Chapter Philanthropy
From ERAU FSL Website:
Every Halloween, the FSL community gathers for a beloved tradition hosted by one of our sororities, Tri Sigma. The etymology of the Tri Sigma Halloween Fashion Show (HFS) was created by Tri Sigma Alumna Corrinne McKenna, with the first show in 2008. Tri Sigma members struggled to pay chapter fees and philanthropic dues, so they decided to hold a fundraiser like the Xi Competition (formerly known as Xi Man) hosted by Alpha Xi Delta. They creatively played to the “Riddle Ratio” of men to women to maximize their philanthropic impact.
The show began as strictly a fashion show in which Tri Sigma chapter members dressed in costumes and walked as individuals or smaller groups. Performed every HFS, “The Sigma Dance” has been a tradition since 2012. It is unique because they are the only chapter with its own performance section during a chapter competition. In the show's early stages, awards were given out solely for costumes; there was no Mr./Mrs. Halloween. In 2015, Tri Sigma Alumna, Kalina Gonzalez decided the idea of having a fraternity and sorority winner. The chapter made this decision to avoid the image of their winner being a “sweetheart"; instead, this decision encouraged more organizational participation to bring the FSL community closer. The chapter prides itself on its relationships with the winners of HFS to further build connections with other chapters.
All funds raised by the chapter are sent directly to Tri Sigma’s “Sigma Serves Children Initiative” via the “Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation.” It is then split between The Robbie Page Memorial Fund and The March of Dimes. The chapter has the choice of which organization its money goes to. In the future, the chapter plans to give funds to local Daytona Beach initiatives close to the chapter.
HFS is also profoundly linked to a late Embry-Riddle Sigma Chi Fraternity brother. In 2012, Tri Sigma put on its Game of Chance fundraiser to continue to raise money to support the March of Dimes and Robbie Page Memorial Fund. The winner was announced as Tim Englehardt, a brother of Sigma Chi and a beloved member of the FSL community. As Tim was coming to the stage to collect his winnings, an audience member challenged him to donate the prize back to the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation and promised to match whatever Tim donated. Tim graciously accepted the challenge, and the audience member wrote a check on the spot to match that donation. Sadly, about two years later, the Embry-Riddle FSL community lost a fellow eagle, brother, mentor, and special friend. After that day in September 2014, the Eta Tau Chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma decided to honor Tim Englehardt at every annual Halloween Fashion Show by matching his previous donation to the Embry-Riddle scholarship foundation that has been set up in his name, the Timothy M. Englehardt Memorial Scholarship for Meteorology. To donate to the scholarship fund, please visit this link.
Tri Sigma Alumna Mary is quoted about Tim and his impact, “Tim’s death was a tragic accident on Sept 13, 2014. His death was during Recruitment Week, so it deeply impacted the entire FSL community. He was a proud brother of Sigma Chi. Tim was a close friend of mine and many of the sisters in the sorority. He always supported us and our philanthropy before we ever did a “Mr. Halloween.” Since the show was so close to his funeral, we decided to make a collection for the foundation in his name, which became a tradition.” The FSL community is honored to continue the legacy that Tim left behind.
Fraternity & Sorority Life reached out to the current HFS Chair, Christina Kruse, to ask about what HFS means to her:
What are you looking forward to now overseeing HFS?: “In 2023, I am looking forward to partnering with a local hospital in Daytona Beach to support their NICU or therapeutic play program directly. I am excited to share a philanthropic experience with our FSL community and let them see first-hand the impact our philanthropies, March of Dimes and the Robbie Page Memorial Fund, have on children.”
How do you plan on taking HFS to the next step? The competition is now over 10 years old: “I am looking to expand Tri Sigma Eta Tau’s local outreach. I have already begun to reach out to hospitals with pediatric care, asking what supplies they need and how we can get involved and help them. My goal for the Halloween Fashion Show in 2023 is to share WHY we do what we do. Our event has been well executed and successful for 15 consecutive years, and the next step is to include the local Daytona Beach community with Embry-Riddle's FSL community.”
What is the most inspirational thing about being a Tri Sigma and having HFS?: “I came from a family that has always supported neonatal care. Our local hockey team, the Huntsville Havoc, supports the Melissa George Foundation, which has provided nearly $5 million to purchase equipment for the Huntsville Hospital NICU since 2005, with $1 million raised just from an annual “Melissa George Night” the Havoc puts on. Leaving home and coming to Embry-Riddle, it was comforting to walk into Tri Sigma during formal recruitment, hear about the “Sigma Serves Children” initiative, and have the opportunity to represent an organization that supports philanthropy that is already close to my heart. I have seen firsthand the impact the highs and lows of dealing with neonatal care have on people, and I am excited to organize an event that directly supports those programs. I think it's important to recognize the Halloween Fashion Show not just as an event to dance on stage and bond with members of all organizations, but as an event that changes people’s lives and that the money we raise saves lives.”