As snowflakes dropped outside my window, my mind wasentirely focused on fall. Rather than a winter coat and snow boots, I closed my eyes and imagined 140 girls clad in different shades of red dresses and heels, prancing around the marble floors of the Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. We started working on the event that took place this past Saturday, October 18th, over winter break. Although it may seem silly that Alpha Phi’s annual Red Dress Gala occupied ten months of preparation, without it, the event would not have been half as successful as it was.
The annual Red Dress Gala is an event hosted by all Alpha Phi chapters in an effort to raise money for the Alpha Phi Foundation. The Alpha Phi Foundation is a non-profit organization raising awareness for women’s cardiac health, as well as supports the sisters of Alpha Phi in their collegiate years and continually throughout their lives. The foundation is internationally recognized to empower women, encourage academic excellence, and educate about the value of philanthropy. This year was GW Alpha Phi’s eighth gala, and quite possibly the best one to date. Although not certain on the exact amount of money raised on Saturday, it is looking like a grand amount.
Such success could not have been plausible without the tireless work that was put into the event. With most things, hard work often pays off. My past ten months was filled with hundreds of random telephone numbers and names, emails back and forth between catering and AV companies, as well as walks through Georgetown begging for local stores to donate. Frankly, I would not wish for that time back. Though I complained and even regretted putting this extra stress on my shoulders in the midst of an already busy schedule, my sisters reminded me not only how great of a job I was doing, but how great of a cause it is for. Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women, and I have truly come to realize that every penny helps.
For a period, I felt guilty that the gala was transpiring during the heart of Parents Weekend, but seeing my four little brothers adorned in suit jackets and red ties supporting their older sister could not have made me more proud. Their excitement towards winning raffle baskets and videotaping my speech reassured me. Even a seven year old knows that my dedication was in an effort to save lives, and although I could not have been with my family for as long as I had hoped, the results provided me with a greater comfort than anything else could.
This past week genuinely echoed the strong bonds of sisterhood and the reasons behind my decision to be a part of Red Dress and Alpha Phi. Getting caught in silicone wrap, pasting bows on my sisters, and jamming the giant letters into an Uber echoed the friendly warmth I feel everyday as a sister of Alpha Phi. The seriousness of our regular meetings and pressure from restricting finances proved entirely worthwhile, providing me with such a valuable, informative, and inspiring experience that I now can treasure for a lifetime.