The Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Drifters Inc. hosted its ninth annual “Hattitude for Education” luncheon program recently. The popular fundraiser was held at the Desmond Hotel and Convention Center in Malvern.

Chapter president Donna Roderick said, “Last year our Hatittude fundraiser raised enough money to give 10 appreciative students financial support to start their college career and they all came back and said thank you SEPA Drifters! This year we have the same excitement from our fundraiser participants, appreciative students and grateful parents because every little bit helps them to become even more successful. What a pleasure to be a part of something as phenomenal as a gift of college success to so many deserving students and have fun at the same time.

Roderick, who has been a member of the Southeastern Pennsylvania for 10 years, is currently national secretary and a candidate for national vice president of the club.

Other current officers of SEPA Drifters Inc. are: Leah Williams, vice president; Sydney Howe-Barksdale, treasurer; Tomika Bryant, financial secretary; and Priscilla Jackson, recording secretary.

The annual chapter scholarship fundraiser’s unique theme, featuring fashionable hats, creates a special ambiance of elegance and competitive fun. “Hattitude for Education” has become the club’s signature event and a much anticipated affair in the area.

The event committee also has a great time shopping in New York for the fabulous hats that are auctioned at the fundraiser.

The wonderful photographs give you a glimpse of the glamour and good spirited competitive nature of the hat auction. Hat bids ranged from a modest, but fabulous $60.00 style to a pricey $400 creation. Proceeds from the sale of the millinery collection are used to assist minority students in their first year of college. Although the major highlight of “Hattitude for Education” was the auction, there was a delicious sit down luncheon and desert, great music provided by “No doubt DJ” and great conversation among friends.

Nearly 250 guests traveled from as far as Washington, D.C., N.Y, N.J., Md. and Conn. to support the event. Many were members of sister chapters around the country.

Among those “Out & About,” enjoying the event were: Leah Williams vice president of SEPA Drifters Inc. and popular QVC host who served as mistress of ceremonies; Stephanie Humphrey, anchor on Tango Traffic, and chapter members Angela Gillespie, Brenda Williams, Debbie Dickinson, Debra Wood, Desiree Smith, Iva Ferrell, Judith Thomas, Leah Williams, Priscilla Jackson, Rosalind Realer, Sheila Mitchell, Sydney Howe-Barksdale and Tomika Bryant.

Driftwoods, as husbands/significant others are known, are Carl Smith, Christopher Rippie, Darrin Ferrell, Greg Barksdale, James Thomas, Johnathan Jackson, Marc Dickinson, Norman Mitchell, Rodney Gillespie, Saeed Bryant, Tim Roderick and Walter Realer.

The Drifters Inc. was conceived in Waco, Texas, in 1954. By December, the first chapter was established in Chicago. During the next two years, chapters were organized in Louisville, Indianapolis, St. Louis, New York and Greater Kansas City. The first and founding convention of The Drifters, Inc. was hosted by the Chicago Chapter at the Sheraton-Chicago Hotel in October 1957.

Congratulations to Drifters Debbie Dickinson, fundraiser chair; Debra Wood, committee member; Tomika Bryant, committee member; and Leah Williams who did a terrific job. It was another successful and enjoyable affair that supports the Drifters’ mission to help our youth achieve their educational goals.

Last week, I had the pleasure of writing about the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omega Omega Chapter’s 17th Annual Day of Sharing. In one of the photographs, the Rev. Lorina Marshall Blake, chapter president; Carol Parkinson-Hall, program chair and chapter vice president, Sherilynn Johnson Kimble, The 1926 Foundation Inc. board president and community partners are shown with a ceremonial check in the amount of $492,500. The caption incorrectly states that this amount represents the chapter’s total fundraising contributions over the past 17 years. As stated in the article, this amount was actually raised over the past 7 years.

Again, congratulations and best wishes are extended to all.