Sorority raises funds for heart health in week-long event

Alpha Phi wrapped up its Philanthropy week Saturday with the fourth-annual Red Dress Gala and silent auction.

The sorority raised $6500 during the week for the national Alpha Phi Foundation, which supports women’s cardiac health awareness.

Each week throughout the academic year, one chapter of Alpha Phi across the country has their philanthropy week, Alpha Phi Marketing Vice President Jessica Brooks said.

During Friday night’s gala, 2006-07 Alpha Phi President Rachelle Gunderson-Smith talked about the importance of women’s awareness of good heart health.

She said her grandfather had a heart attack at 40, but the women in her family weren’t aware of cardiac health.

“It was something my family always talked about, but it was only for the men,” she said. “It wasn’t really something the women (were conscious of).”

Gunderson-Smith said women should get yearly heart screenings starting at age 20 to catch heart problems early.

“How many people have hearts?” she asked the audience. “Then this is something you should be worried about.”

She also stressed the importance of daily exercise, healthy eating habits and monitoring cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

Other events over the week included a blood drive, a volleyball tournament, the Heartthrob Pageant and “Alphatraz.”

Brooks said the volleyball tournament was new to Pilanthropy Week this year, and had the most successful turnout of all the activities.

"Because of the nature of the game — you have to have to have at least six people playing at least six people — there were a lot of people there," she said.

Brooks also said the volleyball tournament was her favorite event.

She said student involvement was the key to a succesful Philanthropy Week.

"We tried to go out and work with different campus organizations," she said. "I think that was why it went so well."