Philanthropy
Philanthropy is a cornerstone of Alpha Phi and is something truly close to our hearts. The Puget Sound Alpha Phi Chapter has always taken advantage of and participated in opportunities to give back to our community, the place we call home. Our philanthropic efforts primarily focus on the Alpha Phi Foundation, a cause supported by our Fraternity, which raises awareness and funds to research the number one killer of women in America—heart disease.
In 1956, Alpha Phi was the first women’s Fraternity to establish a foundation. The Alpha Phi Foundation is dedicated to advancing leadership development, encouraging academic excellence, improving women’s heart health, supporting sisters in need, and educating about the value of philanthropy.
Heart to Heart Week
Heart to Heart week is one of Alpha Phi's most significant philanthropy events of the year. Throughout the school week, we do fun fundraising activities (selling flowers, different themed days, etc). Then, on Friday, we have our Alpha Phi Heartthrob pageant. In this proud tradition, our contestants compete to become Alpha Phi's newest heartthrob by showcasing their dedication to our philanthropy through their knowledge of women's heart health and their passion for the Alpha Phi sorority. They then show off their talents at this event, creating a fun space for people to come and watch before the winner is announced (based on their contributions throughout the week). This event is always an excellent opportunity for Alpha Phi, where we show our dedication to fundraising and raising awareness for women's heart health.
Red Dress Gala
Red Dress Gala is our chapter's main philanthropic event. This annual gala usually happens during the spring semester and we invite the whole community to attend! This event helps us raise money that goes directly to supporting women's heart health through the Alpha Phi Foundation. The Alpha Phi Foundation supports research, education, and treatment related to heart disease. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States for women, and this gala is our chance to not only give back to the community but to make an even bigger impact on the fight for heart health. We care deeply about this cause, and our goal is always to do as much as possible in support of research and treatment for women's heart health.
As said by the Alpha Phi Foundation, "Through the generosity of alumnae and donors, Alpha Phi Foundation funds research and educational programs that support the advancement of women's heart health. The annual Heart to Heart Grant awards $100,000 to medical professionals to enhance their understanding of heart disease in women—specifically its symptoms, treatment, and prevention. Since its inception in 1993, the grant has funded over 30 cutting-edge projects focused on the improvement of women's cardiovascular care."
It is the goal of our chapter to support women's heart health in any way we can, always wanting to bring as much light as possible to the cause.
Additional Philanthropy Events
In addition to the Red Dress Gala and Heart to Heart Week, we host other events throughout the year to help raise money in support of women's heart health and the Alpha Phi Foundation.
An example of this is our flower sale! We set up a flower bouquet-making station where students and faculty can come and buy flowers to make their own bouquets.
Another event we like to host is Alpha Phifa! It is a newer event that we recently brought back, where students create teams and compete in a soccer tournament.
One more event we host is Hoops for Heartbeats! This is another tournament we hold where students can create teams to play in a basketball tournament in support of our philanthropy.