Main RMI Number
408-554-4960
SCU - St. Joseph's Hall
Room # 108
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Retail Management Institute Newsletter -Winter '04
"Christmas of the Heart" at Santa Clara University
By Debra Black
Erica Paul '05 and Vanessa
Difuntorum '05 organized
the Christmas of the
Heart event.
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Delta Sigma Pi is Santa Clara University's professional business fraternity. A national organization open to both men and women, it was founded in 1907 and is centered on fostering the study of business, networking of its members, and contributing to the local community. Santa Clara’s Gamma Xi chapter was founded in 1950 and recently reactivated in 2001 by several business school students. I pledged in the fall of 2002, and since then have been heavily involved in the fraternity’s activities.
In May of 2003, I was one of the numerous nationwide recipients of a leadership workshop scholarship. The workshop, held at the fraternity’s headquarters in Oxford, Ohio, focused on how to become leaders on campus and in our communities. When I returned to Santa Clara, I presented an idea I had formulated in the workshop to the newly-elected Chapter President Vanessa Difuntorum: A community craft fair that could raise money for local Santa Clara families during the Christmas season. My vision for a “Christmas of the Heart” quickly excited the other brothers, and when fall quarter started, so did the work.
Michael Mason, Vanessa Difuntorum, and I stepped forward as event co-chairs. Our first order of business was to secure the Benson Memorial Center for the event dates: Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15 and 16. We worked closely with Benson staff to make sure the event logistics went off without a hitch. As a team we were able to recruit over 35 vendors by canvassing local farmers’ markets, art and wine festivals, and too many Oktoberfests to list. In addition, we sent out over 200 letters to local businesses outlining our charity event. We received an amazing outpouring of support from the local business community, with over a thousand dollars’ worth of donations and gift certificates that were used to give event goers a chance to win in several raffles and silent auctions. Fraternity members went before the student senate with a proposal for funding, a portion of which was granted, helping to cover event costs.
Promoting the event turned out to be the most work: Gamma Xi brothers mobilized and posted thousands of flyers around campus, local shopping malls, and area businesses. Press releases sent out to dozens of local radio stations and newspapers helped ensure our event information got out to the public at large. E-mails were sent out to the student body, as well as University faculty and staff. Several business professors not only provided us with valuable advice, but also helped us secure a sponsorship from the business school.
With over $5,000 in funds raised from the event, Gamma Xi chapter held numerous community outreach programs. In a visit to the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, members made Christmas ornaments with the young patients, and handed out over 200 Christmas teddy bears. At the local Next Door Solutions Women’s and Children’s Crisis Center’s Christmas Boutique program, a variety of toys, clothing, and other items were donated. Through a joint effort with the business school’s Retail Management Institute, a local family from Catholic Charities was adopted and provided with numerous Christmas presents and dinner on Christmas Eve.
All of this was made possible by the countless hours contributed by the fraternity members and pledges, volunteers, professors, and community members and businesses. The Second Annual Christmas of the Heart Craft Fair will be held next year, Nov. 7, 8, and 9 in the Benson Center. Our chapter is committed to working on this event year-round, to ensure it’s an even bigger success next year. We thank all the people who were able to enjoy and attend this event and look forward to seeing you next year.
For more information, e-mail Erica Paul or visit www.ChristmasoftheHeart.org
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RMI Newsletter
