Aaron Johnson – General Assignment Reporter
NEW HAVEN – Southern Connecticut State University student Amy Farkas smiled as she was enjoying her 20th birthday with her family and sorority sisters at the Delta Phi Epsilon Benefit Concert for Cystic Fibrosis. Farkas said that it felt great to be with her sisters and family during her birthday.
“I get to be with all my sisters and family so I like that part about it,” said Farkas.
Delta Phi Epsilon holds a concert each year to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis – one of the sorority’s philanthropies. Melissa Russo said that she hoped the turn out was as good or better as it was the previous year.
“We had a good turnout last year,” said Russo. “It is the fifth year and the goal is for us to try to make more than the previous year. We asked around for possible acts and asked sisters for ideas when it comes to bands. Then we just advertised the event.”
Russo said that last year the sorority made about three thousand dollars. The event was held in the ballroom at the Michael J. Adanti Student Center and had several different acts playing including Farkas’ brother’s band Chronic Rhythm and Southern’s own Sammy Maximin.
“My brother’s been playing together with his band for about three years,” said Farkas, junior from Barkhamsted, Conn. “He’s been playing for about five years.”
Chronic Rhythm played a medley of their own songs with a mixed of songs from artist like Green Day. The event attracted family and friends of the sorority, but also other students from around campus. Junior Nataly Lake-Ginouves was in attendance and she said she heard about the benefit and wanted to check it out because of the good cause.
“I saw a flyer on Instagram and Facebook and I thought it was a good cause. I wish they had more stuff like this on campus too.”
Along with the music, the women of Delta Phi Epsilon sold baked goods at the entrance while taking donations. Southern student Nikia Halim said that she came with Lake-Ginouves after seeing the same flyer around campus.
“I think it’s really good that they events like this on campus because it is for a good cause and that’s what will draw more people out,” said Halim.
According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.
Cystic Fibrosis is one of the many causes that Delta Phi Epsilon makes donations to throughout the year. Farkas said that last year’s turn out was good, but hopes that this year’s will be even better and raise even more money.
“Last year we raised a good amount of money,” said Farkas. “It was pretty good for us. We really want a lot of the same from this year but with a little bit more.”
