The annual Sigma Nu Relays charity fundraiser returns this week, pitting greeks against one another in contests ranging from a Zodo’s bowling tournament to the Coyote Ugly Sorority Dance Competition.

Sigma Nu Relays, which is entering its fifth year, benefits the Isla Vista Youth Project and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Last night’s event featured a bowling contest at Zodo’s, and tonight the fraternity will host an ’80s themed dinner at Déjà Vu Café. Events will continue throughout the week, culminating in Saturday’s Coyote Ugly Sorority Dance Competition at I.V. Theater.

In past years, the relay contests generally garnered between $2,000 and $5,000, but the fraternity expects to bring in more than $10,000 this year, said Sigma Nu President Garret Garrett Sacks.

“This year we re-evaluated the events and decided to hold them at vendors so that we could open it up to the whole school,” Sacks said. “We will be able to help that much more.”

In an effort to prepare sororities for the week’s trials, Sigma Nu sells uniforms and provides them with coaches.

According to Sigma Nu Relays Chair Cody Kaufman, the fraternity raises money for MADD and the I.V. Youth Project because the charities hold particular significance to the organization.

“The I.V. Youth Project has always been our main philanthropy,” Kaufman said. “The relays were started about six years ago by Chris McAllister, a member of our house who graduated just a few years ago and was killed by a drunk driver in San Diego. We carry out this tradition in his name as a tribute to him and his hard work, and he’s one of the reasons we donate money to MADD to raise awareness about drunk driving. So many people drink and party around here and we want them to be responsible.”

Associated Students Finance Board allocated $10,511.50 in funds to cover the event’s cost and T-shirts for participants. The board granted an exception to provide the funding for the bowling night, since rules prohibit allotting money for activities held outside of campus and Isla Vista.

Furthermore, Sigma Nu received additional sponsoring from Monster Energy Drinks.

Downtown Santa Barbara revelers will also benefit the cause this Thursday night, with the fraternity receiving a percentage of the bar tab from the Sandbar from 10 p.m. to midnight and at Sharkeez from midnight to two a.m.

Kaufman said that while the event’s main goal is to raise money for charities, it also provides fun activities for local sororities.

“It’s a fun event,” Kaufman said. “I really like seeing the relays, because all the girls in the sororities get to compete against each other and have a lot of fun. We enjoy it as well, but at the same time, it’s a great cause.”

The Coyote Ugly Sorority Dance Competition, the week’s main fundraiser, will take place at I.V. Theater on Saturday, with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets cost five $5 at the door, and the show will begin at 8 p.m.