The Delta Gamma sorority lives by their motto: “Do good.”

The sorority, Washburn’s local chapter in particular, has made it their mission to create meaningful relationships between women and to have a positive impact on the community. One way that Delta Gamma strives to accomplish this is through the Service for Sight Foundation, their philanthropy project whose mission is to “promote sight preservation and assistance to children and adults who are blind or visually impaired.”

Delta Gamma’s philanthropy week started Monday, Oct. 2, and will continue through Friday, Oct. 7. Throughout the week, fundraising events take place, and Delta Gamma in particular will get pies smashed in their faces, host volleyball games at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, host a trivia night and hold both an endless buffet and a pancake feed.

Delta Gamma works to raise money for Service for Sight throughout the year, which sets them apart from the other Washburn sororities. Not only does the sorority’s on-going project benefit the community, it has a positive impact on the lives of Delta Gamma’s members. 

“My involvement with our philanthropy is playing bingo with The Brewster Place and VA residents every week,” said Jessi Kennedy, Delta Gamma member and junior communications major. “Volunteering has been a rewarding experience for me because of the happiness I’ve seen in the residents. They get very excited when we play Bingo with them and love connecting with us.”

Kennedy isn’t the only Delta Gamma member who is regularly involved with Service for Sight. Bailey Hockett, Delta Gamma vice president senior marketing and management major, recalled a visit to Kansas State School for the Blind a few weeks prior where her sorority helped students participate in a track meet.

“It was so rewarding and amazing to see the smiles on their faces and how much fun they were having,” Hockett said. “Our time and money were really making a difference in the lives of those children.”

Hockett also stressed the importance of being aware of the hardships of those living with visual impairment.

“Blindness and visual impairment are not issues many people concern themselves with until they are directly affected by it,” Hockett said. “I am very proud that we can help fill the need gap that exists with our service and raise awareness for the issue.”

Philanthropy week will continue through this week and give Washburn students an opportunity to put their money toward a cause that Delta Gamma finds worthy.

“Every time we have the opportunity to help those in the community, everyone leaves feeling better than when we walked in,” Hockett said. “You made someone’s day just a little bit better, and as a result you feel better, too.”