The Foundation Governance Committee met March 20-22, 2026 to review the Trustee nominee applications, recommendation letters, the confidential evaluation surveys, and conduct interviews with nine qualified nominees. The proposed slate and information regarding the participant nomination period can be found here.
You can find additional information about the Foundation BOT and the nomination process timeline below.
Delta Gammas seek to do good every day! We pledged to do so when we accepted our bids to Delta Gamma. Our Fraternity letters were chosen in 1873 because they represent our motto and desire to do good.
During the week of October 8-15, Delta Gamma invites you to participate in our twelfth annual Do Good Week by doing good deeds, no matter how big or small. Anyone can participate, whether you are a sister, fraternal partner, friend, neighbor or simply a kind person hoping to make the world a little better.
Do Good Week coincides with World Sight Day (October 9) and White Cane Day (October 15). Take advantage of this opportunity to learn, do and advocate for Service for Sight. Learn and raise awareness about vision-related topics and consider organizing a group-wide service event or doing something on your own. Resources can be found below.
Download Do Good Week Graphics Here
Service for Sight activities (for individuals and groups)
The Executive Offices (EO) and Martin Center renovation is well underway! Check out these recent photos of the renovation below.
There is still time to join us as we create the Oliphant Leadership Center, new Archives Museum and renovate our Executive Offices to strengthen member support and learning at every life stage. There are multiple opportunities to support these exciting projects and receive either group or individual recognition for your gift. These opportunities are available through the Delta Gamma Fraternity or the Delta Gamma Foundation. Gifts to the Delta Gamma Foundation are tax deductible in the United States as allowed by law. Gifts to the Fraternity are not tax deductible.
The founding of the first Delta Gamma School, Blind Children’s Center, in 1938 was the result of the request by Ruth Billow, Eta-Akron, to make sight-related initiatives our official philanthropy. Since then, Delta Gammas have passionately supported children living with blindness through hands-on service, school board leadership, fundraising and Foundation Service for Sight grants. Here are the latest updates from the five Delta Gamma Schools for Children with Visual Impairments, along with how each of the schools put their Delta Gamma Foundation Service for Sight grant funds to good use.
Founded in 1982 by the Denver alumnae chapter and Colorado Library for the Blind.
Over four decades ago, a small group of visionary Delta Gamma alumnae in Denver set out to create a safe haven for young children who were blind or had low vision. Today, that vision has grown into the Anchor Center — offering education, intervention and specialized support for students with low or no vision, with a focus on the formative years — birth to age five.
In a unique partnership, Anchor Center’s state-of-the-art eye clinic brings pediatric ophthalmology faculty and physicians from the University of Colorado, Children’s Hospital Colorado and private practice on-site for exams and treatment. It’s a familiar and comfortable environment for the children and their families, and it enables their teachers to participate in the treatment, too.
Additionally, Anchor Center is emerging as a national leader in pioneering research, early diagnosis and treatment of Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), a brain-based neurological condition affecting the brain’s ability to accurately interpret visual stimuli. CVI is the leading cause of pediatric visual impairment in the developed world.
Together with its Children’s Hospital partners, Anchor Center is researching the use of a non-invasive screening tool to assess neurological risk for CVI in premature infants who are particularly vulnerable to brain-based visual impairment. The goal is to diagnose and provide targeted intervention to CVI patients as early as possible, during the critical period when the brain-eye connection is developing. As part of this important work, Anchor Center staff has trained hundreds of hospital staff and early interventionists nationwide on the innovative assessment protocol.
“Anchor Center is incredibly thankful to DGs and the Delta Gamma Foundation for their long-standing volunteer and financial support,” said Anchor Center Executive Director Meghan Klassen. “It’s an honor and privilege for our team to be able to bring to life the DG commitment to do good every day.”
2023-24 Service for Sight Grant: The grant was used to help fund the Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) Program for young children offering specialized screening, assessment, research, and training for parents, caregivers and H/C professionals.
