A-Phiasco supports RMH

Caroyln Walser / staff photographer Alpha Phi held Heart Throb Penny Wars on the commons last week to raise money for supporting cardiac care.

Alpha Phi sorority concluded its week-long fund-raising event, A-Phiasco, Friday after raising $1,205 for the Alpha Phi Foundation supporting cardiac care.

The money that was raised all week will be sent to the Alpha Phi Foundation, which, in turn, will send support to both the men's and women's cardiac care at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, where the sorority chose to send its donation, according to sophomore Katie Lucas, Alpha Phi philanthropy chair.

"We've raised over 10 times what we raised last year," Lucas said. "I'm really proud of the girls."

The one-day event that was held last year by the sorority — a car bash — raised $83 for the foundation. The sorority changed its focus this year and planned events for every day during the week of Feb. 16 to 20.

The sorority held Heart Throb Penny Wars on the commons Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., where jars for each of the social fraternities and sororities, along with Student Ambassadors, were available for donations.

At the end of the week, the Theta Chi fraternity had collected more than any of the other fraternities, sororities or Student Ambassadors.

A-Phiasco also included events such as RT's Chicken and Grille day Monday, where students went to RT's and said Alpha Phi sent them. The restaurant then donated 20 percent of the profits to the foundation. Wednesday night was The Pub's karaoke competition for $3 and a bagel sale in Zane Showker Hall.

The sorority also held a Jail and Bail event on the commons. For the Jail and Bail event, volunteers would be held in the cell until their friends raised $20 to get them out.

Mike Citro, the coordinator of fraternity and sorority life, and Kristen Muncy, associate director of Student Organization Services, were among the participants.

"I think it [went] really well," said sophomore Leanne Desmond, a member of Alpha Phi. "People came out to donate money. There's just been a lot of support."

The members of the sorority signed up for shifts of at least three hours, but Lucas noted that many of the members spent well over 20 hours on the event.

"There's definitely more participation this year than last year," said senior Rachel Dubin, a member of Alpha Phi.

For more information about the A-Phiasco event, visit the Alpha Phi Web site, www.alphaphi1.org/cardiac_care.htm.