Tri Delta at UA Sets Fundraising Record for Children’s Hospital

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Delta Mu chapter of the Delta Delta Delta national sorority has been recognized as this year’s top fundraiser for Tri Delta’s philanthropic partner, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. To honor the sorority’s achievement, St. Jude will place a UA flag signed by the sorority members on display in the hospital.

During the 2013-2014 fundraising campaign, Delta Mu raised $204,414.79 for St. Jude, making it the first chapter in history to donate  more than $200,000 in a single year. The group’s contribution was part of $6.1 million raised this year by Tri Delta chapters nationwide.

To earn the distinction, Delta Mu expanded its fundraising event roster from previous years to reach a greater audience from across the Greek community and UA campus. This year’s events included a tailgate event, a coffee and doughnut mixer, a crawfish boil and a letter-writing campaign. The members enlisted the help of numerous sororities and fraternities across campus to host and promote the events.

“We have strong competition from other large Tri Delta chapters that have all raised huge amounts of money in recent years,” said Patricia Stutts, president of Delta Delta Delta at UA. “All of the money raised is for a great cause, so it is definitely just a friendly competition, but it does motivate us.”

The national Tri Delta sorority adopted St. Jude as its national philanthropic partner in 1999. Since then, the sorority’s members have raised more than $30 million for the hospital. The current fundraising efforts are part of a recent Tri Delta commitment to raising $60 million for St. Jude in 10 years.

“This is the largest single commitment ever made by a St. Jude partner,” Stutts said. “It is incredible to say we are dedicated to such a huge fundraising goal as collegian members.”