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Founded in 1938 by the Los Angeles alumnae groups and Dr. Lillian Ray Titcomb, Upsilon-Stanford.
Last fall, BCC celebrated its grand reopening, marking a new chapter in its inspiring history of supporting visually impaired children. New specialized classrooms are designed to the tailored educational approach at BCC. One room, dedicated to preschoolers, is fully accessible, ensuring every child has a safe, welcoming place to learn and includes a calming corner for students to express and manage their emotions. Another room is stocked with specialized tools to help students engage with their environments in a sensory-rich, supportive setting.
“We have always been committed to providing an inclusive space where children of all abilities can learn, grow and thrive,” said BCC Executive Director Sarah Orth, Delta Phi-UC Irvine. “This renovation strengthens our ability to fulfill that mission and we look forward to witnessing its positive impact on our students, families and the broader community.”
Delta Gamma collegians in the Los Angeles area have played a vital role in supporting BCC for many years, and their dedication continues to make a meaningful impact. Through hands-on volunteer work, fundraising efforts and advocacy, these passionate sisters contribute their time and resources to enhance the lives of the students and their families.
Last June, the Delta Gamma Hope Serving program was held at BCC. Alumnae and collegians spent a week engaging in hands-on service at the Center and helped students and teachers in their classrooms.
The Los Angeles community has recently experienced significant devastation due to the wildfires, impacting families, homes and local institutions. Despite these challenges, the school has successfully reopened, and air quality conditions have improved, allowing students and staff to return to a sense of normalcy as the community begins to rebuild.
2023-24 Service for Sight Grant: The grant was used to support the BCC’s Zero to Three Program, focused on building critical skills in daily literacy, mobility and motor skills training in an inclusive classroom.
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Founded in 1951 by the St. Louis alumnae chapter.
DGC fulfills its mission by empowering children who are blind or have low vision to reach their full potential through family-centered, specialized services and strong community support.
This past fall, DGC welcomed students and families to their annual DGCKids All-Family event at a local farm and greenhouse. Collegians from Eta Theta-St. Louis spent the day volunteering at the event and helped kids enjoy pumpkin decorating and a petting zoo.
Gamma Iota-DePauw also did good at DGC last fall by helping assemble over 1,300 packets for the vision screening program. The packets will be distributed to families after their free vision screenings.
DGC kicked off the new year with their January GRADS (Group Recreation and Developmental Support) event at the Center. Through monthly group meet-ups, special events, and outdoor adventures, GRADS helps children practice orientation and mobility, socialization, and life skills in a fun, engaging environment. The January event included a visit from Champ Assistance Dogs and a goalball lesson from MindsEye Adaptive Athletics.
2023-24 Service for Sight Grant: The grant was used to help fund the Early Intervention Program, which provides specialized health, educational, developmental, and support services for infants and toddlers with low vision.
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Founded in 1952 with the Greater Kansas City alumnae chapter being a founding partner.
CCVI’s mission to help children reach their highest potential in the sighted world starts with a comprehensive model that includes vision screening, early interventions, a preschool, Early Learning Academy and specialized physical and occupational therapies, like speech-language, orientation and mobility to meet the multiple disabilities and challenges many students face.
In October, CCVI celebrated the tool of independence in a new way, with its first-ever White Cane Safety Day community celebration. CCVI hosted a White Cane Walk-A-Thon followed by crafts, food, face painting, and a concert. There was no shortage of Delta Gamma sisters at the event helping hand out lunch and cheering the students on.
2023-24 Service for Sight Grant: The grant was used to support the delivery of therapeutic and specialized services to children with blindness or low vision, ensuring that each child receives intervention tailored to their needs.
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Founded in 1952 by parents of children who were blind and designated a Delta Gamma School in 2018.
