Hannah Peters | Staff Writer
Oct. 6, 2022
Breakfast lovers were in luck Thursday. Not only would they find waffles being sold on campus, but buying those waffles would help children in Pittsburgh’s hospitals, too.
The event, called “Waffles for Wishes,” was held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on A-Walk, and was sponsored by Duquesne’s Alpha Sigma Tau (AST) chapter, with a goal of raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Decked out in baby blue, members of AST loaded sprinkles, Nutella and syrup on top of waffles, all to raise money to help grant wishes to kids throughout the Pittsburgh area. Duquesne students and staff wanting to donate, or simply enjoy a waffle, huddled around the matching baby-blue table decorated with posters, pictures and confetti.
Loud music played, creating a fun and cheerful environment.
Selling their t-shirts and pins alongside the waffles, AST said all the proceeds from the event went directly to the foundation. The event was sponsored by the Duquesne Program Council.
Over four hours, AST raised over $900 for their cause. Past efforts have allowed them to grant wishes like trips to Disneyland, a trip to Rome to meet the Pope, a jungle gym and a shopping spree.
For those who missed the “Waffles for Wishes” event, AST will be setting up a crowdfunding page in the coming weeks where people can donate to their cause. Look out for more information on their Instagram page, @duqast.
AST’s care and support for the children in Pittsburgh’s hospitals goes even further than their efforts for Make-A-Wish. Recently, they made tie-blankets for Project Linus to donate to the kids in local hospitals.
Members, like Peri Dimitriou, say they joined the sorority because of its philanthropic mission. She said she wanted to be more involved within her community.
“The Make-A-Wish Foundation was a big reason for why I joined AST,” Dimitriou said. “I knew they were so involved in the Pittsburgh community, and I knew they really cared about their philanthropy and making sure these children had something to look forward to.”
Dimitrou also said that “Waffles for Wishes” is part of their big-picture goal, as it helps them gear up for the Miss Duquesne Pageant — their main event.
“We’re just so excited to prepare for our main event in the fall and grant some of the amazing children their wishes, which is ultimately why we are here today and is our big motive,” Dimitriou said.
The Miss Duquesne Pageant will be held on Saturday, Nov. 12. The pageant includes evening wear, talent and question rounds.
Through this event, they hope to raise awareness for children diagnosed with critical illnesses, as well as raising money for Make-A-Wish.
The sorority said they are also passionate about the Women’s Wellness Initiative, for which they help to provide resources and support to women at the women’s shelter.
In addition to collecting money to donate and buy gift cards for the women, they have also recently made hygiene kits and gift packages.
The sorority’s efforts to help others is what drew many of their members, and Juliana Tangretti is one of them. She said that she enjoys supporting meaningful causes.
“I really love how much time we put into things like this to make really good events to support good causes and make differences within people’s lives,” Tangretti said. “A big part of why I love this sorority so much is because I get to be a part of that.”
With their many efforts to help and care for those who are less fortunate, AST has created an environment in which students are drawn to engage and contribute.
“There was an amazing sisterhood that I felt,” Dimitriou said. “I just felt so loved and wanted to be a part of an organization that had so much love to share.”