Sigma Kappa Foundation | 2011 Impact Statement - The Sigma ...

Leadership Consultant ProgramLeadership ConsultantsLeadership consultants foster chapter members’ individual and group development in the areasof leadership and educational development, assertiveness training, scholastic achievement, careerdevelopment, citizenship, alcohol and drug abuse prevention and advanced leadership training.In 2011, the Sigma Kappa Foundation provided the Sigma Kappa Sorority with a grantof $50,000 to sponsor the educational expenses of the leadership consultant program.To succeed in the program, the leadership consultants (LCs) participate in a four-weeksummer training course. This comprehensive training allows the consultants to becomeproficient in working with our collegiate chapters in areas such as, but not limited to,leadership, chapter operations, membership, teambuilding, organizational management,communication, philanthropy and foundation, programming and scholarship.During a chapter visit, the consultant will spend approximately four to five days withone chapter. Throughout this visit, the chapter officers and leaders schedule meetingswith the consultant to develop and assist in chapter programming. The consultant alsospends one-on-one time with the fraternity/sorority advisor for the college/university.With the information gathered during this meeting, the consultant can challenge thechapter and its officers to strive for new goals, and will work closely in providing thenecessary steps and tools to achieve such aspirations. There is also the opportunity toimplement and facilitate large group workshops to the entire chapter as well as to thefraternal community, campus leaders, faculty and staff or local alumnae.Left: 2011-12 Leadership Consultants (back: Lauren Kelly,Michelle Garber, Kassy Pierson, Elizabeth Scott; middle:Ashley Huff, Heather Milton, Lindsey Farrow, SuzannahGrubb; front: Tiffany Rozier) Below: Kassy Pierson withmembers of Beta Epsilon, Louisiana Tech University.Leadership Consultant Program continuedTheta Tau Gains Ground through the Focus Chapter ProgramSigma Kappa Sorority’s focused chapter program helps struggling and critical chapters to findtheir footing and achieve success with staff-driven structured group development and frequentdirected visits from leadership consultants and collegiate sevice specialists.When Pam Mosher stepped into her role as collegiate province officer at Theta TauChapter, Kansas State University in 2008, the chapter’s status was considered critical.The chapter was struggling with declining membership numbers and retention rates,a fractured sisterhood, diminished understanding of national policy and procedures,lacked a functioning advisory board, and alumnae relations were fragile to non-existent.Cue the leadership consultant, ready to share her ideas, experience and perspective. Theconsultants provide invaluable face time, and serve as an extension of the volunteers.They give chapters focusedattention in short visits, thekind that can’t always beconveyed through emails andphone calls, reenergizing theofficers and volunteers andkeeping them focused on thechapter’s goals. It was thisspecial attention that helpedTheta Tau Chapter graduallyovercome some of its initialchallenges; given the distancebetween the and chapter and its volunteers, some driving up to six hours to visit thechapter, Pam said it couldn’t be accomplished without the help of the consultants.Though the chapter has worked with four different consultants in the last four years,each has left her mark and helped to usher in a new year of motivation, strength andencouragement, building off of the progress of the previous consultant.As a focus chapter, Theta Tau Chapter has worked to strengthen its alumnae relationsand found passionate women willing to serve as advisors. Leaders within the chapterstrive to hold each other accountable, refusing to make exceptions where policies andprocedures are concerned. To improve recruitment and retention numbers, they’velooked closely at academics to help them choose quality new members who will be morelikely to balance commitments and social time well. Although the work is never over, thechapter has gained confidence and found solid ground thanks to leadership consultants.4 Sigma Kappa foundation | 2011 IMpact StatementSigma Kappa foundation | 2011 IMpact Statement 5

