Spring Break
Delta Gamma continues support for blind community
Tiffanie Torrez
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE
The women of the Delta Gamma sorority have had enthusiasm for charity since sorority sister Ruth Billows was blinded in a childhood accident and made a plea to the 1936 Delta Gamma convention for the group to make a difference in the lives of those with limited or no sight.
The women of Delta Gamma are no strangers to community service, and as they complete their first year of being re-established at NT after leaving in 1976, they are active in their philanthropy, Service for Sight.
"Service for Sight encourages the preservation of sight and services the visually impaired and blind community," said Kristen O'Leary, a Denton junior and president of Delta Gamma.
Within the past year, the sorority has made touch-and-feel books for visually impaired and blind children, and plays monthly bingo games at the Texas Lighthouse for the Blind, said Jackie Quintero, a San Antonio junior and vice president of foundations for the sorority.
"This semester we had a beeping Easter egg hunt for visually impaired and blind children of the Denton community," O'Leary said, "as well as reach out to the elderly who are losing their sight and continue to spread awareness to all."
Books, bingo games and Easter egg hunts are only the beginning.
According to the national sorority's Web site, Delta Gammas participate in more than 96,000 Service for Sight volunteer hours each year.
Grants to organizations sharing Delta Gamma's mission recently exceeded a grand total of $2 million.
Anchor Splash, an annual competitive swim meet for greeks and campus organizations that includes events like synchronized swimming, relay races and individual competition, is hosted by more than 100 chapters to raise awareness and money.
NT's chapter hosted its first Anchor Splash in October 2007.
"As Delta Gammas, we love to serve this community because it is something that we believe in," O'Leary said. "The positive impact we make and the instant gratification we get are just bonuses for what we do."
On a personal level, O'Leary said she feels she is making a difference.
"It's just the greatest feeling to see a person who has struggled so much through their life be so incredibly excited to just have someone to talk to or laugh with," O'Leary said. "It's the little things that you wouldn't even think would make a difference that really touch these people's lives."
Cailtin McGowan, a Little Elm junior, president of the Panhellenic Association and an active member of Delta Gamma, said the best part about Service for Sight is that she can be hands-on, work with people of all ages and help people with every aspect of their lives.
"You know we are making a huge contribution in someone's life," McGowan said. "We aren't just providing tools to enhance their lives, we are getting involved and doing things that will change their lives."
The greek family at NT offers its support to the Denton community through each organization's philanthropy. Amy Ayres, the assistant dean of students for greek life, said the greek community logged 17,705 hours of service as well as raising $126,095 for various charitable organizations in 2007 alone.
"We are proud of our students' efforts to remain active in the community and to support organizations outside their own," Ayres said.
O'Leary said the group strives to not just give money to the blind community, but to get involved.
"We really encourage hands-on volunteer work and discourage writing checks to pay off community service hours," she said. "As Delta Gammas, we feel it is extremely important to serve the community and help in any way possible. We love to have face-to-face experiences with people and work with them one-on-one."
O'Leary suggests training a seeing-eye dog, helping shop for or read to someone who is blind or visually impaired and reading up on facts to fight blindness and spread awareness through the community to those who want to help the visually impaired community.
Delta Gamma chapters throughout the United States are also affiliated with the organization New Eyes for the Needy, Inc., which sends reusable donated eyeglasses to medical missions and international charitable organizations in more than 25 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Central and South America.
The sorority has also funded genetic research, low-vision adaptive devices, tapes, Braille books and hundreds of programs.
"Billows wanted to help society appreciate the talents of those who are visually impaired," O'Leary said. "Ever since Ruth Billows made her plea, Delta Gamma has been dedicated to helping serve."
As chapter president, O'Leary said she's most proud of the dedication her fellow sisters have for the community.
"Our women have heart and passion for what they believe in, and it shows with every service hour they complete," O'Leary said. "Our women truly put everything to make a difference in these people's lives and for that I am extremely proud."
The women of Delta Gamma are no strangers to community service, and as they complete their first year of being re-established at NT after leaving in 1976, they are active in their philanthropy, Service for Sight.
Helping & playing
"Service for Sight encourages the preservation of sight and services the visually impaired and blind community," said Kristen O'Leary, a Denton junior and president of Delta Gamma.
Within the past year, the sorority has made touch-and-feel books for visually impaired and blind children, and plays monthly bingo games at the Texas Lighthouse for the Blind, said Jackie Quintero, a San Antonio junior and vice president of foundations for the sorority.
"This semester we had a beeping Easter egg hunt for visually impaired and blind children of the Denton community," O'Leary said, "as well as reach out to the elderly who are losing their sight and continue to spread awareness to all."
Nationwide effort
Books, bingo games and Easter egg hunts are only the beginning.
According to the national sorority's Web site, Delta Gammas participate in more than 96,000 Service for Sight volunteer hours each year.
Grants to organizations sharing Delta Gamma's mission recently exceeded a grand total of $2 million.
Anchor splash
Anchor Splash, an annual competitive swim meet for greeks and campus organizations that includes events like synchronized swimming, relay races and individual competition, is hosted by more than 100 chapters to raise awareness and money.
NT's chapter hosted its first Anchor Splash in October 2007.
"As Delta Gammas, we love to serve this community because it is something that we believe in," O'Leary said. "The positive impact we make and the instant gratification we get are just bonuses for what we do."
On a personal level, O'Leary said she feels she is making a difference.
"It's just the greatest feeling to see a person who has struggled so much through their life be so incredibly excited to just have someone to talk to or laugh with," O'Leary said. "It's the little things that you wouldn't even think would make a difference that really touch these people's lives."
Cailtin McGowan, a Little Elm junior, president of the Panhellenic Association and an active member of Delta Gamma, said the best part about Service for Sight is that she can be hands-on, work with people of all ages and help people with every aspect of their lives.
"You know we are making a huge contribution in someone's life," McGowan said. "We aren't just providing tools to enhance their lives, we are getting involved and doing things that will change their lives."
NT greeks
The greek family at NT offers its support to the Denton community through each organization's philanthropy. Amy Ayres, the assistant dean of students for greek life, said the greek community logged 17,705 hours of service as well as raising $126,095 for various charitable organizations in 2007 alone.
"We are proud of our students' efforts to remain active in the community and to support organizations outside their own," Ayres said.
More than money
O'Leary said the group strives to not just give money to the blind community, but to get involved.
"We really encourage hands-on volunteer work and discourage writing checks to pay off community service hours," she said. "As Delta Gammas, we feel it is extremely important to serve the community and help in any way possible. We love to have face-to-face experiences with people and work with them one-on-one."
O'Leary suggests training a seeing-eye dog, helping shop for or read to someone who is blind or visually impaired and reading up on facts to fight blindness and spread awareness through the community to those who want to help the visually impaired community.
Delta Gamma chapters throughout the United States are also affiliated with the organization New Eyes for the Needy, Inc., which sends reusable donated eyeglasses to medical missions and international charitable organizations in more than 25 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Central and South America.
The sorority has also funded genetic research, low-vision adaptive devices, tapes, Braille books and hundreds of programs.
"Billows wanted to help society appreciate the talents of those who are visually impaired," O'Leary said. "Ever since Ruth Billows made her plea, Delta Gamma has been dedicated to helping serve."
As chapter president, O'Leary said she's most proud of the dedication her fellow sisters have for the community.
"Our women have heart and passion for what they believe in, and it shows with every service hour they complete," O'Leary said. "Our women truly put everything to make a difference in these people's lives and for that I am extremely proud."
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