Over the past 72 years, FBC has gone from serving four students in a family living room to being an essential resource for over 2,000 people across Arizona. FBC has always aspired to do more to help more people. And while there is always work to be done, FBC’s new five-year strategic plan focuses on ensuring that every person with a visual impairment in Arizona has access to the resources, tools and services they need to thrive. This is the organization’s new guiding principle and will be spearheaded by FBC's new Chief Executive Officer, Jared Kittelson. He says, “FBC is about hope. It’s about what’s possible.”
Earlier this month, the Delta Gamma Hope Serving program visited FBC for a week of doing good. Four alumnae and six collegians worked hands on with students and learned all about the school. One of the participants, Kaisha, Zeta Eta-Texas State, reflected on her week at FBC: “This experience is expanding my views on the limitless possibilities for people with visual impairments and has forever changed how I will interact with people with a disability in the future."
2023-24 Service for Sight Grant: The grant was used to support FBC’s Early Intervention Program, providing year-round home visits for children from birth to age 3 and preschool for ages 3-5. Funding will go toward staff training and supplies.
It has been almost two months since we broke ground on the EO and Martin Center renovation, and major progress has been made! View recent photos of the renovation below.
There is still time to join us as we create the Oliphant Leadership Center, new Archives Museum and renovate our Executive Offices to strengthen member support and learning at every life stage. There are multiple opportunities to support these exciting projects and receive either group or individual recognition for your gift. These opportunities are available through the Delta Gamma Fraternity or the Delta Gamma Foundation. Gifts to the Delta Gamma Foundation are tax deductible in the United States as allowed by law. Gifts to the Fraternity are not tax deductible.
Front row, from left to right: Susan Kornegay, Jenn Ragusa, Amy Ayres
Back row, from left to right: Lee Deadwyler, Shenea Strader, Jill Roshto, Jennifer Surgalski, Kim Hunnewell, Danielle D'Arcy
At the fall 2024 BOT meeting, we asked your Foundation Trustees to answer some fun questions and share a bit more about themselves.
Read on to get to know our Foundation Trustees better and check out their bios here: https://www.deltagamma.org/library/ttdtdm/foundation-board-of-trustees-bios/
Jennifer (Jenn) Stuart Ragusa, Zeta Lambda-UC Riverside
DO GOOD: This is such a tough one! As I spend more and more time as a volunteer for the Foundation, I can tell you a touching story about each program area that will tug at your heart.
As a collegian, I received a Delta Gamma scholarship. At the time in college, this meant the world to me! It was significantly impactful to know that my sorority cared about collegians enough to select me as a recipient and lighten the load of the financial burden that college expenses place on so many.
As I grew up in Delta Gamma, at my chapter, Zeta Lambda-UC Riverside, I was selected for 3 leadership travel opportunities. This drastically changed my life in so many ways. I was able to attend the leadership training for DGs holding the position of vp: membership. This was my first view of DG on a larger scale. I met ladies across North America and we instantly bonded. I knew then that there was so much more to DG than I realized.
Upon graduation, I was selected to be a Collegiate Development Consultant (CDC). This was a formative year for me and started the path to serving DG in any capacity that I could.
And then the question of what means the most to me? Well, I first connected with DG on a closer level over Service for Sight. I grew up with a cousin who would have all loss of sight by the time we were teenagers. I witnessed how this impacted his life and also was (and still am) impressed by what he does with his life, not letting the loss of sight divert him from doing what he loves. If I were told that I have to choose one area, Service for Sight is the area that can bring tears to my eyes and warm my heart in an instant. Why? Because it's greater than you or me or DG. It's the area that we are able to serve beyond our sisterhood and forever make a difference in the lives of so many. It's the area where do good means that we are doing good beyond our own membership. It's also a time when we can collectively come together across chapters, regions, and ages and know that we all strive to make sure that someone else will have a bit less of a burden due to our Service for Sight actions.
