The Delta Delta Delta (Tri-Delta) sorority will host their first Delta Dips and Desserts event at their house from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday to fundraise for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Holly Chapman, the Tri-Delta philanthropy chair, said the event is a social gathering that allows people to hang out while encouraging them to donate to the St. Jude cause. She said they will have a variety of chips and salsa, games and an array of desserts from cupcakes to brownies at their house on 800 NE Colorado St.
“The tickets are $5 pre-sale and $6 at the door and all money goes to St. Jude,” Chapman said. “Some girls will be outside with posters walking around the Pullman area promoting what we are doing. We always have loud music that people are drawn to.”
Marissa J. McGee, vice-president of public relations for Tri-Delta, said tables at the event will display information about St. Jude for guests to peruse. She said every Tri-Delta in the nation fundraises for St. Jude, which offers treatment paid 100 percent with donations.
“St. Jude is something that is really unique to Tri-Delta,” McGee said. “Tri-Deltas have a special wing in St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.”
According to St. Jude’s mission statement, the hospital works to find cures and preventative measures for pediatric catastrophic diseases. They also do not turn away any child, regardless of race or ability to pay.
Lindsay Lagreid, the Panhellenic vice-president of media relations, said each sorority has a national philanthropy they raise money for. She said the sororities feel college is the perfect time to cultivate positive habits in giving back to philanthropic causes.
“We really value helping our community,” Lagreid said. “Tri-Delta has some creative and amazing ways to raise money for their national philanthropy.”
Delta Dips and Desserts replaces Tri-Delta’s Tri-Hop pancake and breakfast feed event they previously put on to fundraise, McGee said. The event tweaks a tradition but still represents a good cause, she said.
“While other Tri-Deltas around the country have had success with Delta Dips and Desserts, we haven’t ever,” McGee said. “We are the beta test subject group, and so a lot of girls are nervous but excited at the same time. It is something that is new and different.”
A Tri-Delta conference in Memphis, Tenn., this summer inspired the event modification, Chapman said. Visiting St. Jude and listening to other sororities discuss their fundraising events motivated her to change up the style in hopes of raising at least $1,500, she said.
“When I first announced the change, the (Tri-Delta) women were a little bit scared about it, but now I think they are getting pumped for it,” Chapman said. “I think it is just the anticipation of doing something brand new that gets everyone a little more excited about it.”
Chapman said she will take any donations beyond the ticket sale and give it to the Seattle St. Jude representative, Claudia Vergaga. All of the donations go to the St. Jude cause, she said.
