South Atlantic Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Raises $20,000 for scholarships at annual conference
Four Thousand Sorority Sisters Converge on Downtown Atlanta
ATLANTA (March 1, 2007) - Members from more than 100 chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated raised $20,000 for Educational Advancement during a conference to kick off a countdown to the organization's centennial anniversary in 2008.
Led by Regional Director Ella Springs Jones of Augusta, Georgia, more than 4,000 sorority members and guests came to the Marriott Marquis February 22-25 for a weekend of leadership, service and sisterhood at the 54th annual South Atlantic Regional conference. Themed "The Bridge of Ella-vation: Sisterhood, Service, Promise, the conference empowered sorority members of the South Atlantic Region (Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina), as well as members from other states and countries.
Welcoming a capacity crowd at the Marriott Marquis Ballroom, an exuberant Jones spoke of the significance of the occasion. "I feel especially good for you to be here as we celebrate service and sisterhood."
At the conference, Alpha Kappa Alpha's international president challenged sorority members and guests to build up wealth in black communities while upholding the vision set when the sorority founded in 1908.
Barbara A. McKinzie's comments came during a public meeting at the conference, the second of 10 planned throughout the nation in a buildup to a Centennial celebration next summer in Washington, D.C.
The South Atlantic Region is the sorority's largest. As such, McKinzie said, it is the torchbearer and keeper of the light.
Participants attended a series of information sessions and workshops centered on the national administrative focus of Economics, Sisterhood and Partnerships. The workshops develop technical and leadership skills, a hallmark of Alpha Kappa Alpha.
During the conference, Jones ushered in the opening of a new Region Hall of Fame, which honors the 15 women who led the South Atlantic Region, and lay members who often toil sometimes are unsung heroes.
In recognition of Jones' leadership and long record of service, members and chapters capitalized a $20,000 endowed scholarship in her name. The scholarship will be administered by the Educational Advancement Foundation, the sorority's non-profit funding arm.
Founded in 1908 on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., Alpha Kappa Alpha is the oldest and largest sorority of its kind with more than 200,000 members. Because of its stature and nearly 100-year-record of service, AKA is hailed as "America's premiere Greek-lettered organization for Black women."
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