Originally Published
Binghamton University’s alpha Kappa Delta Phi chapter is hosting its fifth annual Breast Cancer Awareness Charity Ball on Oct. 17.
Alpha Kappa Delta Phi is an Asian-awareness sorority that has been fundraising for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization since 1990.
“Our national philanthropy is about cancer awareness and every year we donate money to that organization,” said Abigail Fabro, a senior nursing major and the vice president of service for alpha Kappa Delta Phi. “Over 100,000 women are affected every year and we just want to promote early detection and education to hopefully find a cure.”
The event will take place at 7 p.m. in the Old University Union and general admission tickets will be $20. The sorority donates approximately $50,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure every year.
According to Fabro, the members of the sorority are individually providing the funding for the event, though Sodexo gave them a grant of $500.
“It will be a night of dinner and performances from student groups on campus, mostly dance groups like Quasi MODA, MASTI, Binghamton Bhangra, Black Dance Repertoire and the a capella group Rhythm Method,” Fabro said.
The event will feature guest speaker Megan Horton, a representative from the Twin Tiers affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure in Elmira. As a breast cancer survivor, she will speak about her personal experiences and the foundation, accompanied by a visual presentation.
Horton has been speaking at the event every year, though one year a male affiliate was sent to promote awareness of breast cancer in men.
According to Fabro, a BU alum started the Breast Cancer Awareness Charity Ball to raise money for the American Cancer Society, but now the sorority gives all of its proceeds to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
The sorority is promoting the event through fliers, tabling in the New University Union and announcements on B-Line.
“Turnout has been high in prior years — around 100 — but it’s been consistent with people that go,” she said. “Usually members of greek life that we interact with attend and other sororities are able to come; it’s open to everyone.”
Though the sorority’s main cause is breast cancer awareness, the BU chapter has also participated in the Hunger Walk for C.H.O.W., volunteered at soup kitchens and collaborated with other alpha Kappa Delta Phi chapters in the Northeast to raise $10,000 for an earthquake in China.
Shu Zhu, a senior nursing major on the Greek Relations sub-committee, said the sorority has effectively increased awareness about breast cancer through its events.
“Working with Susan G. Komen for the Cure has been a positive experience because it has made me, my sisters and other women on campus more aware of cancer,” she said. “I’ve told all the women in my family about it and now my mom gets a regular mammogram.”
According to Zhu, the BU chapter sends all of its proceeds from the charity ball to the alpha Kappa Delta Phi National Board, who then mails the money to Komen.
The national board is a council comprised of alums that oversee the philanthropic events of each chapter.
“Every chapter of our sorority nationwide has some kind of event to generate proceeds for the [Komen] foundation to support research and awareness,” she said.