MISSION AND HISTORY

 

OUR MISSION

The mission of Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation is to impact and enrich our communities by providing essential support for education, philanthropy and leadership.

OUR HISTORY

Did you know that Alpha Gamma Delta was the first women's fraternity to establish an international philanthropy project?

How it all started:

  • 1919 - Convention delegates voted to create a summer camp for underprivileged children.
  • 1920 - The camp was opened on a lake in Jackson, Michigan, and a second camp was later established in Wellington, Ontario. The summer camps were staffed by collegians and alumnae of our Fraternity for more than 25 years.
  • 1947 - Alpha Gamma Delta changed its philanthropic focus, but maintained its interest in children. Working with the National Society for Crippled Children and Adults, the Fraternity sponsored a training program for counselors involved with the rehabilitation of the physically impaired.
  • 1962 - The birth of the Alpha Gamma Delta Founders Memorial Foundation. The name of the Founders Memorial Foundation was changed to the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation in 1990.
  • 1964 - The Convention of 1964 approved a change of project to provide support for children with minimal brain dysfunction.
  • 1979 - At the Diamond Anniversary Convention, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (JDRF) was adopted as the official beneficiary of financial support and service.
  • 1991 - The philanthropic efforts of the Fraternity were then directed toward the general treatment, research and cure of diabetes mellitus (expanding its support to multiple diabetes organizations).
  • 2017 – The philanthropic focus of the Fraternity shifted from diabetes education and awareness to fighting hunger.
  • 2021 – The Foundation awards the one millionth dollar in the fight against hunger

The Foundation also focuses to fight hunger, providing annual grants to other non-profit organizations throughout the United States and Canada to support their fight against hunger.

In addition to fighting hunger in our communities, the Foundation supports educational and leadership programming for collegiate and alumnae members including: Scholarships, Continuing Education Grants, Scholastic Achievement Awards, the Acorn virtual learning program, mental health training, DEI training, the Epsilon Pi Journey and more.

The Foundation also supports on-site leadership training through the Leadership Consultant program, and portions of International Convention and the Academies programming. Additionally, SIS and Disaster Relief Grants provide emergency assistance to sisters in need.

Learn more about where gifts were used to help change lives last year.

Dedicated sisters, friends, chapters and clubs allow the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation to continue fulfilling our mission supporting education, philanthropy and leadership.