A group of sisters from Epsilon Sigma Alpha heads to Memphis, Tennessee, this weekend to volunteer with the patients and staff at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
ESA is a service sorority on campus whose main philanthropy is St. Jude hospital. Because of St. Jude's long bond with ESA, the hospital has a hall dedicated to the sorority.
Later this week, the ESA sisters will finally get a firsthand look at what their year-round fundraising for St. Jude does. The sisters will leave for Memphis on Thursday to serve on the hospital’s campus, talk to the doctors and explore the city.
Lauren Strzyzewski, third-year biology and psychology student and St. Jude co-chair for ESA, said it is important for her sorority sisters to experience this trip.
“I think it’s important and good for our girls to go and see what our work goes into,” Strzyzewski said. “I feel like any time you experience that tangible moment that you’re really doing something for them, I feel like that will motivate sisters more to have a better year next year.”
Strzyzewski said the sisters spend all year fundraising for St. Jude. This year, ESA put on a bingo tournament, numerous percent nights and a “Rock-athon” to raise money for the hospital.
Chelsie Caizzi, fourth-year public health student and marketing chair, said she is looking forward to seeing the direct impact the sorority’s fundraising has made on St. Jude. Having her sisters with her will be a great bonus.
“I'm looking most forward to meeting some of the patients that we help and seeing the hospital!” Caizzi said. “ESA owns a wing of the hospital so I'm especially excited to see that and spend some bonding time with the other sisters going on the trip, especially since it is my last semester.”
Caizzi said she hopes seeing the benefits that her and her sisters' efforts go toward will motivate them to raise even more money in the future.
Katherine Heyward, fourth-year public relations student and vice president of ESA, said that during her past trips she enjoyed seeing how their fundraising efforts helped the patients and their families. Although she is unable to go to St. Jude this year, Heyward said she hopes her sorority sisters have an inspiring experience.
“I hope that the sisters going on this year’s trip will gain a better understanding of what these children and their families go through,” Heyward said. “I hope that they have the opportunity to see how much this hospital does and gives to them.”