Delta Gamma

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Delta Gamma
(ΔΓ)
Image:DeltaGammaCrest.gif
Founded December 25, 1873 (1873-12-25) (age 134)
Lewis School for Girls, (Oxford, Mississippi)
Type Social
Motto Do Good
Colors Bronze, Pink, and Blue
Symbol Anchor
Flower The Delta Gamma Cream Colored Rose
Publication Anchora
Philanthropy Service for Sight
Members 141,000 currently
lifetime
Free label Hannah Doll
Headquarters 3250 Riverside Drive
Columbus, Ohio, USA
Homepage http://www.deltagamma.org

Delta Gamma (ΔΓ) is one of the oldest and largest women's fraternities[1] in the United States and Canada, with its Executive Offices based in Columbus, Ohio.

Contents

[edit] History

Delta Gamma was founded on December 25, 1873, in Oxford, Mississippi, at the Lewis School for Girls near the University of Mississippi. The group was founded by Mary Comfort Leonard, Eva Webb Dodd, and Anna Boyd Ellington.

The badge of Delta Gamma is a golden anchor and may only be worn by initiated members. Before the adoption of the golden anchor, the symbol of Delta Gamma was simply an "H" for the word "hope." Upon learning the traditional symbol of hope is an anchor, the badge was changed. Today's badge has a small rope wrapping around the top of the anchor with the Greek letters Tau Delta Eta (ΤΔΗ).

The early growth for Delta Gamma was confined to women’s colleges in the southern United States. Within a few years, Delta Gamma had established itself in the northern United States and later to the East with the help of George Banta, a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and Delta Gamma's only male initiate. Because of the assistance provided by Banta, Delta Gamma retains close historical ties with Phi Delta Theta.

Delta Gamma was one of seven charter members of the National Panhellenic Conference when the first inter-sorority meeting was held in Boston, Massachusetts in 1891. Today, the National Panhellenic Conference is the governing body of sororities in America with 26 members.

As America's population moved west, Delta Gamma followed. What began as a social and philanthropic organization in the South soon became an international fraternity in both scope and thinking as Delta Gamma established itself not only in the United States, but also in Canada.

[edit] Philanthropy

New Member pin

Through the years, goals and achievements have grown as Delta Gammas continue to live by the motto set forth by the founders, “Do Good.” During World War I, Delta Gamma established and funded an orphanage in Belgium and opened the Delta Gamma House for Children in Holland.

Member badge

Anchor Splash when fraternities, sororities and non-Greek organizations compete in swimming events — is a major fundraiser of Delta Gamma collegians! It is one of the most well recognized philanthropic fundraisers in the Greek world today. Funds from these events support Delta Gamma's philanthropy and programming.

Begun in 1966 at Beta Tau chapter, the University of Miami (FL), as a way to celebrate their 25th anniversary, Anchor Splash spread to chapters across North America. Competition often includes tube races, synchronized swimming and competitive relay events. On many campuses, it is the most popular fund-raising event of the school year!

Many Anchor Splash events also include a Most Beautiful Eyes Contest, a banner contest or skit competition. Some chapters distribute sight saving materials, hold eye screenings as well as collect Campbell's Labels for the "Labels for Education Program." Delta Gamma preschools, which aid those with visual impairments, use these to purchase needed equipment.

There are more than 100 Delta Gamma collegiate chapters that host Anchor Splash to raise awareness and funds for the Service for Sight. This competitive swim meet for sororities, fraternities and campus organizations include events ranging from synchronized swimming, relay races and individual competition. The event benefits Delta Gamma's philanthropy, Service for Sight. Protecting the gift of sight is one of Delta Gamma's highest priorities. Delta Gamma has been supporting the blind since 1936, raising money to help to stop blindness before it starts and help already blind men and women improve their quality of life in a myriad of positive ways. This foundation is close to every Delta Gamma's heart because it was started in honor of one of their own blind members. Through Delta Gamma's philanthropy, schools that began over 55 years ago help children who are blind or visually impaired learn specialized skills and have started three elementary schools of their own. Adults receive personal attention through volunteer hours with 150 organizations, which share the same mission as Delta Gamma. Through money that Delta Gammas have raised, they have helped to fund genetic research, low-vision adaptive devices, tapes, Braille books, and hundreds of life-enhancing programs. Delta Gammas have helped men and women in hundreds of ways to obtain independent living skills, increased communications, and mobility skills. Each year Delta Gammas give more than 96,000 Service for Sight volunteer hours.

