The Rocket

Issue date: 12/2/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Nathan Collins Rachael Phillipi, psychology major (left), Michelle Froede, science major, and Jennifer Henley, elementary/special education major dancing at the benefit dance Thursday night. About 25 Slippery Rock University students were in attendance.

Media Credit: Nathan Collins Brandi Borris (left), Lauren D'Angelo, Megan Ambrose, and Krystal Nuhfer dance to the song "Girlfriend" by N'Sync featuring Nelly at the Make-A-Wish benefit dance Thursday night. The dance was sponsored by Gamma Sigma Sigma and raised a total of $145 for the non-profit organization.

The Gamma Sigma Sigma sorority raised $145.41 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation to sponsor a child's wish. The sorority held a benefit dance Thursday night and collected donations.

All proceeds from the dance are going to the Pittsburgh branch of the Make-A-Wish Foundation for an event later this month.

Tickets were $3 a person and open to the entire Slippery Rock campus and community.

"We're a national service sorority," said Jill Fersch, service vice president of Gamma Sigma Sigma. "If we can't physically be there for something, we try to raise money for them."

The sorority donates annually to the American Cancer Society and Make-A-Wish.

"We have been trying to raise money for them for a long time," Alyshia Inks, president of the sorority, said. "We knew (a dance) would raise a lot more money."

The girls were hoping to raise $150 to about $200 for the Foundation. They collected $60 in donations Wednesday.

The sorority historian/public relations chair was sick and not in Slippery Rock to advertise, Fersch said. Others volunteered to get the word out about the dance.

Flyers promoting the dance were in dining halls, the Union and campus organization mailboxes. The dance was also advertised on the Master Calendar and in the Mass Mailer.

Including the girls in the sorority, about 25 people attended the dance.

Michelle George, Gamma Sigma Sigma treasurer, said people don't pay attention to flyers and are probably more interested in drinking and partying.

Sophomore Lauren D'Angelo, an elementary and special education major, said the dance was "for a good cause. All of my friends are in (the sorority)."

D'Angelo said she tried to get other people to attend the dance.

Another set-back in planning the dance was finding a DJ. Gamma Sigma Sigma was willing to pay $200 for a community DJ.

There were problems finding someone from the WRSK radio station to commit to the event, Fersch said. Wednesday night, Lori Patterson, Rick DiBello and Dave Stewart committed to working as the DJs.

Fersch said it was better because they were able to save $100 with the radio station instead of the community DJ.

The few people not in the sorority that attended the dance were given one ticket to put toward raffle items.

"A lot of local companies donated items to be raffled off," Fersch said.

Gift cards were donated by Ginger Hill Tavern, YaYa Nails and Bob's Subs. The SGA Bookstore donated a sweatshirt, hat and t-shirts, Fersch said.

An autographed football by Steelers quarterback Jerome Bettis was another raffled item.

Fersch said her father does security work with the Steelers and personally got the autograph.

Additional raffle tickets were on sale for 50 cents and $1 for the football.

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