Red Dress Gala
The dress is to die for, the cause is to live for...
It’s simple. Go Red. Go red for courage, go red for hope, go red to help find a cure for the #1 killer of women in America. Go red for cardiac care.
Eta Kappa always likes to get dolled-up, but once a year we put our best red frocks on in support of the Alpha Phi Foundation (which provides funding and educational programming for women’s cardiac care organizations, as well as leadership initiatives for Alpha Phi chapters), and the American Heart Association. In March of 2007, Eta Kappa joined the efforts other Alpha Phi chapters around the world in their quest to combat women’s heart disease by hosting Alpha Phi International’s traditional Red Dress Gala. In what has become a successful trend for all of our sister chapters, the Red Dress Gala epitomizes all that Alpha Phi’s stand for: poise, compassion, character, and sophistication. While Eta Kappa values the established aspects of the Red Dress Gala, we also had to add our own element of finesse and spice to our first annual version of the Gala.
Between the lavish three-course meal catered by Patina Catering, over 150 donated gift baskets – ranging from spa packages to in-demand sports tickets – and a live auction hosted by Drake Hogysten of “Days of Our Lives,” the Gala couldn’t get much more spectacular. As designer jewelry and exclusive VIP tours of Hollywood sound stages were announced, the auction paddles were flying – and the final result was $20,000 raised for cardiac care. However, the evening didn’t stop there – as UCI Alpha Phi’s very own members strutted down the runway in the designs of LF Stores for an in-house fashion show, walking in time to the live beats of KUCI’s sponsoring DJ. As the night drew to a close, gift baskets were whisked away into the cars of parents and alumnae, hugs were shared, and a chapter stood unified by hard work and passion for a cause. The inspiration has yet to leave our own hearts, and as our second annual Red Dress Gala approaches, Eta Kappa can only strive for bigger and better contributions to our chapter’s philanthropic cause.
Since last year, Eta Kappa has taken advanced strides to solidify the Red Dress Gala as our chapter’s annual philanthropy event. By working closely with the local American Heart Association offices on the UCI campus, Eta Kappa is able to invite members of the Association to our Gala (as well as members of the Alpha Phi Foundation), and feel a genuine sense of charity as we see our money being put to immediate use. This working relationship has proven to be invaluable, as we are able to donate half of our total money raised to our specific chapter of the AHA. In return, the AHA recently granted Eta Kappa an award for “Outstanding Community Contribution” in recognition of our Gala efforts, and Alpha Phi International recognized Eta Kappa at the Southwestern Regional Conference as the “Most Improved Chapter.” As the Red Dress Gala gains momentum within our chapter, campus, and community, our sisters pride themselves on the authentic effort and heightened philanthropic awareness we share as members of Alpha Phi – a distinction that transpires between us, hand to hand and heart to heart.
It’s simple. Go Red. Go red for courage, go red for hope, go red to help find a cure for the #1 killer of women in America. Go red for cardiac care.
Eta Kappa always likes to get dolled-up, but once a year we put our best red frocks on in support of the Alpha Phi Foundation (which provides funding and educational programming for women’s cardiac care organizations, as well as leadership initiatives for Alpha Phi chapters), and the American Heart Association. In March of 2007, Eta Kappa joined the efforts other Alpha Phi chapters around the world in their quest to combat women’s heart disease by hosting Alpha Phi International’s traditional Red Dress Gala. In what has become a successful trend for all of our sister chapters, the Red Dress Gala epitomizes all that Alpha Phi’s stand for: poise, compassion, character, and sophistication. While Eta Kappa values the established aspects of the Red Dress Gala, we also had to add our own element of finesse and spice to our first annual version of the Gala.
Between the lavish three-course meal catered by Patina Catering, over 150 donated gift baskets – ranging from spa packages to in-demand sports tickets – and a live auction hosted by Drake Hogysten of “Days of Our Lives,” the Gala couldn’t get much more spectacular. As designer jewelry and exclusive VIP tours of Hollywood sound stages were announced, the auction paddles were flying – and the final result was $20,000 raised for cardiac care. However, the evening didn’t stop there – as UCI Alpha Phi’s very own members strutted down the runway in the designs of LF Stores for an in-house fashion show, walking in time to the live beats of KUCI’s sponsoring DJ. As the night drew to a close, gift baskets were whisked away into the cars of parents and alumnae, hugs were shared, and a chapter stood unified by hard work and passion for a cause. The inspiration has yet to leave our own hearts, and as our second annual Red Dress Gala approaches, Eta Kappa can only strive for bigger and better contributions to our chapter’s philanthropic cause.
Since last year, Eta Kappa has taken advanced strides to solidify the Red Dress Gala as our chapter’s annual philanthropy event. By working closely with the local American Heart Association offices on the UCI campus, Eta Kappa is able to invite members of the Association to our Gala (as well as members of the Alpha Phi Foundation), and feel a genuine sense of charity as we see our money being put to immediate use. This working relationship has proven to be invaluable, as we are able to donate half of our total money raised to our specific chapter of the AHA. In return, the AHA recently granted Eta Kappa an award for “Outstanding Community Contribution” in recognition of our Gala efforts, and Alpha Phi International recognized Eta Kappa at the Southwestern Regional Conference as the “Most Improved Chapter.” As the Red Dress Gala gains momentum within our chapter, campus, and community, our sisters pride themselves on the authentic effort and heightened philanthropic awareness we share as members of Alpha Phi – a distinction that transpires between us, hand to hand and heart to heart.