A FUN RECOMMENDATION: I love historical fiction books. Currently, I am in the middle of The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. So far it's great and I highly recommend it! If you ever listen to audiobooks, one of my all-time favorites is Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I love that this audiobook is done with multiple narrators for the characters and it's a great storyline. I haven't yet watched the TV series, but the audiobook was fantastic!
REAL LIFE: The beach! I try to look at the water and visit the beach every day. The only thing holding me back is likely to be a sporting event for one of my kids. I have a favorite coffee spot called Super Bloom that sits right on the water, and you can view the most amazing sunsets while sipping a coffee, tea or cocktail! I also have a special spot at Law Street in San Diego where we have been visiting to watch the moonlight on the ocean waves, my kids surf and special picnics for years. This is one of my "zen" spots that renews my spirit any day.
Lee C. Deadwyler, Gamma Iota-DePauw
DO GOOD: This was tough to pick! But, I think the Foundation program that means the most to me is the training and programming we provide. The way we pour into members so they can develop into the best versions of themselves is really important. I am lucky to have personally benefitted so much from DG leadership training as a collegian (and even still now as an alumna)!
A FUN RECOMMENDATION: I love so many tv shows and podcasts. Two of my absolute favorite podcasts are Normal Gossip and Scam Goddess. In Normal Gossip, the host Kelsey McKinney shares anonymous gossip with that week’s guest. It’s incredibly funny, sometimes shocking, but always entertaining! And Scam Goddess is hosted by the amazingly funny Laci Mosley. She invites guests to share about scammers and con artists, but in a very funny way! If you need something lighthearted, I would recommend either of those two podcasts.
REAL LIFE: If you were to visit me in Washington, DC, you would find me at team trivia or playing softball with friends. I have been lucky enough to be playing with some of the same folks for about 6 years! We put the social in social sports!
Jill Elizabeth Roshto, Gamma Zeta-Louisiana State
DO GOOD: We have so many amazing programs, but I love the Crisis Grant program that offers a lifeline to our sisters at a time of extreme hardship and need. This program really makes the case that Delta Gamma is for life.
A FUN RECOMMENDATION: I was obsessed with a Danish show, Seaside Hotel, on the PBS app this summer. It is a historical drama that spans several decades from the 1920s through to the end of WWII and follows a group of people who go to the same hotel every summer. It is funny, heartwarming and also informative about what was going on in Denmark during war time.
REAL LIFE: Well, it is fall, so you might find me in Tiger Stadium at an LSU football game or checking on things at the temporary Delta Gamma House (we are currently living in the DKE Fraternity House) while we renovate our house.
Catherine (Kim) Schmoker Hunnewell, Alpha Upsilon-Southern Methodist
DO GOOD: The Foundation area that most resonates with me is Service for Sight. I am continually amazed at what a difference we make in the lives of people with blindness or low vision with our grants and programs. And, as I continue to be exposed to what those living with low vision need, it opens up new opportunities where we can continue to help make change.
A FUN RECOMMENDATION: Love the author Kate Quinn, Diamond Eye is a favorite! Two favorite shows would be Only Murders in the Building, and Masters of the Air.
REAL LIFE: If you were to visit me in Minneapolis, you would find me walking the lakes with friends, playing pickleball, and taking a cooking class at Bellecour. My goal this winter is to learn to play mahjong.
Danielle Consentino D’Arcy, Gamma Pi-Roanoke
DO GOOD: The many scholarship and fellowship opportunities that allow our sisters to invest in themselves via education.
A FUN RECOMMENDATION: Books: All by Mark Sullivan: The Last Green Valley, Beneath a Scarlet Sky, All the Glimmering Stars. TV Shows: Shrinking and Schitt's Creek.
REAL LIFE: Chicago: At one of the many Lake Shore parks with my husband and our dog, or on our rooftop cooking pizzas on the solo stove overlooking the city skyline and Bozeman: In the mountains hiking, hunting, fishing, being present in - and with - nature.
