Philanthropy Changed

[Jen]

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[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Ours has always been, in general, camping for girls.

We used to have a number of camps around the country that we ran ourselves but for the last few years we have been affiliated with Camp Fire.

[TrueBlueKappa]

Kappa changed from the chapter's indivudal choice (though the philanhropy was suggested to help women and children) to officially partnering with Reading is Fundamental.If I remember correctly, this change was rolled out in 2005.

However, most chapters that I am familiar with (including my chapter of initiation) equally work with RIF and their former philanthropic focus.

[KSUViolet06]

Our philanthropy has always been the same, but its focus has changed before.

The Robbie Page Memorial became our philanthropy after our past president's 10 year old son Robbie Page passed away from polio.

RPM supported polio research for a long time until the vaccine came about and polio was basically wiped out in the US.

After that, HQ started to rethink our philanthropy. They still wanted to honor Robbie and support children, but polio was no longer an issue.

In the mid 60's-70's, a new field related to children was developing. Many children (like Robbie was) were stuck in hospitals and were unable to go out and play with their friends. Therapists were starting recognize the value of play in these kid's lives. They were starting to advocate the study of play and how it benefits kids, as well as the building of "play therapy' wings in children's hospitals. Thus the field of play therapy was born.

Sigma saw how this related to Robbie (who was hospitalized repeatedly until he died) and how this new type of therapy was being recognized. So we kept the name Robbie Page Memorial, but switched the focus to support play therapy. RPM contributions now fund the construction of play therapy wings in childrens hospitals as well as supports the study of play therapy at UNC Chapel Hill Medical Center.

[NutBrnHair]

Chi Omega's policy on philanthropy for many years was for the collegiate & alumnae chapters to select local causes in their community to support.

In 2001, an alliance was formed with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Since designating this organization as our National Philanthropy, Chi Omegas have raised almost $2.5 million and donated over 100,000 volunteer hours for Make-A-Wish.

(FYI: the CEO of Make-A-Wish is a Chi Omega.)

[kathykd2005]

I think most NPC groups' philanthropies have "evolved" over the years, and thankfully, this has been a move toward helping more people in more ways. I know that Kappa Delta has four national philanthropies--Girl Scouts of the USA, The Orthopoedic Research Awards, Children's Hospital in Richmond, and Prevent Child Abuse America (founded by Kappa Delta Donna Stone), along with the fact that each chapter selects a local charity to work with for 80% of the profits of the annual Shamrock event. It's really something special to see the Children's Hospital in Richmond, and to know that your sisters have helped to fund this hospital for decades. I am proud to say that KD has more national charities than any other NPC group. Actually, I just found out yesterday that Sigma Delta Tau shares Prevent Child Abuse America with KD as their sole national philanthropy, which I never knew!