Students from Delta Delta Delta were able to travel to the hospital in Memphis, Tenn., for the grand opening of the Chili’s Care Center. The sorority’s national office has a floor in its name in the care center after pledging three years ago to raise $10 million within the next decade.
The floor contains suites featuring adjoining parent rooms with windows into patient rooms, and private baths for the patient and their family. Other amenities available on the floor include the hospital’s main pharmacy, two nurse stations, a family lounge, an education office, a teen room and a play area.
This marks one of the largest pledges ever made by a Greek organization to a philanthropic organization. Nationally, Tri Delta is currently over $4 million into the pledge. Each chapter nationwide has been asked to raise around $65,000 in 10 years in order to meet the pledge. Elon’s chapter has raised $41,997 in two and a half years.
Due to the chapter’s successful fundraising efforts such as Write a Letter Save a Life, the annual DHOP Pancake Breakfast and the Parent’s Weekend Silent Auction, the Epsilon Delta chapter, along with Elon, has been recognized on a plaque outside of a patient care room.
Emma Heydlauff, Elon philanthropy chair, and Brittany Lavelle, Elon vice president of chapter development, recently traveled to St. Jude and were able to attend the grand opening of the Chili’s Care Center and tour the hospital.
Tri Delta officials said they thank Elon community members who contributed to their fundraising efforts. The next event will be a campus-wide cornhole tournament on April 4. The money raised will help ensure that no child is ever turned away from medical care due to their inability to pay.
– Article written by Elon senior Katie Spell, chapter president of Delta Delta Delta