Alpha Phi Alpha is sponsoring the 5th annual Black & Gold Ball that is held each fall semester.

Proceeds from the ball will go toward gifts for Toys for Tots, a Christmas charity.

The ball is tonight from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. in the Silver Eagle Suite, third floor of the University Union. 

"Last year, we received a phone call from a boy's family who didn't have the money to purchase toys for their son for Christmas, so we bought him a PlayStation, a bike, games, clothes and other toys," said Dallas senior Cedric Brown, president for the Alpha Pi Alpha fraternity.

Stories like this "make everything worthwhile," Tony Lett, Dallas senior, said.

"All the planning and hard work is rewarding when we see that we can make a change in someone's life," Lett said.

"Our motto is, 'First of all, service to all, we shall transcend all,' and so we want to give back to the community as much as we can," Lett said.

Each year, the fraternity advertises that tickets are reduced if contributors bring a toy. Those without a toy pay a higher rate, and that money is used to purchase more toys.

"I think that being able to bring a toy was a great motivator to go because people can have a blast and help out a good cause at the same time," said LaTonya Wilmer, Thomasville, Ala., senior, who attended last year.

She said that even though she is a poor college student, she wanted to help the kids and found joy in buying her favorite toy -- a Winnie the Pooh Bear.

Wilmer said that she had a lovely and wonderful time last year and enjoyed the eloquent decorations, especially the ice sculpture.

"I am so disappointed because unfortunately I can't go this year due to the overwhelming amount of schoolwork I have," she added.

There will be finger foods, a live DJ, a professional photographer, "but most of all the ball will be fun," Brown said.

"Last year we had 400 people attend, so this year we are expecting to get somewhere between 500 and 600 people."

Brown said that the ball is a formal dance and everyone is invited. Lett said that the opportunity for people to dress up in their formal attire and have fun is an excellent venue to solicit a service activity to better the community through giving.

"The whole purpose of the ball is to attract people to it and serve our community and have fun while doing it," he said.

Other proceeds of the evening go to scholarships for the fraternity and other community service events that they do throughout the year.

Tickets are available for $7 if you bring a toy and $10 if not. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

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