The Chocolate Festival, hosted by NC State’s Women’s Center, enjoyed its 13th year on Friday amid an abundance of pink streamers, balloons and tasty treats. The annual fundraising event for breast cancer research saw plenty of attendees, as attendance has risen to over 1000 people since the event’s debut in 2004.
Tables lined the walls of Talley Student Union’s State Ballroom, occupied by vendors from local businesses offering anything from cake to cookies to chocolate-coated candies. The tickets cost between $10 and $20 and allowed attendees to collect up to six samples of any of the treats.
“I think it’s just a really positive atmosphere,” said Sara Forcella, the Women’s Center’s rape prevention education coordinator and one of the event’s chief organizers alongside Kimberly Zugay, the University Programs Associate. “We have a bunch of vendors from RAVE to Howling Cow to local businesses.”
She said that the goal of the evening was to raise money for and bring awareness to the issue of breast cancer, which affects about one in eight women in the United States over the course of her lifetime.
“We’re just trying to raise awareness about breast cancer and breast cancer research,” Forcella said. “Half the proceeds go to the Kay Yow Foundation and half go to the Women’s Center for programming.”
Those helping out with the event shared a similar passion for the subject, and returning volunteers cited the pre-Festival excitement and overall fun atmosphere being their main incentive for helping out each year. Talley Student Union was humming with activity before the festival had even started, and the positivity was palpable throughout the event.
Olivia Sandin, a junior studying social work, has been involved with the Women’s Center since her freshman year. This was her second time helping out at the Chocolate Festival.
“I volunteer because I spend all this time at the Women’s Center, and everyone’s so excited about it and puts so much into it,” Sandin said. “There’s music playing, and chocolate and music are a recipe for happiness.”
Maggie Schroder, a junior studying social work and Spanish, adds that the Chocolate Festival coinciding with Parents’ Weekend helps a lot with attendance.
“We sold 900 tickets [beforehand],” Schroder said. “People can order their tickets online, and a lot of parents get their tickets and bring their kids. More get their tickets at the door. We usually have about 1000 people come.”
In addition to the vendors and their treats, there were also breast cancer survivors that spoke and a silent auction that raised even more money. Because it is estimated that 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 61,000 cases of non-invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2016 alone, this is a widespread issue.
But the event’s organizers remain positive, saying the event is helping to push research efforts in the direction of progress.
“And there’s chocolate,” Forcella said. “And what’s better than chocolate?”
“I volunteer because I spend all this time at the Women’s Center, and everyone’s so excited about it and puts so much into it.”
Ms. Wuf dips a Rice Krispies Treat into the white chocolate fountain during the 13 annual Chocolate Festival in the State Ballroom in Talley Student Union on Sept. 30.
