DVA Gala & Family Weekend!

       Hello and welcome back!! We hope everyone is having a great week so far, and are so excited to share some of our experiences over the past one with you all. Just last weekend, Florida State celebrated its annual Family Weekend. Here at the 518 we joined in on the events of the weekend, along with throwing some of our own for our sisters and their families!
     
To kick off Family Weekend, we held our annual Domestic Violence Awareness Gala, benefiting Beta Eta's philanthropy, with funds going to the Tallahassee Refuge House and the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation. Alpha Chi Omega's and their families look forward to this event every year, taking part in fundraising leading up to the gala, sisters making themed gift baskets to have bids placed on them at the event, a cocktail hour with live music, a three course dinner, and speakers from the Refuge House. Beta Eta's Refuge House Liaison, Sara Dramis, spoke at the event, getting to personally meet speakers and hand deliver them the donation raised by our sisters. Being devoted to philanthropy throughout her whole life, Sara was honored to have such a big part in this event, stating "Stories like those we hear at the DVA Gala are what make being apart of Alpha Chi so special. It touches my heart to be involved in our philanthropy and have this position."
     
Following the Gala on Friday, a barbecue was held at the 518 for Alpha Chi's and their families. After enjoying lunch at the house, sisters took their families to tailgate, watch the football game, and adventure around Tallahassee. Game days are always a great time here at Florida State, but are even more special when spent with our loved ones! To conclude the weekend, a brunch was held at Alpha Chi before our families headed out of Tallahassee. Us Alpha Chi's were so grateful to not only engage in service during this weekend, but to have a great time with our families!

DVA Week!

Domestic Violence Awareness week is here! 

Starting today, the Beta Eta Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega will be holding events throughout campus to spread awareness for the DVA cause and domestic violence prevention.

Today FSUPD will be stoping by the AXO house for a self defense class. This lesson in how to effectively fight off an attacker will be free for sisters. 

The chapter will be holding an event at the house tomorrow, October 27, called "Donuts for DVA." There will be donuts, cupcakes, cookies and other yummy treats for sisters and guests. The event starts at 7 p.m and tickets are $5. 

On Wednesday sisters will be setting up a table at FSU's Market Wednesday in Oglesby Union. Similar to last year's DVA week, there will be a photo booth open to FSU students along with DVA stickers. 

The week will end with our much-anticipated DVA Gala! The gala coincides with parents weekend, so many of our sisters will be bringing mom and dad along for the event. The gala consists of dinner and a silent auction with all proceeds going toward DVA.


Written by Megan Mollan, Publications Chair 2015

Unmasking Domestic Violence Gala

Did you know that 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime? October is domestic violence awareness month, and the ladies of Alpha Chi Omega are doing everything they can to share this with the world. As a way to shed light upon their philanthropy, Alpha Chi Omega held their first Unmasking Domestic Violence Gala, in which the turnout was nothing short of a success!

Taking place this past Friday night, friends, family, faculty and alumnae all gathered together in the University Club for the big event. The night kicked off with a piano performance by a fellow sister, followed by a Jazz band that got people on their feet. Dinner and dessert were provided, and the drinks were continuously flowing. Meanwhile, the bidding was never ending in our silent auction, making for a remarkable turnout. By the end of the night, Alpha Chi Omega had the honor of presenting a grand total of $11,887.73 to the local woman’s refuge house! This increases the total donations of Alpha Chi Omega at Florida State University to a new cumulative total of $87,019.24! With the help of Darley Aquino, VP Philanthropy, and Ashley Strawser, VP Membership Programming, Alpha Chi Omega put on just the kind of night they had been hoping for.