By Abby Rathburn | Staff Writer, Tierra Varela | LTVN Broadcast Reporter
Puppies, a bungee trampoline and pop-up shops drew students into Fountain Mall tonight, but at the heart of the festivities was Alpha Phi’s commitment to highlighting a cause that continues to affect women across the country. Woofstock, Alpha Phi’s philanthropy event, brought dogs to campus to raise money for women’s heart health Friday night.
DeRidder, Louisiana, senior and vice president of philanthropy, Jillian Morris, said part of her role is to inform others that “the number one killer of women” is heart disease.
LTVN’s Tierra Varela has more from the event.
Last spring, members had the opportunity to hear from guest speakers on the importance and severity of the issue at their annual Red Dress Gala. Through this, many members gained a deeper understanding of women’s heart disease and how its symptoms can often go unnoticed.
“For us women, it sneaks up on us to where we don’t understand what’s going wrong, and then it’s almost too late or just not caught early enough to where it ends up causing us to have a lot of issues,” Morris said.
Just as Morris had a passion to raise awareness, other members in Alpha Phi felt a similar calling to this particular chapter based on the philanthropy it represents.
“I want to be a PA in cardiology because I interned with a cardiologist my junior year of high school, and I just absolutely love helping people with their hearts,” Dallas sophomore Anasofia Alba said.
Alongside women’s heart health, Alpha Phi also partnered with Pet Circle in support of pet adoption.
This annual fall event “highlights the important work of the local dog shelters by connecting guests with adoptable pets and opportunities to give back to animal welfare organizations.”
As a fun way to engage with the event, attendees and members are all welcome to vote in the cutest dog contest. For every $1 donation given, one is cast. The dog that raises the most money earns their owner a Sephora gift card and a PetSmart gift card for their pup.
In order to reach more demographics of students, the event featured a bungee trampoline and axe throwing. Morris said she hoped this would draw more students, as there were more activities to participate in.
“We are hoping to get a good amount of freshmen to come too, just because it is the beginning of recruitment season and all that, so this will hopefully just be a good way for them to get to know us better,” Morris said.
Looking around at her new sisters, Ventura, California, sophomore Kaelyn Trinh said her favorite thing about being in her sorority is the sisters she gained from it.
“Everyone is so genuine, and I just love being able to do events with them and support our philanthropy together,” Trinh said.
