a pageant to see which Notre Dame man can become Mr. ND. Ticket sale proceeds support St. Margaret’s House.

Welsh Family: The Clary Murphy Thomas Memorial Welsh Fam 5K Color Run is in honor of the students in the Class of 2002 who lost their battle with Leukemia. The run supports the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.