Jennifer Surgalski, Zeta Sigma-Northern Kentucky
DO GOOD: As a past recipient of a Delta Gamma Foundation Fellowship for graduate study, I feel especially passionate about our Foundation’s support of women furthering their academic pursuits. The Foundation’s support allowed me to pursue my Masters in Business and Sports Administration, and launch my career in sports and entertainment. I’m so very grateful to my sisters who generously gave to our Foundation and made my fellowship possible.
A FUN RECOMMENDATION: As a result of my work on the National Medal of Honor Museum, I’ve read several autobiographies of Medal of Honor recipients. Among the most impactful to me is Kyle Carpenter’s You are Worth It. Kyle is our youngest living Medal of Honor recipient and someone I’ve come to call a friend. His book is an incredible account of his life, military experience and resilience through adversity. His is an important story I think everyone will benefit from reading.
REAL LIFE: In Dallas this fall, you will find me enjoying walks on the Katy Trail, working to improve my golf game, patio dining and cheering on my Dallas Cowboys!
Dr. Amy R. Ayres, Alpha Iota-Oklahoma
DO GOOD: I have a deep appreciation for the experience that Hope Serving provides. Hearing the testimonials of collegians and alumnae who attend this hands-on service trip really speaks to the good that Delta Gamma does.
A FUN RECOMMENDATION: My current obsession is with the RedHanded podcast. I’m a sucker for true crime. Hannah and Suruthi regularly bring great entertainment my way.
REAL LIFE: The local food scene in Oklahoma City is pretty phenomenal, so you’ll likely find me on a patio with someone who also loves to keep up with the ever-growing list of new locales.
Shenea Stephenson Strader, Eta Iota–Nevada, Reno
DO GOOD: I love the programming that we’re able to offer! Lewis Institute, Dawson Institute, and the Act with Intention programs are some of my personal favorites.
A FUN RECOMMENDATION: True Crime Creepers, hosted by two DG alumnae! Highly recommend – it’s exceptionally entertaining!!
REAL LIFE: You’d most likely find me volunteering at my twins’ elementary school – I’m there several days a week, making copies, volunteering in the classroom and doing whatever else they need help with. I’ve been known to plan a class party or two, also!
Susan Meyer Kornegay, Eta-Akron
DO GOOD: Since I was a collegian at Eta-Akron, the Foundation’s program that has always meant the most to me is Service for Sight, as championed by Ruth Billow and lived out in my close friendship with Jean Nardin (not a Delta Gamma) for 25 years. Jean lost her vision to Type 1 Diabetes while in her mid-twenties, just about the time we first met. She taught me so much about how much people who are blind can actually do (like playing golf and skiing), what their challenges are and how to help (like using the “clock method” to help them navigate a meal), what not to do (like grab their arm rather than offering yours to guide them), and so much more.
A FUN RECOMMENDATION: I really enjoyed the audio book, Hello Darkness, My Old Friend: How Daring Dreams and Unyielding Friendship Turned One Man’s Blindness into an Extraordinary Vision for Life (Sanford D. Greenberg). This book was recommended to me by former BOT Secretary Lynne Thieme. It is the story of a Columbia University student from a poor Jewish family who overcame losing his eyesight to disease while in college and found success as a student and as a professional and public servant. It also explores his lifetime friendship with Art Garfunkel, who wrote the introduction and provided the narration for the audio book.
REAL LIFE: If you were to visit me in Knoxville, I’d love for my husband Jerry and me to take you to Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Less than an hour from our home, Cades Cove is a scenic valley surrounded by mountains and one of the most lovely and peaceful places on earth, especially in the fall when the colors are at their brightest. The valley is circled by an 11-mile loop road from which you can explore historic homesites, churches, and cemeteries, as well as access hiking trails and watch for wildlife such as deer and BEARS! Cades Cove is certainly one of our favorites.
