California State University, East Bay’s Alpha Phi sorority hosted their 5th annual Red Dress Gala last Thursday, raising over $6,200 for women’s heart disease prevention programs around the country, said chapter President Sarah Raven.

The event marks the most successful Red Dress Gala the sisters have held since they first began hosting it in 2009, said Raven. Over 200 people, including Alpha Phi members, their friends and families, as well as students gathered in the New University Union on campus to show their support.

Upon arrival, the sorority members mingled with and welcomed guests and presented their introductory speeches. Members then gathered to participate in a silent auction.

Alpha Phi sisters filled baskets with prizes such as Warriors tickets, dinner certificates, bottles of wine, golf equipment, movie tickets, and other items to be auctioned off to family and friends, according to Brianna Sainez, Alpha Phi Vice President. About 26 of these mystery baskets were auctioned off during the event, bringing in $2,800, said Raven. After the silent auction there was a talent show, and a dinner event to close out the evening.

Ticket sales generated $2,500, which amounted to over a third of the total raised at the Red Dress Gala, according to Alpha Phi Treasurer Michelle Rumpel. “We made a lot more money this year since we didn’t have to rent a venue off campus,” she said. “The off-campus venues we used in the past 3 years charged us what added up to be 100 percent of our ticket revenue for each year.”

Raven, who is in her first year as Alpha Phi’s president, also explained the importance of family participation at the Red Dress Gala. “We get many parents and outside family come out to support us each year. They all have a great time and we love to show them who we are and we we’re all about,” Raven said. Families of the Alpha Phi members are given the chance to take pictures together during the fundraiser’s photo-shoot event.

Out of the $6,200 Alpha Phi made during the event $3,688 went to women’s heart disease research and prevention programs, according to Rumpel. Programs include Women’s Cardiac Care, and the Alpha Phi Forget Me Not Fund and Heart to Heart grant. The money that did not go to these programs was used to cover the expenses to host the event.

The Red Dress Gala is one of many philanthropy events held to raise money for women’s heart prevention and research. Others include Teeter Totter-a-Thon, Hoops for Hearts, and Mr. Heartthrob. Mr. Heartthrob, a male beauty pageant, is the next philanthropy event to be hosted by Alpha Phi. It is their second largest philanthropy event and will be held May 1 in the New University Union.