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Delta Gamma

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

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. Delta Gamma and the six other charter members formally joined the National Panhellenic Conference in 1902. Today, the National Panhellenic Conference is the governing body of sororities in America with 26 members.

Philanthropy

Protecting the gift of sight is one of Delta Gamma's highest priorities. Since 1936, Delta Gamma's philanthropic purpose has been to stop blindness before it starts. For men and women for whom blindness is a fact, the mission has been to impact the quality of their lives in a myriad of positive ways.

Through Delta Gamma schools begun more than 55 years ago, children who are blind or visually impaired learn specialized skills. Adults receive personal attention through volunteer hours with 150 organizations, which share their mission. Grants to organizations sharing their mission recently exceeded a grand total of $2,000,000 through the Foundation. Delta Gammas have funded genetic research, low-vision adaptive devices, tapes, Braille books and hundreds of life-enhancing programs. Members have helped men and women in hundreds of ways to obtain independent living skills, increased communications and mobility skills.

Ruth Billow, who was blinded in a childhood accident, made an impassioned plea to Convention in 1936. She asked that Delta Gamma make a difference in the lives of those with limited or no sight. Her wish was also to help society appreciate the talents of those who are visually impaired. Ruth would be overwhelmed by the accomplishments of the members of her Fraternity.

Collegians embrace the Delta Gamma mission and lend their energy and enthusiasm to the cause. Delta Gammas give more than 96,000 Service for Sight volunteer hours each year, one volunteer at a time, each leaving her mark on the world.

More than 100 Delta Gamma collegiate chapters host Anchor Splash® to raise awareness and funds for the Foundation. This competitive swim meet for sororities, fraternities and campus organizations include events ranging from the serious to the zany. Collegians compete in synchronized swimming, relay races and individual competition. 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, and 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.

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.

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

Notable Delta Gammas

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

Edith Abbott (Kappa) - first woman to become dean of a graduate school, The University of Chicago.
Grace Abbott (Kappa) - social worker
Jill Arrington (Beta Tau) - sports reporter for ESPN
Carol Bellamy (Beta Lambda) - CEO and President of World Learning
Sabrina Bryan (Zeta Iota) - actress, singer, member of the The Cheetah Girls
Ann Coulter (Chi) - conservative political author
Cheryl Crawford (Eta) - Broadway actress; founder of Group Theater and Actor's Studio
Heloise Cruse (Zeta Eta) - advice columnist
Jo Ann Emerson (Alpha Rho) - U.S. Congresswoman from Missouri
Mary Frann (Sigma) - actress, (Newhart)
Melissa Hart (Epsilon Delta) - U.S. Congresswoman from Pennsylvania
Patricia Heaton (Epsilon) - actress, (Everybody Loves Raymond)
E.D. Hill (Beta Eta) - co-host of Fox and Friends on the Fox News Channel
Judge Sarah Tilghman Hughes (Psi II) - swore in President Lyndon B. Johnson on the day of President John F. Kennedy's assassination
Christine Lahti (Xi) - actress, (Chicago Hope)
Mary Landrieu (Gamma Zeta) - United States Senator from Louisiana
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Sigma) - Emmy Award-winning actress
Joan Lunden (Delta Eta) - former host of Good Morning America
Donna Mills (Iota) actress, (Knots Landing)
Terry Murphy (Epsilon) - Emmy Award-winning journalist
Susan Nattrass (Beta Beta) - first woman shooter in the 1976 Summer Olympics
Kyra Phillips (Alpha Nu) - anchor on CNN
Eva Marie Saint (Beta Mu) - actress, (On the Waterfront)
Julia Sweeney (Beta) - actress and comedian from Saturday Night Live
Lizz Winstead (Lambda) - creator of Comedy Central's The Daily Show

Trivia

Initiation fees pay for a member's lifetime subscription to the Delta Gamma publication ANCHORA.
Delta Gamma currently has 146 chapters in the United States and Canada.
Delta Gamma has 253 alumnae groups.
Number of scholarships and fellowships awarded (2007): 240
Total amount of grants to organizations serving persons who are blind or visually impaired (2006-2007): $210,000
Delta Gamma has over 143,400 members. Approximately 15,650 collegians and 127,777 living alumnae.
Delta Gamma has 39% legacies pledged.
The oldest existing chapter is at The University of Akron - Eta
Largest Delta Gamma chapters: Alpha Psi - Ole Miss: 275 members; Mu - Missouri: 223 members; Alpha Iota- OU: 219 Members; Gamma Zeta - Louisiana State: 202 members; Alpha Nu - USC: 192 members; Eta Gamma - Texas A&M: 192 members
As of 2006, Delta Gamma has:

2,437 25-year members
1,289 50-year members
778 60-year members
92 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."
Delta Gamma's motto is "Do Good".
Delta Gamma's flower is the cream rose.