Maine Sea Coast Mission100 Years of Partnership and ServiceThe Maine Sea Coast Mission provides spiritual, health, and youth development programs incoastal and island communities from mid-coast to Downeast Maine. Rooted in a history ofnon-denominational service, the Mission offers hope, encouragement and help to strengthenindividuals, families and communities.The Sigma Kappa Foundation wanted to do something special to celebrate 100 years ofpartnership with the Maine Sea Coast Mission, and on November 5, 2011, twenty-oneSigma Kappas embarked on what has been deemed the journey of a lifetime that allsisters should make. This group of women, including our National President, staff,Foundation trustees and representatives from one alumnae chapter and one collegiatechapter in each district, ventured to Waterville, Maine to visit Colby College and BarHarbor, home of the Maine Sea Coast Mission. While in Bar Harbor, they enjoyed atour of the Maine Sea Coast Mission headquarters, a luncheon aboard the Mission’sboat, Sunbeam V, volunteering for the Mission’s Christmas Program, and perusing thehistorical material documenting this extraordinary partnership.Maine Sea Coast Mission continuedAn Extraordinary Gift: Reflections on the Journey to MaineEmily Wright, Theta Alpha, Appalachian State University, has served as the vice president ofphilanthropic services and was selected to participate in the trip to Maine after her chapter wasnamed the District 1 winner of Foundation’s contest to collect gift cards for the Mission.“Going on this trip was an honor and an experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything.It helped me realize the impact Sigma Kappa has made on the Mission, and how muchof an impact it has made on us. I don’t think the Foundation could have come up with abetter way to celebrate 100 years of partnership with the Maine Sea Coast Mission!We have created something with this relationship that would make our Founders proudto call us their sisters. We left the trip knowing that there is so much more we can do tohelp the Mission and I hope to continue to invest in this partnership. The Sigma KappaFoundation has given me an extraordinary gift that will stay in my heart forever.”The partnership between the Mission and Sigma Kappa began in 1910 when Myrtice D.Cheney, Sigma Kappa Alpha Chapter alumnae, heard Mission’s founder, Rev. AlexanderMacDonald, speak at the Woodfords Congregational Church in Portland. Myrtice wastouched by the stories of women and children living on Maine’s less fortunate islands.She was the Mission’s first volunteer and an avid supporter for over 30 years.Sigma Kappa was instrumental in creating programs still in place at the Mission today.In 1911, the Portland, Maine Sigma Kappa Alumnae Chapter dressed eight dolls forChristmas gifts and sent them to the Maine Sea Coast Mission to give to children onthe coast, launching the Mission’s Christmas Program. With little money for supplies,the gifts were wrapped in butcher paper, as it was affordable, available, and a good sizeproportion. Red string was utilized to bind the package since it possessed similar characteristicsin addition to its festive color. This tradition of wrapping has continued for100 years, with many in the Downeast community happily recalling how they receivedpackages wrapped in this manner as children and what they contained.In 1918, Sigma Kappa’s National Council voted to give a scholarship award of $100 fora young girl living on the coast, and began the Mission’s Scholarship Program. In thatsame year, National Council voted to adopt the Mission as its National Philanthropy.8 Sigma Kappa foundation | 2011 IMpact StatementMaine Sea Coast Mission127 West Street, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609(207) 288-5097 | www.seacoastmission.org2011 Christmas ProgramThe Mission’s 2011 Christmas Program provided a record number of presents to islandresidents, and to children and elderly in Hancock and Washington Counties. Over 3,500people received more than 21,000 gifts which were personally selected and wrapped byHeather Candon, Christmas Program Coordinator, and dedicated volunteers. The giftsare bagged and boxed, then loaded onto the Mission’s boat Sunbeam V for delivery tothe islands or into vans for delivery to the Downeast villages of Maine.A large portion of the Christmas gifts that the Mission distributed in 2011 came fromSigma Kappa chapters. The new toys, personal care items, dolls, games, books, clothing,art supplies and gift cards were wrapped in the Mission’s signature white butcher paperand red string. While we hope that the gifts will leave a lasting impression, it is moreimportant that each item distributed meets the recipient’s immediate needs and becomesa source of hope and encouragement for the year to come.Please send new, unwrapped items from the Mission’s Christmas Wish List to:Maine Sea Coast Mission | 127 West Street | Bar Harbor, Maine 04609Sigma Kappa foundation | 2011 IMpact Statement 9

