Often times as one strolls down Church Street past the purple gym people are gathered to raise money for a variety of philanthropies supported by WCU organizations on campus. Last week the women of Alpha Phi took it to an entirely new method of fundraising by sitting on a child’s teeter totter for 48 consecutive hours. The women of Alpha Phi teetered and tottered all through the chilly weekend to raise money for their philanthropies, The Alpha Phi Foundation which helps their fellow sisters in need, and to raise Cardiac Care awareness.
Each member of Alpha Phi was required to spend at least 5 hours during the weekend but was encouraged to come out in between class Friday and sporadically throughout the weekend. Together they hung out and had a good time for a good cause.
“This is one of our main philanthropy events,” said Jackie Aliotta, Alpha Phi President, “Teeter-Totter, Red Dress Gala, and Greek Night Live.”
The Alpha Phi Foundation raises and awards funds for the programs that advance leadership development, improve women’s heart health, educate the value of philanthropy, encourage academics excellence and support sisters in need. Alpha Phi Foundation, founded in 1956, is one of the oldest Greek foundations for women.
For nearly 50 years, Alpha Phi has paid close attention to women’s cardiac health as a priority. Through its annual Cardiac Care Award, the Alpha Phi Foundation helps to fund research and educational agendas that maintain women’s cardiac health. Because of their great efforts, health care professionals and women everywhere are becoming more aware about the causes, prevention and treatment of heart disease – the number one killer of women.
The first big event for the year is the Teeter-Totter and the expectation to raise a good sum of money is in high hopes. This is an annual event held by the members this year they plan on raising around $800 dollars for the foundation.
According to Alpha Phi principles of sisterhood and honor, “The objectives of our Fraternity are the promotion of growth in character; unity of feeling, sisterly affection, and social communion among our members. In all that we do, we try to obey God’s principles of justice and right. We have banded ourselves together to improve our minds and hearts, and we seek to aid each other through a constant watch, care always given in love. We believe ourselves to be sincere searchers for truth.”
“We seek the highest ideal of womanhood, and we try to gain this ideal by cultivating not only the power and passion for seeking intellectual development but, also, the spirit of love and charity. And we who are thus united are under a solemn pledge to lend a helping hand to one another.”
“Alpha Phi would like to thank all the organizations that help support them during the Teeter-Totter and all Philanthropic events”, said Laura Stapleton, Philanthropy Chair for Alpha Phi.
Jessica Todd-Marrone is a fourth-year student majoring international relations with minors in journalism and Spanish. She can be reached at JT608859@wcupa.edu.