The women’s music fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota will serenade loved ones and friends of students and staff for their annual Valentine Grams fundraiser.

Students and faculty can order over-the-phone singing telegrams from SAI for family, friends, professors, or that special someone for $3 in cash or Venmo, either at the SAI table in the Union or on  Instagram @sai.hillsdale Feb. 12-14, according to SAI president junior Emily Griffith.

“It’s super fun for us to deliver,” Griffith said. “We meet in the music building and go through the list of recipients, and it’s exciting to see who’s going to pick up and whether we get to sing live or leave a message for them to find later.” 

The SAI members will call the submitted phone numbers on Thursday, Feb.15 and serenade recipients. Patrons can choose to have SAI reveal their names to the recipient or remain anonymous. 

“It’s not just for those on campus. Because it’s over the phone, it can go anywhere,” said junior Fiona Mulley, SAI program director and head of music. “As long as you give us the number, we’ll call.” 

Griffith and Mulley said patrons can choose from “My Heart Will Go On,” “You Are My Sunshine,” “Thank You for Being a Friend,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “Kiss Me,” “Lean on Me,” and “Never Gonna Give You Up.” 

“It’s a great way for people to show their appreciation or to even just be goofy,” Griffith said. 

Junior Colin Joyce said he both sent and received singing telegrams from SAI last year. According to Joyce, his friends sent him five telegrams of the same song last year. 

“I remember last Valentine’s Day, I saw a call coming from an unknown caller, so I picked it up and was greeted by the lovely voice of Emily Griffith saying, ‘Hey this is SAI, this is your Singing Valentine.’ And then they sing to you and it’s great,” Joyce said. “I would highly recommend people putting around a hat and then bombing your friends’ phones with lots and lots of valentines because it’ll brighten their day and it’ll raise money.”

Junior Jacob Schulz said his friends pranked him last year with multiple singing telegrams of the song “Never Gonna Give You Up.”

“My friends just got together and bought seven or eight calls so that I would get Rick-rolled throughout the day,” he said. “They just wanted to torture me.”

According to Griffith, “Never Gonna Give You Up” is a popular song choice for students sending Valentine grams to professors who make up a large number of telegram recipients.

Valentine Grams is one of SAI’s oldest fundraisers, and all proceeds will support on-campus SAI events, Griffith said. 

“It’s such an easy way to show appreciation and also to support music on campus,” Griffith said. “We are now up to 15 members and counting, so it’s a great way to support this growing group.”