National Convention & COTS2010 National ConventionThe Sigma Kappa Foundation granted nearly $8,000 in support of the educational andleadership programming activities offered during the Sigma Kappa Sorority’s biennialnational Convention in Orlando, Florida. The theme was “The Magic of Service.”Programming focus areas “Service to our Community & Profession”, “Service to ourMembers”, and “Ritual the Right Way” included workshops on business etiquette, buildingconfidence, developing courage, team building, leadership development, finance,housing related topics, and advanced training for chapter members, advisors, alumnae,corporation board/property committee members, and national officers. Participation inthese workshops fosters personal development, leadership training, career development,improved citizenship, and life skill development.Conventionites set a colossal record for the Foundation’s District Challenge; districtscompeted for highest participation and raised more than $115,000 in gifts and pledges.2010 AwardsBest Ultra Violet Campaign AwardRecognizes one chapter and up to four honorable mentions (one from each district) forexcellence in participation in the Sigma Kappa Foundation Ultra Violet Campaign.Winner: Theta Zeta, University of VirginiaTheta Zeta’s Ultra Violet Gala featured a live band, silent auction, dinner, dancing, andguest speaker, a nursing professor who spoke to attendees about Alzheimer’s disease.To supplement their budget, the chapter held bake sales and had auction items donated.The gala raised $11,420 for the Foundation’s Annual Fund.Honorable MentionAlpha Theta, University of LouisvilleEpsilon Chi, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityKappa Eta, Texas Christian UniversityKappa Nu, Marquette UniversityLillian Peterson Budd AwardRecognizes one chapter and up to four honorable mentions (one from each district) forparticipation in both national and local gerontology activities during the calendar year.2011 College Officer Training SchoolThe Sigma Kappa Foundation provided a $12,000 grant in support of the educationaland leadership programming activities conducted during the Sigma Kappa Sorority’s2011 College Officer Training School (COTS) in Indianapolis, Indiana.COTS programming included workshops in the areas of social media, personal values,bystander behavior, scholarship, charitable service, finance, risk management, teamwork,and housing related topics for chapter members, advisors, corporation board/propertycommittee members, and national officers. Attendees were addressed by three keynotespeakers: Dr. Tait Martin, a communication and marketing professional, discussed howto effectively manage social media to project a positive online presence; Nicki Meneley,executive director for the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), spoke on the historyof NPC and the power of sorority leadership; and Ms. Angela Guillory, past nationalpresident, facilitated a session on successful advising and led the final session helpingparticipants learn strategies and develop action plans to turn COTS ideas into reality.10 Sigma Kappa foundation | 2011 IMpact StatementWinner: Beta Zeta, University of MarylandBeta Zeta made visits to a local nursing home, where they led residents in games ofBingo, exercise classes, and sing-alongs, gave manicures and held a “Spring Fling”Inherit the Earth event to beautify the nursing home with planted and potted flowers.Honorable MentionAlpha Delta, University of Tennessee, KnoxvilleDelta Iota, California State University, ChicoTheta Mu, University of North Carolina, CharlotteZeta Nu, University of Texas at San AntonioEdna Brown Dreyfus AwardRecognizes one chapter and one honorable mention for contributing to the Foundation’sAlzheimer’s/Gerontology and Maine Sea Coast Mission funds.Winner: Delta Tau, University of Central Arkansas ($59.12 per capita)Honorable MentionBeta Epsilon, Louisiana Tech University ($33.90 per capita)Sigma Kappa foundation | 2011 IMpact Statement 11

Scholarship Program continuedUndergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI)Undergraduate Scholarship RecipientsShannon CrammAlpha TauMarian Johnson FrutigerScholarshipMichigan State UniversityJamie WeiserTheta TauMarian Johnson FrutigerScholarshipKansas State UniversityKathryn KerchGamma BetaMaridell Braham CondonScholarshipWestern Michigan UniversityAmy HooverDelta UpsilonStradley ScholarshipMissouri State UniversityMeghan McFerrinEpsilon EpsilonStradley ScholarshipUniversity of GeorgiaMary HalversonTheta TauTheta Tau ScholarshipKansas State UniversityUIFI Shapes Current Generation of Fraternal LeadersFounded in 1909, the North-American Interfraternity Conference represents 75 Internationaland National Men’s Fraternities. The NIC advocates the needs of its member fraternities throughenrichment of the fraternity experience; advancement and growth of the fraternity community;and enhancement of the educational mission of the host institutions.UIFI is the NIC’s premier leadership development experience for fraternity and sororitymembers, and is an experience unlike any other. It is not a conference or a workshop.It is not a classroom experience, or a simple retreat. It is a uniquely holistic journey thatyou share with other interfraternal brothers and sisters.UIFI makes a difference; graduates not only learn important leadership lessons, theyalso look deep inside to find their true fraternal calling, and are changed forever.