thought some of you might be interested...:
KAPPA DELTA SORORITY
KiDs Need to be KiDs Fund
Kappa Delta Sorority Launches National Toy Drive
for Young Victims of Hurricane Katrina
MEMPHIS, TN, September 2, 2005_
Kappa Delta SororityŽ is leading the nation in gathering toys,
games, books and clothing for children who have been affected by
hurricane Katrina. "We cannot forget these youngest victims of
Katrina," says Bonnie Purvis Warren, Kappa Delta's National
President and Hattiesburg, Mississippi resident. "Their lives have
been turned upside down. Many are displaced and have no homes or
possessions left. Some schools are closed for weeks or months. We
are doing what we can to make their lives as normal as possible."
The campaign _Kids Need to Be Kids_ addresses the emotional needs of
young victims. While many other organizations like the Red Cross are
working to meet the basic needs of hurricane victims, such as
drinking water, food and temporary housing, Kappa Delta is providing
comfort and support to those children whose lives are in chaos.
Kappa Delta is encouraging individuals, businesses and organizations
to send new and gently used toys, games, books and clothing to its
national headquarters at 3205 Players Lane, Memphis, TN 38125.
Monetary donations are also being accepted at the address above or
by visiting
www.kidsneedtobekids.org anytime after September 5,
2005. Items will be sent to churches and organizations such as the
Boys and Girls Clubs, Girl Scouts and evacuee centers in the areas
most affected by Katrina by mobilizing a broad-based network of
Kappa Deltas in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
"This is a natural progression of the sorority's strong commitment
to children in need," says Melanie Schild, Kappa Delta's executive
director. "A toy for a young child or a pair of jeans for a teenager
can help to boost the spirits of those who have lost everything. We
are hoping to make the lives of children a little brighter while
their parents decide what to do next." Kappa Delta, a long-time
supporter of Prevent Child Abuse America, sees this campaign as a
way to combat stress and strengthen families. Sarah McElwee, a Kappa
Delta in Natchitoches, Louisiana and a social worker in Sabine
parish, says, "There are so many refugees and school children that
we are doing crisis debriefing with. They are traumatized as are
their families." Kappa Delta encourages you to join in helping make
a difference in the life of a child.
Kappa Delta will continue its efforts on behalf of children for the
holidays and beyond by collecting Halloween costumes for displaced
children and toys and games for Christmas. With the slogan, "Every
girl deserves to be a princess. Every boy should feel like a hero,"
the sorority will encourage members and other individuals to send
princess, Superman and other costumes to make Halloween special for
kids in need.
With 15 collegiate chapters, 37 alumnae associations, and over
14,500 members (including Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux
Blanco, Tricia Lott, the wife of Senator Trent Lott, and Marsha
Barbour, the wife of Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour) in the
states of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, Kappa Delta has strong
connections in the areas affected by Katrina. For more information
on the Kids Need to Be Kids campaign, contact Kappa Delta at (800)
536-1897.
Kappa Delta Sorority was founded in 1897 in Farmville, Virginia. It
has over 188,000 members, 206 chartered collegiate chapters and 489
chartered alumnae associations nationwide. Kappa Delta is active in
a number of philanthropic causes. It has given over $8 million to
the prevention of child abuse. In 1998 Kappa Delta Sorority entered
into a partnership with the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. to provide
mentoring and funding to young girls across the country. Kappa Delta
has created Stand Up! Stand Out!, a program that helps college women
stand up against peer pressure. It also created "Setting the PACE,"
which encourages members to become their best selves, and the KD
Edge, a personal and career development program. Its national
headquarters is in Memphis, Tennessee.
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