Sounds of honking horns, amplified music and a loudspeaker inviting people to “come eat cupcakes,” cut through the quiet Saturday morning outside of the Delta Delta Delta sorority’s house on Colorado Street.
The WSU Tri-Delta sorority raised about $450 at their first Delta Dips and Desserts event to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
“The women were definitely excited for this new event,” Tri-Delta Philanthropy Chair Holly Chapman said. “I feel like it went well for it having been brand new and not something people are used to doing.”
The event replaced the Tri-Delta’s previous Tri-Hop pancake breakfast fundraising tradition, Chapman said. People that donated by buying a ticket to the event ate chips, dip and a variety of desserts that lined the dining room, while mingling with the sorority women.
“A lot of the people were from the Greek community and friends from the dorms of the girls who live out,” Chapman said. “Guests got to see our sisterhood and kind of what we stand for. They got a feeling for what our sorority is really like.”
Wayne Richardson, a senior political science major, said the event is a chance for students to come and donate to a good cause. He said he attended previous Tri-Hop events and enjoys talking to people he doesn’t see everyday.
“It is a great opportunity to learn that sororities are more than just a group on campus,” Richardson said. “They are actually out there helping the community.”
Richardson said he bought the ticket in an effort to help the children of St. Jude in any way he can. He said he loves the events Tri-Delta does to support St. Jude.
“I think St. Jude is the best fundraising opportunity because sick children need help from other people,” Richardson said. “It is great that the sorority is offering the help for the children that are in need of the money and can’t afford their medical bills.”
Marissa J. McGee, Tri-Delta’s vice-president of media relations, said Tri-Deltas nationally donate to St. Jude. She said the funds they have gathered during the years has provided the hospital with a specialty clinic and assisted in their mission to give treatment to children regardless of whether they can pay.
“Our philanthropy is something that we take very seriously,” McGee said. “We teach our members what St. Jude is, share how their research is progressing, where the money is going and how many cancer patients are being healed each year.”
Brooke Browman, a Tri-Delta member and sophomore business major, said Delta Dips and Desserts is a nice way to mix up event styles while still raising money for St. Jude. She said she looks forward to future fundraising events.
“Raising money for the cause really makes you appreciate what you have,” Browman said. “During sorority events, we watch all the videos about the kids receiving help and know the money is going to people who actually need it.”
During recruitment the sorority refreshes the current members about St. Jude and new members learn through videos, Chapman said. Ideas for new fundraising events this year, including Delta Dips and Desserts, came from a Tri-Delta conference at the St. Jude sight in Memphis, Tenn., she said.
“For other events we have the Sincerely Yours project on Dec. 2,” Chapman said. “It is basically a holiday party where we write letters to St. Jude and ask people to logon and donate on their website. That is how we raise the most money.”
McGee said the St. Jude cause is important to every woman in the Tri-Delta sorority across the country.
“It’s a very close partnership between Tri-Delta and St. Jude,” McGee said. “We teach our members that a little bit goes a long way.”
