This weekend I’m going to party for a purpose, along with the rest of my sorority sisters.
Starting Friday and continuing through Sunday, the Charlotte Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., will celebrate its 75th anniversary with a series of public events part of a year-long celebration that started in January. As a proud Delta member for 20 years, I’ve seen the great work this chapter has done in Charlotte.
Here is some of the great work our chapter has accomplished this year:
— We donated 300-plus coats to WSOC-TV Steve Coats For Kids. (Our goal was 75.)
— We awarded scholarships to all 37 participants in our 2017 Debutante Cotillion.
— We awarded scholarships at our 2017 May Week program, including one scholarship for $20,000 — $5,000 a year for four years.
— We donated 243 bags of food to the WSOC-TV 9 summer food drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank–the largest single donation this year. (Our goal was 75.)
As Chapter President Pamela Murphy Lewis said: “Community service is at the heart of the work performed by Charlotte Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. We have dedicated ourselves to empowering our youth, families and neighborhoods through education, financial literacy, voter education, scholarship support for college and charitable donations for 75 years.”
And there’s more — such as our chapter’s bragging rights:
— We won the 2017 Sorority Greek Health Olympics, a friendly competition among sororities of the National Pan Hellenic Council (NPHC).
— We won the 2017 Sorority Greek Health Olympics Weight Loss Challenge, and I was honored to be a team motivation coach, along with Kecia Robinson. Click here to read more.
— We were named Chapter of the Year in 2014-15 and 2015-16 in the South Atlantic Region of Delta, which is comprised of chapters from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Bermuda.
Yes, this weekend we plan to don gowns for a time of glitz and glamour and fun and fellowship as we celebrate 75 years in this community.
Here is a rundown of our public events this weekend:
Legacy Scholarship Reception
Friday, June 9 at 7 p.m.
Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
This event, in partnership with Deltas of Charlotte Foundation, is a fundraiser to honor Delta member Dr. Bertha Maxwell-Roddey (our 20th national president) and all past presidents of Charlotte Alumnae Chapter. Proceeds will establish the Dr. Maxwell-Roddey endowed scholarship at Johnson C. Smith University. Click here for tickets.
Anniversary Gala Dinner/Silent Auction (SOLD OUT)
Saturday, June 10 at 7 p.m.
Hilton Charlotte Center City
Ecumenical Service
Sunday, June 11 at 1 p.m.
Friendship Missionary Baptist Church (old sanctuary)
We will wrap up our weekend with a worship service that is open to friends, family and the Charlotte community. Our guest speaker will be Cynthia M.A. Butler-McIntyre, 24th national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
I must admit; our chapter looks good at 75!
Sondra E. Z. Hines is an AFAA-certified group fitness instructor, Zumba instructor, workshop presenter and motivational speaker. Follow her on Twitter.
