Santa’s elves work hard this month, but the women of the University of Maine’s Alpha Phi chapter worked even harder last March organizing a mouth-watering event at Orono Brewing Company. Mac ‘n Phi is an annual fundraiser where a donation toward women’s heart health earns you a bowl of delicious mac and cheese. On March 1, the line was out the door, raising $1,600 for the cause.
In preparation for the event, the Alpha Phi sisters reached out to local eateries willing to donate their mac and cheese. Mac ‘n Phi has been held for more than 10 years, but most recently gained the support of Orono Brewing Company, which provided space for the event at their Orono location and additional help with the fundraiser.
In addition to OBC, restaurants such as Pepper’s Landing, Woodman’s Bar & Grill, Governor’s Restaurant & Bakery in Old Town, and fast-food chain Chick-fil-A were among the many contributing cheesy dishes.
“It was really cool that people were able to have gluten-free and vegan options this year,” said UMaine senior and former vice president of Health, Wellness, and Accountability for Alpha Phi.
Being one of the 173 active chapters, money raised by the UMaine sisters continues to support the Alpha Phi Foundation’s Health Research Wing located at Tampa General Hospital in Florida.
“I know a lot of sisters in our own chapter have personal connections,” Barry said. “Heart health is among the top leading killers of women and it can go undetected for a really long time.”
To get upcoming event details and learn how you can support the sorority, follow UMaine Alpha Phi on Facebook and Instagram.
