The eighth annual Haunted House fundraiser on Wednesday Oct. 28 was a big night for the Alpha Kappa Phi sorority. They raised a record $1,300—more than double the amount raised at their 2014 event. The money was donated to the Bivona Child Advocacy Center.
“This event was a massive success,” AGO junior Molly Caccia said. “I think it was our scariest yet.”
The haunted house took place in AGO’s sorority house at 26 Wadsworth Street. The sisters used the 19th century house’s “character” to add to the many themes of the night. Furthermore, the stormy weather contributed to the spooky aura.
The AGO members made each of the 11 rooms in the house different, each having its own frightening story. “[There were a] variety of creepy scenarios to make sure [that even] the most fearless of people got a good scare—and maybe even a laugh,” Caccia said.
“The decorations were great,” freshman Brandy Root said. “You could tell they put a lot of effort into it and also that they were having fun with it.”
The haunted house demonstrated that through the AGO members’ hard work, they were able to reach out and to help the community. They brought people together, spread awareness and raised money for children in need. The sorority donates the funds raised every year to the Bivona Child Advocacy center, which aids to children who have experienced physical or emotional trauma. Caccia explained that AGO members enjoy working with this charity organization through mentoring and fundraising—small acts of kindness that can really make a difference in a child’s life.
“We got to directly affect the lives of children in need and see the outcome of our donation,” Caccia said. “It's really rewarding to be able to touch people's lives by taking a few hours out of our days.”
The haunted house also served as a festive event to help get students into the Halloween spirit of the colloquially termed “Halloweekend.” Caccia emphasized, however, that the event is much more than just a means to celebrate the holiday.
“It's an opportunity to donate to a great cause and maybe even save a life,” she said.