The Epsilon Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi at Ashland University held their annual Red Dress Gala on Nov. 16 in the John C. Myers Convocation Center.

Alpha Phi is a nationally recognized sorority that can be found on 173 collegiate campuses and has more than 200,000 members across the country.

The Red Dress Gala is an annual dinner, silent auction and raises money for the Alpha Phi Foundation, which splits the money into different areas, with various games.

Brianna Jurosic, director of philanthropy, describes just how significant the Red Dress Gala is for the Epsilon Alpha Chapter and the Alpha Phi Foundation.

“This event is the biggest event that we host throughout the year,” Jurosic said. “We’ve been working on it since March of last year and we are really proud of what the event means and look forward to it every year.”

According to the Alpha Phi Foundation, the foundation supports programs such as leadership training and programming led by Alpha Phi Fraternity, scholarships to undergraduate and graduate Alpha Phis, investment in the advancement of women’s heart health and helping members in need through the Forget Me Not Grant Fund.

In addition, every year the Alpha Phi Foundation donates $100,000 to a cardiac wing of a hospital somewhere in the United States.

Angie Moodespaugh, president, believes that the Red Dress Gala is something that the chapter, sisters, and Ashland University can be proud of.

“We usually raise anywhere between $10,000 to $12,000 and that is really big for a small school like Ashland. Our chapter is pretty small, so we are really proud of what we raise,” Moodespaugh said.

Julia Hutson, sophomore member, believes that the event becomes much more than just a philanthropy event by having the Red Dress Gala open to family members.

“I feel like having my family support the Alpha Phi foundation by attending the Red Dress Gala is important because, like many, we’ve lost a lot of people due to cardiac disease,” Hutson said. “Then to be in a room full of people who are also supporting the foundation, and have gone through similar experiences is comforting.”