Alpha Phi raises $20,000

By Jessica Alway

The 15th annual Star Search fundraiser, sponsored by the Santa Clara chapter of the Alpha Phi sorority, raised over $20,000 for the American Heart Association last Thursday night.

The event, which showcased eight talent acts performed by Santa Clara students, was put on for a crowd of approximately 400 audience members at Buchser Middle School.

The theme of the night was "Women Helping Women." Heart disease is the number one killer of women. As part of their philanthropic endeavors, Alpha Phi contributed the proceeds to the American Heart Association.

Every year the sorority, one of the two at Santa Clara, puts on Star Search as their major philanthropic event, in keeping with the commitment to the Alpha Phi foundation each chapter promises.

The event has raised over $40,000 in the past two years, placing the Zeta Gamma Santa Clara chapter among the top two nationwide contributors. Two years ago Santa Clara was the number one fundraiser, and last year they placed second to Loyola Marymount University of Los Angeles.

"It was our goal to raise the most money nationwide this year," said Kelly Spencer, the director of philanthropy for Alpha Phi and coordinator of the event. "I am so proud of all the girls in my sorority and what we accomplished together for the American Heart Association."

The chapter raised about $3,000 more than the net figure of $17,000 last year.

All ticket sales went directly to the charity fund as well as money raised by sorority members many months prior to the actual event. Each member was challenged to raise $150 or more individually.

Many members spent the summer as well as September and October asking local businesses and others for donations in exchange for recognition in the program on the shirts made for the event, which were worn by participants and sorority members.

"We are so pleased with the success of Star Search," said Alpha Phi president Kat Acker. "It would not have been possible without the support of the Santa Clara community as well as the student body."

Five members of the Santa Clara community, all representing different interests, judged Star Search. Senior John Nagel hosted the event. He entertained the crowd between acts with various entertainer impersonations including Michael Jackson, James Brown and Cyndi Lauper.

The eight acts consisted of dancing, lip-syncing and a lot of hip shaking. The sophomores and seniors of Delta Gamma, represented the sorority with Madonna and Michael Jackson medleys, respectively.

The senior Alpha Phis reenacted a scene from the movie "Bring It On." The group from the Sigma Pi fraternity danced to various popular tunes, highlighting certain member's of the group or each song.

The Cal Phi fraternity wowed the captivated audience, as all 38 members danced together at the end of their Michael Jackson medley. The three teams from Pi Kappa Alpha rounded out the show. Each group chose different groupings of songs for their performances.

Members of Alpha Phi helped to coach each team, but the performances rested solely on the shoulders of the participants.

"They wanted to win so badly," said Colleen Coghlan, co-coach of the first place Pi Kappa Alpha seniors.

"From the first day of practice they gave it everything they had. Even when the coaches were ready to leave they wanted to go through it again."