• 98% agreed that they are better leaders because of UIFI;• 99% agreed that UIFI strengthened their commitment to fraternity/sorority life.Graduates also rated strong growth in the areas of leadership ability; personal courage;ability to develop a vision; commitment to integrity as a leader; commitment to livingfraternity/sorority ritual and values; and appreciation for fraternity/sorority life.In 2011, the Sigma Kappa Foundation awarded the first UIFI scholarships to these sixcollegians with funds received from 1874 Giving Circle memberships.Lauren WeissLambdaMary Turnbull SchachtMemorial ScholarshipUniversity of California,BerkeleyJustine LeeThetaTheta/Caryl Cordis D’HondtScholarshipUniversity of Illinois atUrbana-ChampaignUIFI Scholarship RecipientsNora BoemkerEpsilon ZetaWestern Kentucky UniversityRebekah PingleKappa XiUniversity of Reno, NevadaMeghan WallDelta AlphaMichigan ScholarshipEastern Michigan UniversityKrystyna McCollumAlpha TauWilma Sackett DresselScholarshipMichigan State UniversityMallory CheeverGamma EtaBall State UniversityAmanda RamonZeta KappaAngelo State University“Through Sigma Kappa I have come to see my potential,and the ability and privilege I have to impact others.”- Susan Buyrn, Epsilon Chi, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityJessica GuccioneDeltaBoston UniversityKaitlyn TallaricoKappa RhoUniversity of California, Irvine16 Sigma Kappa foundation | 2011 IMpact StatementSigma Kappa foundation | 2011 IMpact Statement 17

Sister-to-Sister Disaster Recovery FundChapter PhilanthropySister-to-Sister Disaster Recovery Grant AwardedThe Sister-to-Sister Disaster Recovery Fund assists members of Sigma Kappa in financialdistress due to the occurrence of a U.S. presidential-declared major disaster or emergency.The Sigma Kappa Foundation awarded a sister to sister disaster recovery grant totaling$3,080 to a collegiate member of Sigma Kappa to help alleviate some of the cost ofsemester tuition, fees and housing after the member’s family lost nearly everything dueto the devastating tornados in spring 2011.Grant applications for the Sister-to-Sister Disaster Recovery Fund are accepted for upto six months following the presidential declaration of a major disaster or emergency.If you know a Sigma Kappa member who has recently been affected by the occurrenceof a U.S. presidentially-declared major disaster or emergency, please inform her thatthere are disaster recovery grants are available to assist her in this difficult time.You can help ensure that sisters affected by U.S. presidentially-declared major disastersor emergencies are met with much-needed disaster relief grants by making a gift to theSister-to-Sister Disaster Recovery Fund.For questions about disaster recovery grants, email grants@sigmakappa.org; visit theFEMA website for more information on major disasters and emergencies.Image: aftermathof the deadly EF5tornado that ravagedJoplin, Missouri onMay 22, 2011,which caused $2.8billion dollarsin damages andclaimed 160 lives.Source: Reuters18 Sigma Kappa foundation | 2011 IMpact StatementSigma Kappa foundation | 2011 IMpact Statement 19

1874 Giving Circle & Beta Zeta ChapterBeta Zeta Receives First 1874 Giving Circle GrantThe 1874 Giving Circle is a giving club exclusively for collegians to support the Foundation’sAnnual Fund. An annual gift of $18.74 secures their membership for up to four years; collegiansthat join become investors in the Foundation’s mission and help to build a stronger Sigma Kappa.1874 Giving Circle contributions are crucial for the ongoing support of Sigma Kappa’seducational programming, and they also provide chapter grants and UIFI scholarships.Grants are available for chapters that reach 35% membership in the 1874 Giving Circleduring the calendar year to implement educational and member development programmingor service projects to benefit their chapter, campus and community. Additionally,all collegians with membership in the 1874 Giving Circle can vote on the grant finalistsand help decide how the Foundation puts its charitable funds to use.In 2011, Beta