Theta Iota Chapter of Alpha Phi: Philanthropic Powerhouses
The Theta Iota Chapter of Alpha Phi at James Madison University (JMU) raised nearly $20,000 this past semester.”Alpha Phi has a community contribution program,” explained Stephanie Tan, Theta Iota Chapter President, “75 percent of the total amount raised gets donated to Women’s Health focus at Rockingham Memorial Hospital (RMH) and 25 percent goes to the Alpha Phi Foundation.”
The chapter’s Director of Finance, Margo Caldwell, said, “RMH is a part of the JMU community and life, so it only makes sense for us to help both our local Harrisonburg community members and the JMU community members,” Caldwell said.
The outstanding accomplishment consisted of all 126 girls being constantly active. Tan applauded her sorority for their tip-top organization skills.
She said, “We ensured that everyone knew what was going on and all of the events’ details, and we just went all out with it.”
Caldwell said: “I would say our success this year was largely due to all the passion from each sister. Not a single sister did not give her entire self into the week and they are the reason we are so successful.”
JMU named Alpha Phi “Chapter of the Year.” Furthermore, Tan explained that within their campus community Alpha Phi became a “Five Star Chapter” (one of two sororities awarded this rating-out of nine total), as well as received excellence in various divisions such as leadership and character.
Caldwell said, “The main ingredient to have such an accomplished sorority is true love for every sister… I know that I can always count on my sisters, regardless of the situation.”
This chapter’s weeklong fundraising event is “Aphiasco,” which consists of various activities such as a Move your Phi’s 5k race, a King of Hearts Male Auction, a proceeds night at a local restaurant, and penny wars. With these activities, Alpha Phi has tables on the commons with information on heart disease, as well as cardiovascular tips to stay healthy. Caldwell said, “I think that it is hard for people to fully imagine that we raise so much money in one week, but we really do.”
As with many national Alpha Phi chapters, the Theta Iota girls hosted a Red Dress Gala. This 3-course sit down dinner was held at a local country club and raised $9,000 through admission and a silent auction. A speaker from Rockingham Memorial Hospital came to the dinner to inform the attendees where the money raised is going as well as how to stay healthy.
Though the girls fell a few hundred dollars short of their $20,000 goal, they continue to increase their fundraising every year. Caldwell said, “Each year our chapter grows stronger and I anticipate nothing but improvement for years to come.”
For the future, Tan hopes to add another big event to raise a lot of money. Specifically, it would be ideal to have an interactive event where all chapters can come out and participate against each other or all at once.
“Bringing chapters together actively is the best way to make people aware of the spread of heart disease,” Tan said. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in America.
For other sororities’ philanthropies, Tan advises to “set goals, try your hardest, and make sure you’re organized.” In order to be realistic, she advises sororities to vote on their fundraising goals to ensure every chapter member believes it is reasonable.
Caldwell said, “I suggest working together and knowing that no contribution, large or small, goes unnoticed or unappreciated.”
Tan recommends for smaller chapters to try focusing on events that will really attract people, while making sure not to repeat something that another chapter has already done.
Advice all sororities can utilize is partnering up with either another chapter or a community-based organization. Tan attributes a lot of their success to JMU’s local community.
She said, “Obviously we wouldn’t be able to have so much success without our JMU community coming out to participate, donate, and buy things.”
Summing up her commitment to Alpha Phi and its philanthropy, Caldwell said, “We are philanthropic, young women who try to do our best to show everyone who is not a part of Alpha Phi how blessed we truly are to call ourselves sisters. Alpha Phi isn’t just a fraternity, it’s a lifestyle.”
Kelly Seeger is a sophomore at Franklin & Marshall College pursuing a possible double-major in Arabic and Government. She is addicted to bargain shopping and loves being creative with cooking recipes.
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