The “Do Good” Sisterhood
Writer: Isabelle B. / Editor: Ariana W. / Photographer: Maya D.
“Activities like these really do bring our members closer to our philanthropy, and they remind me and others to always ‘Do Good,’” says Tricia E., Delta Gamma’s (DG’s) newly elected Vice President of Foundation. Tricia, along with the other steadfast women of DG, are deeply anchored in serving their philanthropy, Service for Sight, and its partners. They are truly sincere visionaries of friendship, grace, and openness in the Panhellenic community.
On Feb. 12, these incredible sisters had the opportunity to engage in a philanthropic, team-bonding Valentine’s Day craft, with cookie decorating and card making. They collaborated with their long-distance sisters at the University of North Florida’s (UNF’s) chapter of DG to make heartfelt Valentine’s cards for visually impaired veterans at Tallahassee Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinic.
For the first service event of the semester, DG women came together and connected with their philanthropy on a more personal level. “This event most definitely impacted me. Being able to learn how to write in braille for these Valentine’s cards truly helped me connect in a different light with our philanthropy. This event provided deeper insight and understanding of the struggles those with visual impairments have with language barriers every day,” elaborates Miranda K. The committee responsible for planning this event created an atmosphere of intentionality, creativity, and inclusivity with the card-making itself. They designed such an innovative way to include those who suffer from blindness in a holiday dedicated to love and acceptance.
The women in DG took a lot of care when planning this service event. The braille on the cards were created using puffy paint and construction paper. The puffy paint allowed for risen dots on the paper to be read like braille. Each woman was given instructions on how to write messages in braille and decorate the cards to make them special for the recipients. The women took the time to develop heartfelt messages translated from English into braille.
The DG sisters thrive off service events such as these. Though they may be small, they truly are mighty. “These events make me feel more connected to Service for Sight cause our efforts can directly impact those who are visually impaired. So often we raise money and spread awareness, but it is extra heartwarming to be able to help those in our local community,” says Ryan.
To the women of DG, and to the other 16 Panhellenic chapters at FSU, philanthropy is much more than charitable acts; it is an avenue that allows each and every young chapter woman to connect to her innermost values. Each philanthropy, and the tireless efforts of each individual woman, is what makes every chapter so incredibly special.“Because of our philanthropy, I have seen myself and our chapter grow to become true empaths. Not everyone has the ability to connect and help others the way our chapter has been able to do... We are lucky enough to give back to our community daily and to be compassionate in everything we do,” says Miranda.
“The value I have always connected to the most at Delta Gamma is friendship! Having this event combined with UNF Delta Gamma allowed me to meet new, wonderful women and get closer with the ladies I already love. It was heartwarming to watch ladies from our chapter and UNF have genuine conversations and support our philanthropy at the same event. I felt like everyone left with a sense of fulfillment and friendship, and that is all I could have asked for! Friendship is what brings the women of Delta Gamma together, and I truly hold that value close to my heart,” explains Tricia.
Vision is something that is often taken for granted, an unfortunate reality DG’s women shed light on every day. Events such as these, though smaller in size, reveal the empathic nature of the Panhellenic community. Our role, whether big or small, matters. As the DG women say, always remember to “Do Good.”