Zeta, University of Maryland, received the first 1874 Giving Circle grant!The chapter used the $2,400 grant to host a book and toy drive to benefit the Children’sNational Medical Center (CNMC) in Washington D.C.As the only provider of specialized pediatric care inthe District of Columbia and surrounding areas, theCNMC aims to provide a quality healthcare experiencefor patients and families, improve health services forchildren around the world and locally, and lead thecreation of “innovative solutions to pediatric health challenges.” The CNMC designedthe hospital through a child’s eyes, theorzing that the healing process will be much morerapid as environment and experience infiltrates the mind, body, and spirit—the threeplaces where healing can start.20 Sigma Kappa foundation | 2011 IMpact StatementBeta Zeta promoted the book andtoy drive on campus and withinthe community in order to raiseawareness about the CNMC andtheir mission. The donations fromthe drive will provide materials tohelp relieve stress and boredompatients experience whilerecovering in the hospital.And the best part? Helpingpatients play with the new toys!Hazing Prevention & Theta ChapterTheta Chapter Educational Endowment Sponsors Anti-Hazing ProgramTheta Chapter Educational Endowment provides educational and leadership program grants tobenefit the members of Theta Chapter at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.Additionally, the chapter can apply for educational grant funds to support qualified educationalportions of the expenses of attending the College Officer Training School, national convention,other educational and leadership activities, and participation in workshops/seminars in the areasof scholarship, management, drug/alcohol abuse prevention and similar subjects.Theta requested a grant from the Theta Chapter Educational Endowment to sponsoranti-hazing and educational programming to benefit fellow fraternal organizations inconjunction with Hazing Prevention Week and the chapter’s RESP∑KT week activities.Ben Pendry presented the program and focused on the issue of hazing from the localto the international level to convey the importance of understanding that hazing is notsingularly a fraternity or sorority issue. His program encouraged those seeking to makean impact in hazing prevention to embrace and influence cultural change.Pendry shared his thoughts after completing the program:“We discussed the definitions of hazing that evolved over time in various organizations,and we talked about various organizations that are “prone” or face hazing within theircultures. There were varying definitions among the attendees and our discussion wentback and forth regarding our industry’s efforts to combat hazing related to physical andemotional hazing. The issue of alcohol also came up as, in many of our organizations,the expectations related to consumption often lead to hazing of new members.“There were several questions about what the campus community can do to discouragehazing, and I told them that it is imperative that they form relationships with everyelement of the campus. Academic affairs, athletics, student organizations, and thecommunity as a whole need to be engaged in a consistent effort to educate about whathazing is, how to identify it, and what to do when they see it.”Sigma Kappa foundation | 2011 IMpact Statement 21

We EDUCATE by giving to our sisters.The Sigma Kappa Foundation provides funding for higher education and leadershipprogramming opportunities - enabling our enduring friendships, warm memoriesand dynamic organization to remain strong.Since 1989, the Foundation has granted nearly $600,000 to Sigma Kappa Sororityfor educational and leadership programming, and almost $550,000 in scholarshipsawards to Sigma Kappa members.We LEAD by giving to our communities.The Sigma Kappa Foundation cherishes our heritage and celebrates our sisterhood.We remain accountable and transparent, promising to lead and serve our members,our donors and our communities.The Foundation has been committed to honoring our supporters, stakeholders andbenefactors by providing annual reporting of the use of our funds and endowments.We INSPIRE by giving to our world.The Sigma Kappa Foundation inspires our sisterhood to excel in philanthropicservice to benefit society. We encourage diversity of thought and embrace change -creating a direct and positive impact on Sigma Kappa sisters and our world today.Since 1989, the Foundation has granted more than $1 million in Alzheimer’s diseaseresearch and psychosocial grants to investigators and practitioners.Sigma Kappa FoundationSigma Kappa NHQ | 8733 Founders Road | Indianapolis, Indiana 46268Phone (317) 381-5531 | www.sigmakappafoundation.org