Proceeds from Charity Ball benefit school
Shannon Odell
Issue date: 10/1/09 Section: News
Sigma Alpha Iota women's music honorary raised approximately $2,500 for the Hillsdale Academy last Friday with their biggest fundraiser of the year, the eighth annual Charity Ball. The honorary will continue to process donations through October.
SAI created the event, a night of dancing and live music, to raise money to support a music program at a local school.
Every spring, SAI sends applications to about 30 local schools, giving them the opportunity to be beneficiaries of the funds raised, senior Gretchen Spencer said.
Junior Sarah Wright said SAI looks for the applicant with the greatest need. This year, the committee chose to support the Academy.
Gail Mowry, the director of the music program at the Academy, a Hillsdale alumna and former SAI member, described the school as a unique recipient. In years past, the money was given to help a high school's music program, while this year it will be used to help an entire K-12 program.
About 175 students of 184 total Academy students are in the music program in some capacity, Mowry said. The school requires all students in grades K-10 to be involved in choir or some other vocal pursuit, and offer chamber choir, band, orchestra and drama as electives.
The growth has taken a toll on the school's budget, however, and the program was in danger of not being able to buy any new music or instruments this year. With the anticipated funds from the ball coming into the school this year, Mowry hopes to buy new classroom instruments and music literature.
Mowry said she feels very privileged and blessed to be receiving the proceeds this year. She was involved in planning the first ball eight years ago, and never thought that she would be in the position of applying for and then receiving the proceeds from the event.
"I am incredibly thankful that the Hillsdale Academy music program has been chosen to receive the money, and I hope to see the Charity Ball continue to benefit other schools in the future," she said.
"This is a wonderful thing that SAI does for the community," said Eden Casteel, a patron and also financial adviser for the honorary. "This represents the best of SAI. It's beautiful women doing a beautiful thing."
Proceeds from ticket sales are not the only form of income for the charity fund. SAI sends letters asking for donations to SAI alumni, patronesses, former donors, and each member of the honorary must send at least two letters to possible donors, junior Katie Walker said.
SAI created the event, a night of dancing and live music, to raise money to support a music program at a local school.
Every spring, SAI sends applications to about 30 local schools, giving them the opportunity to be beneficiaries of the funds raised, senior Gretchen Spencer said.
Junior Sarah Wright said SAI looks for the applicant with the greatest need. This year, the committee chose to support the Academy.
Gail Mowry, the director of the music program at the Academy, a Hillsdale alumna and former SAI member, described the school as a unique recipient. In years past, the money was given to help a high school's music program, while this year it will be used to help an entire K-12 program.
About 175 students of 184 total Academy students are in the music program in some capacity, Mowry said. The school requires all students in grades K-10 to be involved in choir or some other vocal pursuit, and offer chamber choir, band, orchestra and drama as electives.
The growth has taken a toll on the school's budget, however, and the program was in danger of not being able to buy any new music or instruments this year. With the anticipated funds from the ball coming into the school this year, Mowry hopes to buy new classroom instruments and music literature.
Mowry said she feels very privileged and blessed to be receiving the proceeds this year. She was involved in planning the first ball eight years ago, and never thought that she would be in the position of applying for and then receiving the proceeds from the event.
"I am incredibly thankful that the Hillsdale Academy music program has been chosen to receive the money, and I hope to see the Charity Ball continue to benefit other schools in the future," she said.
"This is a wonderful thing that SAI does for the community," said Eden Casteel, a patron and also financial adviser for the honorary. "This represents the best of SAI. It's beautiful women doing a beautiful thing."
Proceeds from ticket sales are not the only form of income for the charity fund. SAI sends letters asking for donations to SAI alumni, patronesses, former donors, and each member of the honorary must send at least two letters to possible donors, junior Katie Walker said.
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