Trick or Treat!
This article was written in conjunction to the Fall 2019 Magazine. Click here to view other chapters articles.
Writer: Alexa B. / Photographer, Graphic: Savannah T.
As Panhellenic women, we hold our philanthropies near and dear to our hearts. This holds true for Delta Zeta and their involvement in the FSU Speech and Hearing Clinic and the Starkey Hearing Foundation.
Kiana S. is the Vice President of Programming for Delta Zeta, where she oversees different marketing positions within the chapter and controls the overall structure of the chapter’s leadership and members. However, Kiana primarily organizes the chapter’s philanthropic events to benefit the FSU Speech and Hearing Clinic.
Since the Speech and Hearing Clinic is housed on campus and plays a large role in the Florida State community, the sisters of Delta Zeta have the opportunity to directly interact with the children they raise money for. This year, Delta Zeta organized an event called Trick or Treating with the Speech and Hearing Clinic.
“Delta Zeta holds two events each year where the Speech and Hearing Clinic patients and families come to our house. At each event, we host a parent meeting while we entertain the kids. We hold one Easter-themed event in spring and one Halloween-themed event in the fall,” Kiana explained.
The fall event consists of different activities for the kids to enjoy themselves in the chapter facility, including dress-up with the sisters and play-time throughout the entirety of the night. These philanthropic events allow the children to get specialized attention from the chapter women while sisters gain a valuable and memorable experience. “While parent meetings take place, my sisters and I take the children to trick or treat in our second-floor bedrooms! Kids are able to knock on their sister's doors for candies and goodies. The smiles on the kid's faces are truly unforgettable. It creates an amazing memory for everyone involved.”
Aside from interacting with the children, the philanthropy also focuses on the parents of children involved in the Speech and Hearing Clinic. Kiana explained to Philia that the events are planned with the patients and parents in mind. "During the event, we provide dinner for all of the children and their parents/guardians. After dinner time, the parents/guardians will head into a meeting led by Mrs. Linda Sasser, a Clinical Education Instructor from FSU’s Speech and Hearing Clinic.” The patients get the opportunity to have an amazing night, and the parents have a chance to relax and go to educational meetings without worrying about their children’s safety. This is an incredible utilization of an event, and it was amazing to watch both the children and the parents enjoy themselves.
To further connect to the cause, the Delta Zeta sisters organize an activity during recruitment that allows each of them to step into the shoes of the children they support. Kiana explained, “We go around the room and discuss what sound we would miss the most. Everyone has a different story for the sounds they would miss.” She elaborated, “Some sisters would miss the sounds of ocean waves because they grew up on the beach and that means home. Others said they would miss the sounds of their parent’s voices. Each of us takes what we hear for granted sometimes, so this activity was a great source of reflection. It’s a time for us to take a step back and remember what our philanthropy means to us.”
Delta Zeta has recently completed a $50,000 endowment for their philanthropies, meaning the chapter has raised such a large sum of money will grow with interest, further benefiting the patients and their families. Kiana elaborated, “We split up the money raised, with the bulk of it going to our national philanthropy, Starkey Hearing Foundation, but are also excited to say that we were able to donate $580 to the FSU Speech and Hearing Clinic for this semester.”
Overall, the work that Delta Zeta and Kiana do to help benefit the FSU Speech and Hearing Clinic is truly heartwarming. Personally, watching the children interact with the sisters in their home was so special; there was a feeling of mutual care and love in the room. When Kiana was asked about her final thoughts, she excitedly and wholeheartedly exclaimed, “This event is always a huge hit, not only for the clinic, but also for us. My sisters and I love interacting with the children. They put the biggest smiles on our faces and honestly remind us of our philanthropy. This is by far my favorite event to put on as the VP of Programming.” It was a truly remarkable event, for sisters and families, alike.