Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority held their Fall Festival this past Saturday, Oct. 19.
This event was supposed to be held at the Longwood Landings, but the weather became a challenge. However, that didn't stop them, as the sorority simply moved the festival to the Lankford Student Union.
There were greeters outside and signs posted on the doors for those who did not know about the location change.
The Fall Festival is an event that takes place annually. It is a fun experience for both Longwood Student and the community of Farmville.
It is another way for us, as students, to bond with the community and to show them what Longwood is allowing us to do with our minds and our hearts.
For those that have never heard of the Fall Festival, or never attended it before, it is like Rock the Block. It's the same type of family orientated atmosphere that Rock the Block is Hayley Engels, the chapter president said, “We as Tri-Sigmas believe that those who receive much, must give much. To me the
Fall Festival is our time to give back. We put on this fun, family event for the community to enjoy themselves as well as raise money to build play atriums for our philanthropy The Robbie Page Memorial. It's something we look forward to every fall.”
Admission into the festival was a wristband. THese wristbands include unlimited playtime for games and activities. These wristbands also include once free snack.
THe wristbands were pre-sold in the Dorrill Dinning Hall for three dollars, and five dollars at the door, the day of the event. There was also pizza for sale at the event that cost extra.
All of the proceeds from the admission wristbands went to help Sigma Sigma Sigma’s philanthropy, The Robbie Page Memorial Fund.
"The Robbie Page Memorial Fund is an organization named after one of our founders' sons. It aims to build play therapy atriums in hispitals for children hispitilized there so they can play in an indoor, clean, safe and wheelchair accessible enviornment.
We have two locations of these playgrounds – one in North Carolina, which our chapter visits frequently, and one in Texas. The various rooms are designed to entertain children who age from infancy through their teens,” said Emma Thoden, a co-coordinator of the Festival.
The Robbie Page Memorial Fund does not only help children, but can also offer scholarships for those studying in the field of Therapeutic Recreation.
“The Fund was named after Robbie Page, a five year old whom had been suffering from Polio. The doctors were unable to find a cure before Robbie's passing, but this fund is used to help those whom still have chances to get better. If they can't get better, then they will use the Play Therapy to help the child be able to cope with their illness,” said Engels.
“We support Play Therapy which provides terminally ill children who are confined to the hospital with a recreational play room. A person who specializes in Therapeutic Recreation has time with the children in these rooms. I've seen where this person just works with a baby to make her smile to improve her condition,” continued Engels.
“I feel like it is a hidden cause that should be supported more publicly. You often find that people try to raise money to help kids get their treatments or surgery, but we forget what it's like for these children that are going through treatments and surgeries while their peers are playing at recess and going to school. We get to help with that and it makes their day a little better,” added Engels.
The Fall Festival was successful in helping the sisters achieve their goal. They had rides, games and activities for everyone to try.
It was creative and it showed what the sisters were able to come up with as a means to draw in students and community members to have a good time.
Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority has shown how they can adapt when their plans needed to be changed because of the bad weather.