[edit] Mission

Delta Gamma Mission Statement

Delta Gamma offers to women of all ages a rich heritage based on principles of personal integrity, personal responsibility and intellectual honesty. Its primary purpose is to foster high ideals of friendship, promote educational and cultural interests, create a true sense of social responsibility, and develop the finest qualities of character.

The objects of this Fraternity shall be to foster high ideals of friendship among college women, to promote their educational and cultural interests, to create in them a true sense of social responsibility and to develop in them the best qualities of character.

Delta Gamma’s primary purpose is to create an environment for its members in which lasting friendships are established and in which members find the processes, the experiences and the disciplines that will stimulate clear thought. Its aim is to foster an atmosphere in which women will develop a deeper love and consideration for mankind, a more profound understanding of the purpose of life and a basic wisdom upon which to build their lives.

Delta Gamma’s purpose is accomplished through planned collegiate and alumnae programs that provide intellectual motivation, the opportunity for graciousness in daily living, and community awareness which will enrich the lives of members and instill in them a respect for the enduring values to be gained from the Fraternity.

[edit] Famous Delta Gamma firsts

  • First fraternity to establish an independent philanthropic foundation in Ohio in 1951 (Service for Sight)
  • The first sorority to have its own in-house printing press.
  • The first and only panhellenic group to have its flower registered with the American Rose Society - "Delta Gamma Cream Colored Rose"
  • One of the seven original groups that began the National Panhellenic Conference
  • First Panhellenic group to build its own facility, the Delta Gamma Executive Offices in Columbus, Ohio.
  • First and only fraternity to sponsor a traveling art exhibit Art of the Eye, which benefits Service for Sight.
  • First recipient of the Helen Keller Philanthropic Service Award, given by the American Foundation for the Blind, for assistance to those who are visually impaired and for sight conservation.
  • First recipient of the Virginia Boyce Award presented by Prevent Blindness America
  • First woman’s fraternity to employ a full-time staff member to address the health and wellness needs of its members
  • First to have an archivist handling historical materials at the international headquarters
  • First to receive recognition from the American Academy of Ophthalmology for Distinguished Public Service
  • First to establish challenge grants in values in ethics, through the Dorothy Garrett Martin Lectureship in Values and Ethics

[edit] Notable Delta Gammas

For a full list of notable Delta Gamma alumnae please visit here.

[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • Initiation fees pay for a member's lifetime subscription to the Delta Gamma publication ANCHORA.
  • Delta Gamma currently has 145 chapters.
  • Delta Gamma has 253 alumnae groups.
  • Delta Gamma has approximately 15,650 collegians.
  • Delta Gamma has approximately 127,000 living Delta Gamma alumnae.
  • Delta Gamma has 39% legacies pledged.
  • The oldest existing chapter is at The University of Akron - Eta
  • As of 2006, Delta Gamma has:
    • 2,037 25-year members
    • 1,097 50-year members
    • 646 60-year members
    • 67 75-year members
  • Delta Gamma women were featured on the show "Happy Days"
  • Delta Gamma is featured in the book "Legally Blonde." In the movie, the name of the sorority is changed to "Delta Nu," but the crest of the chapter remains the same with a chihuahua head substituted for the rose.
  • Northwestern University's Sigma chapter of Delta Gamma appears on the "Evanston: Northwestern University" episode of TLC's show Trading Spaces.
  • Delta Gamma was mentioned in "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip."

[edit] References

  1. ^ Most organizations typically referred to as "sororities" are officially fraternities.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Anchors Online Noteworthy Delta Gammas. Delta Gamma (April 9, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-07-25.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
National Panhellenic Conference