Sorority
supports cancer research
Charity:
Tri Delta branches out to offer support
for cancer research at various hospitals
around the country.
By
Jack Schneider
On-line Forty-Niner
Cal
State Long Beach's Tri Delta sorority is
getting involved with Childhood Cancer Awareness
Month, participating in both local and national
organizations.
Tri
Delta collegiate and alumnae chapters around
the United States and Canada have been participating
in philanthropic events to raise money for
cancer research for St. Jude's Children's
Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
Tri
Delta's CSULB charity event will include
an Ultimate Frisbee competition at the athletic
field Oct. 18.
"We
take all proceeds and donate them to Miller's
Hospital," said Taylor Dudley, president
of the CSULB Tri Delta chapter. "It's
something we have done annually."
The
hospital is designed to help children who
might not have a chance with surviving cancer,
and brings them together with other children.
"Our
goal is to cure children from this disease,
if a child goes to a doctor and for instance,
has a brain tumor and they don't think they
have any hope, they will send them to St.
Jude," said Cathleen Polenzanni, event
marketing representative for St. Jude's
Children's Research Hospital.
Although
there is only one St. Jude's hospital, the
CSULB chapter has given their money toward
local Long Beach hospitals.
"Since
there is not a St. Jude's that is in Long
Beach, we latched on with Long Beach Memorial,"
said Whitney Prenger, philanthropy chairwoman
for Tria Delta. "We still have gotten
involved in St. Judes."
Dudley
said the chapter has improved over the years
in their philanthropy.
"We
have really become more dedicated in the
past couple of years," Dudley said.
"[The chapter has] learned a lot and
we are holding more events."
Last
month, St. Jude's Children's Hospital helped
Tri Delta put on a Luau at the Newport Dunes,
in an effort to raise money and helping
out the hospital.
"It
was a great event," Polenzanni said.
"We raised $50,000 [for the hospital].
Eight Tri Deltas were there helping us out."
Jessica
Chapman, staff writer for the Tri Delta
executive office said the philanthropy with
St. Jude has improved since the sorority
began its involvement in the hospital since
1974.
"[The
hospital] has been wonderful with working
with Tri Delta chapters," Chapman said.
The
money used from each of the national sororities
has gone towards building a teen room in
St. Jude's, Polenzanni said.
One
aspect of philanthropy the CSULB chapter
is working on is to extend their events
to more than just fraternities and sororities.
.
"More
people are turning out for the events making
it extend it just beyond fraternities and
groups on campus," Prenger said.
Prenger
said the CSULB chapter has gone beyond raising
money for local Long Beach hospitals. Last
year, Tri Delta invited a girl with leukemia
at the Ultimate Frisbee convention.
Prenger
said that Tri Delta is the only sorority
that hosts multiple events for charity.
"We're
the only house that has two philanthropy
events," she said "In the spring
time we host the King of Kings."
While
the CSULB chapter has been active with local
and nationwide charities, Polenzanni said
that Tri Deltas around the nation keep their
support strong with St. Jude's Children
Research Hospital.
"The
future is unlimited," Polenzanni said.
"They have been great in supporting
us."
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