Alpha Phi Fraternity’s annual philanthropy event returned to in-person after a year off due to COVID-19.  

On March 19, the Delta Upsilon chapter of Alpha Phi hosted their Red Dress Gala benefiting the Alpha Phi Foundation and raised money and awareness for women’s heart health and education. 

Saturday evening, Columbia Ballroom was dressed in red and filled up with nearly 200 attendees. Sisters of the fraternity, family, and friends participated in a raffle, silent auction, and other games after a dinner and guest speaker. 

Alexis Watkins, vice president of health, wellness, and accountability for the chapter, headed the event. 

“We raised somewhere over $6,000, which is pretty good,” Watkins said. “And that is so exciting considering we came back from doing a completely online version of the event last year.” 

In 2021, the event was hosted online over Zoom, which meant cheaper tickets, fewer fundraising opportunities, and less money to give to the Foundation. 

“Last year, we had a lot more of a show type thing,” Watkins said. “We had someone virtually teach a class, we showed a lot of videos. This year was so much more interpersonal. More chances to speak with people, more chances to fundraise. Most of the games we host at the event wouldn’t have been possible virtually, so it just opened up more chances to raise money for the cause.” 

The Alpha Phi Foundation uses the money raised from Red Dress Galas hosted by chapters all over the country to benefit their 5 vital programs: Leadership, which includes hosting conferences for members to attend, Scholarship, Women’s Heart Health, including the funding of research for treatment and prevention, Forget-Me-Not Grants, and Heritage, the preservation of Alpha Phi History. 

Watkins said the event was a team effort that could not have been done without the work of the chapter’s members and team of advisors. 

“It was so cool to see everyone come together to enjoy it, especially after so much work was put in by all of our members,” Watkins said.