Phi Sigma Sigma hosts annual philanthropy event

Hannah Geller April 30, 2017

COLLEGE PARK, Md. Ten years ago Phi Sigma Sigma at the University of Maryland
suffered a great loss. Nicole Schiffman, a sister of the Beta Alpha chapter, flew across the
country to see her friend in Arizona. While Schiffman was visiting, her friend got into a fight
with her boyfriend, who shot both girls and himself.

Schiffmans friends and family started a foundation in her honor to raise money and awareness
for gun violence, The Nicole Schiffman Foundation. The Beta Alpha chapter continues to pay
tribute to her memory by hosting an event for her foundation each year.

On April 15, 2017, Phi Sigma Sigma hosted their annual

philanthropy event, Nic@Nite. The event took place from
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the sororitys chapter house, located at
4531 College Ave. Around 150 people attended the event.

The event had seven vendors and a portion of their proceeds

were donated to the Nicole Schiffman Foundation. The
vendors included different jewelry brands, makeup
companies and clothing lines.

The vendors were set up in the houses chapter room. Event

attendees bought many items, some retailers were even sold
out.

Candles were lit in Schiffmans memory

outside of the Phi Sigma Sigma house after
the event. Photo courtesy of Julie Clark.

The event had a raffle, snacks, music and a therapy dog. Raffle items included various clothing
items, such as graphic T-shirts from Luxe&Hazel and tailgate apparel from Just Campus, as well
as jewelry from LeStyle.

Two people that contributed to this event were Julie Clark, philanthropy chair and Samantha
Shiller, president. Weeks of planning went into creating this years

Nic@Nite because the members of Beta Alpha care so deeply for Schiffman and want to inform
the community about gun violence.

-more-
As a chapter, we look forward to hosting Nic@Nite every year. Its a great way to get our
chapter together to remember our sister and inform others about the danger of gun violence,
said Shiller. This year was especially important to us because Nicoles death was ten years
ago.

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