“We’re living on borrowed time. We’re living on hope and that’s what St. Jude offers.”
Terry Lobato explained the impact of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on his family at a philanthropic event on Wednesday.
Hosted by Delta Delta Delta the annual event Fashion for Life took place at 9 p.m. in the Waves Cafe. Its purpose was to raise funds for the hospital.
Lobato’s 10-year-old daughter Elizabeth suffers from brittle bone disease and St. Jude was the only hospital that would treat her condition.
The main event featured about 20 students from various campus groups including the Student Government Association athletic teams sororities and fraternities modeling designers’ clothing. According to Terry Elizabeth was born with brittle bone disease and doctors said she was would die within a few months. “It’s because of St. Jude that Elizabeth is here today … and it’s also because of people [like the Tri Deltas] at Pepperdine.”
The vendors showcased in the casual fashion show set up a trunk show that displayed items ranging from surfing merchandise to jeans T-shirts and jewelry.
Some of the vendors and brands included Almond Surf Boards &?Designs Stript Natural Mineral Makeup Cookie Lee Jeweler The Monument of Our Hearts Clothing Co. True Religion jeans and more. Many of these companies already donate portions of their profits to fight poverty and use fashion as a positive force in peoples’ lives. All proceeds from the evening went to St. Jude. “I’m here helping with The Monument of Our Hearts Clothing Company which was started to create awareness about the definition of beauty in our society right now and how that needs to change to create a true sense of what beauty looks like said Courtney Schreiber, a Pepperdine alumna and former Tri Delta member. [The company advocates] awareness for those struggling with eating disorders and body issues.”
Both the vendors and Tri Delta used high-end popular fashion to appeal to a young generation and promote social justice.
“We’re encouraging people to do early Christmas shopping because it’s for a really good cause said senior Jazmin Aguila, Pepperdine’s Tri Delta Philanthropy Chair.
It is not just the Pepperdine chapter of Tri Delta that supports St. Jude – Tri Deltas’ across the United States have had St. Jude as their national philanthropy since 1999. As a nation, Tri Delta has raised $7 million for the research hospital and is responsible for the funding of an entire wing.
[Tri Delta funding the hospital wing] is really really awesome Aguila said. All the Tri Deltas across the nation are really proud of [it].”
In 2006 Tri Deltas nationwide pledged to raise $10 million in 10 years for St. Jude. Since then the Pepperdine chapter alone has raised about $270 nearly half of its $65000 target. This happened almost two years ahead of schedule.
Raising several thousand dollars each year for St. Jude makes Tri Delta members “so proud to be a part of a sorority that nationally supports such an incredible organization Aguila said. We do it for the kids.”
New Tri Delta initiates were excited for all aspects of their first Fashion for Life event.
“[Because proceeds go to] St. Jude it’s great for the kids for the vendors and for us?said freshman Candice Lin. And it’s nice to put a face with Elizabeth the St. Jude patient.”
Pepperdine students were amazed by the elaborate charity event.
“I was really shocked at everything – I thought it was just going to be a fashion show said freshman Jack Murphy, who also modeled. It’s like a total shopping fashion experience … and it really is for a great cause.”