By: Jake Malone
Delta Chi recently hosted their first ever gala to raise money for their philanthropy, The V Foundation for Cancer Research. Since 2006, undergraduate and alumni members of Delta Chi have partnered with The V Foundation to find a cure for cancer. The Adelphi Chapter of Delta Chi has been raising money for the foundation since they were founded on campus in 2013. To date, the $2,600 raised at the December 2019 gala was the highest the chapter has raised at one event.
The V Foundation was founded in 1993 and has awarded more than $250 million in cancer research grants. The nonprofit organization donates 100 percent of the money they raise to research and is committed to raising $200 million dollars from their campaign launch in 2013 until the year 2020.
The Foundation is named after the late James Valvano, who was most notable for his run as head coach of North Carolina State's basketball program. Along with being a coach, Valvano was also a player at the University of Rutgers, as well as a broadcaster for ESPN and ABC. He was diagnosed with metastatic adenocarcinoma, a type of glandular cancer that can spread to the bones. Jimmy Valvano died on April 28, 1993 at the age of 47. Although his life was cut short, his legacy will live on through the foundation as well as clips of his famous ESPYS speech during V week on ESPN channels.
Valvano was a true New Yorker who had a passion for basketball and enjoyed his life to the fullest. During his now famous ESPYS speech, he said, “To me there are three things everyone should do every day. Number one is laugh. Number two is think; spend some time in thought. Number three, you should have your emotions move you to tears. If you laugh, think and cry, that's a heck of a day.”
Valvano was known for his motivational speeches and can-do attitude that propelled his underdog N.C. State team to the Championship in 1983 against all odds.
The most recent Delta Chi event was held at the Irish American Society of Nassau, Suffolk & Queens, Inc. in Mineola. The Adelphi Chapter also collaborated with Hofstra University’s Chapter of Delta Chi to make the formal event possible. It was a night full of food, raffles and live singing and dance performances. Mark Edelstein, brother of the Adelphi Delta Chi, sang two songs for the audience and shared a speech on how cancer had affected his own personal life.
Daniella Pacifico, a student at Adelphi and sister of Alpha Epsilon Phi, performed a dance routine for the people in attendance. When asked about the experience Pacifico said: “It is always exciting when you get to perform in front of a large crowd, especially when most of them are your good friends. My favorite part of the night was listening to Mark speak about his grandmother. It was sad to hear someone talk about someone they love die of cancer. Mark did a great job of ending his speech on a joyous and high note that left everyone feeling uplifted.”
Many of the alumni of Delta Chi Adelphi were in attendance, which contributed to a very successful night for the chapter. Delta Chi is looking forward to hosting their second gala sometime this year and will continue to raise money for The V Foundation for Cancer Research.