Auction to benefit cancer foundation

Tonight, the Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority will be holding an auction to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Fifty percent of proceeds will go to the foundation.

"We wanted a fun way to raise money for something that effects many of us [HTML_REMOVED] breast cancer," said Nida Nawaz, president of Sigma Lambda Gamma. "It is a topic that is very close to our hearts because of the fact that it is nationally Sigma Lambda Gamma's philanthropy."

The auction is "Bachelorette/Bachelor" style, where men and women from various organizations will be auctioned off to the highest bidders. The winners will win a date for a group date taking place Friday.

The first part of the date is "Get Pampered by a Panther," a dinner provided by Sigma Lambda Gamma with dishes from all over the world. The next part is "Get a Date to Skate," in which participants will go skating.

"There are no sexual implications," said Nawaz. "It is just a whole bunch of people getting together in order to raise money for a good cause, and have some fun doing it."

The focus of the auction is all about this form of cancer.

"We're going to be giving information about breast cancer during the auction, like what the ribbons stand for," said Angelica Sauceda, the community service chair for the sorority. "We really want to raise awareness."

The Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority began only last year, but is the "largest Latina based sorority with multi-cultured membership in the nation," said Sauceda.

This event will be the first major event the sorority has thrown, but they plan on doing much more for awareness in the future, such as Relay for Life.

"Our efforts have proven to be successful and this event will hopefully help spread information about our organization and what it stands for," Nawaz said.

Reach reporter Shannon O'Hara at news@thedaily.washington.edu.