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Jennifer Magro Algarotti, PhD
Director of Strategic Communications
(614) 487-5507 jennifer.magro.algarotti@deltagamma.org
[COLUMBUS, OH] — Delta Gamma Foundation announces the successful conclusion of Anchoring the Future: The Campaign for Delta Gamma, its first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign. The organization surpassed its ambitious $50 million goal by raising an extraordinary $58,133,064, made possible through the generous support of 14,426 donors. The Campaign was guided by a Cabinet of 17 dedicated Delta Gamma alumnae, whose leadership was instrumental in achieving this unprecedented result.
The campaign recorded numerous noteworthy achievements:
"When we launched this Campaign six years ago, we hoped Delta Gammas would respond with heartfelt enthusiasm for investing in our mission,” said Campaign Co-Chairs Laurie Watson Kight, Delta Kappa-South Florida and Shaun Fisher Young, Mu-Missouri. “The success of this Campaign reflects the deep commitment of our members to Delta Gamma's values and future, which will allow our sisterhood to do even more in the pursuit of doing good."
The Campaign strategically focused on four key areas:
Jenn Stuart Ragusa, Zeta Lambda-UC Riverside, Chair of the Delta Gamma Foundation Board of Trustees, says, "Anchoring the Future represents more than a fundraising achievement – it's a testament to the enduring strength of our sisterhood. The astonishing generosity of our sisters, chapters and friends has positioned Delta Gammas to lead, grow and do good on a larger scale than ever before, securing Delta Gamma's ability to enrich the lives of our members and expand our philanthropic impact for generations to come."
This comprehensive initiative was conceived as both a celebration of Delta Gamma's rich 150-year history and an investment in its ambitious future. The Campaign's success ensures the organization can continue to provide meaningful experiences, support and opportunities to its members while advancing its broader mission of service and leadership. Construction began this fall on the renovation of Delta Gamma Executive Offices in Columbus, Ohio, including creating the Leadership Training Center and Archives Museum.
Pictured above: Leslie Martin, Gamma Rho-Wittenberg, Delta Gamma Foundation executive director, Judy Barnhart, Gamma Iota-DePauw, Building Committee Chair, and Tracey Williams, Beta Sigma-Maryland, Delta Gamma Fraternity executive director break ground at Delta Gamma Executive Offices in Columbus, OH, on October 3, 2024.
About the Delta Gamma Foundation: Incorporated in 1951, the Delta Gamma Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization formed as a complement to the Delta Gamma Fraternity. Through its philanthropic endeavors, educational programming, and leadership initiatives, the Foundation supports and advances Delta Gamma's mission of doing good and partners with the Fraternity to ensure the future of our sisterhood through three areas of support: Individual Member Support, Training and Programming, and Delta Gamma’s philanthropy, Service for Sight.
About the Delta Gamma Fraternity: Delta Gamma Fraternity was founded in 1873 at Lewis School in Oxford, Mississippi. The Fraternity’s primary purpose is to foster high ideals of friendship, promote educational and cultural interests, create a true sense of social responsibility and develop the best qualities of character. Delta Gamma has 280,000 initiated members, 147 collegiate chapters and more than 170 alumnae groups. Delta Gamma Executive Offices is in Columbus, Ohio.
On October 2, 2024, we officially broke ground on the renovation of Executive Offices. Judy Van Scoyk Barnhart, Gamma Iota-DePauw, chair of the building committee, joined many local staff members to celebrate this exciting milestone. Attendees had the unique opportunity to explore the building and witness firsthand the exciting progress being made. A standout moment was the discovery of a variety of vintage wallpapers. Everyone also enjoyed 3250 cookies in tribute to our beloved headquarters!
The updates will include the Leadership Oliphant Center, a new Archives Museum, a renovated Martin Center and meeting spaces, an enhanced IT structure and more opportunities for collaboration among staff and volunteers. Click here to view renderings of the completed project.
Stay tuned for more renovation updates in future DG Headlines newsletters and on our blog! Visit our website to learn more about how you can support the creation of a Leadership Training Center, Archives Museum, and renovation of Executive Offices.
