Delta Delta Delta (ΔΔΔ)
Founded	1888 Boston University, (Boston, Massachusetts)
Type	Social
Scope	International
Motto	Let us steadfastly love one another
Colors	Silver, Gold, and Cerulean blue
Symbol	Pansy, Pearl and Pine
Publication	The Trident
Philanthropy	Children's Cancer Research; Partners with St. Jude Children's Hospital
Members	186,000+ collegiate
Headquarters	2331 Brookhollow Plaza Drive Arlington, Texas, USA
Homepage	http://www.deltadeltadelta.org

Delta Delta Delta (ΔΔΔ), also known as Tri Delta, is an international collegiate women's fraternity founded on November 27, 1888. With 138 chapters in the United States and Canada it is one of the largest women's organizations in the world.

[edit] History

Delta Delta Delta was founded by Sarah Ida Shaw, Eleanor Dorcas Pond, Florence Isabelle Stewart and Isabel Morgan Breed at Boston University.

Three women's groups were already represented at Boston University in 1888 (Kappa Kappa Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta and Alpha Phi). However, Sarah Ida Shaw saw a need for another group which would be different from the others. She enlisted the help of Eleanor Dorcas Pond and told her: "Let us found a society that shall be kind alike to all and think more of a girl's inner self and character than of her personal appearance."

The two young women began the work of creating a new national fraternity. Later Sarah wrote, "...The two enthusiastic friends were unaware of the fact that there was something stupendous about the task they had set hands, heads and hearts to accomplish. They were working for a principle, and it never occurred to them that there could be such a thing as failure. Earnestness of purpose, energy and enthusiasm had brought them both success in college and why should not these same qualities bring assurance of good fortune to the new venture."

Member Badge

Shaw and Pond not only founded a fraternity, but also wrote the rituals and constitution as well as designing the emblems. The choosing of the name was a mutual decision. Eleanor suggested a triple letter while Sarah chose the actual letter and developed Greek mottos and passwords. The inspiration for these came from a variety of sources such as Egyptian Lore, Hindu mysticism, Greek and astronomy, which reflected the wide and various interests of Sarah Ida Shaw.

Tri Delta has recently paired with Carolyn Becker and adopted her sorority body image program, now entitled Reflections, and is implementing this program within its chapters nationwide. ^[1]

The Founders of ΔΔΔ:

Sarah Ida Shaw

Eleanor Dorcas Pond

Florence Isabelle Stewart

Isabel Morgan Breed

[1]

• Tri Delta was the first women's fraternity to be founded as a national organization with complete plans for governmental structure and expansion.
• Tri Delta began regular publication of its quarterly magazine earlier in its existence than any other women's fraternity. The Trident has been published continuously since 1891.
• Tri Delta was the first to plan and perfect an alumnae system.
• Tri Delta pioneered chapter visitation in 1905, appointing an officer to visit all chapters.
• Tri Delta was the first to publish a book-length history: A Detailed Record of Delta Delta Delta, 1888-1907.
• Tri Delta was the first women's fraternity to hold a national Leadership Conference.
• Tri Delta was the first to establish a central office (now called Executive Office).
• Tri Delta was a leader in financing proper housing for collegiate chapters and has a large investment in houses, lodges and suites.
• Tri Delta has concentrated its national philanthropic efforts on higher education and has been praised by educators for these contributions through the Founders' Anniversary Fellowships, the Zoe Gore Perrin Scholarships and the endowment of the National Humanities Center.
• Tri Delta was the first NPC group to adopt a central accounting system for its collegiate chapters.
• Individual Tri Deltas have made outstanding contributions in many fields. The History of Delta Delta Delta, 1888-1988 includes a chapter recognizing many "Distinguished Deltas," and The Trident regularly features articles on our outstanding Tri Deltas.

[edit] Traditions and Legacy

• Tri Delta's colors are silver, gold and cerulean blue. Green is also significant for Tri Delta as it represents the union of the three colors.

• Each newly inducted member receives a hand made gold badge with three deltas painted on a crescent moon. Above this are three stars; each holds a small pearl inside. A trident stick pin is given with the badge when the new member is initiated, but is not required to be worn with the badge at all times. Tri Delta badges were not uniform in design when the fraternity was founded, and the trident is not always present. Early badges were often different sizes with different precious stones placed into the stars.
• Tri Delta began regular publication of its quarterly magazine earlier in its existence than any other women's fraternity. The Trident has been published continuously since 1891.

[edit] Philanthropy

New Member Pin

In the early 1970s, a national survey established that Tri Delta chapters were interested in "children", "hospitals" and "cancer". At the 1974 Tri Delta Convention, it was decided to combine the 3 and support Children's Cancer Charities as the designated Philanthropy.

Many chapters would observe "Sleighbell Day" on the first Tuesday of December. Sleighbell Day followed in the tradition of the Sleighbell Luncheon, which was first held in the 1940s by 13 Southern California chapters to benefit a doctor researching blood diseases at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

In 1999, Tri Delta joined with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to form a national partnership. With this arrangement St. Jude (through the fundraising branch, ALSAC) assists Tri Delta chapters to plan philanthropy events that will directly benefit the children and subsidize research costs at St. Jude.

In 2002, Tri Deltas across the nation committed to raising 1 million dollars in four years to build a Teen Room at the Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. In 2005 Tri Delta fulfilled the million dollar commitment.

In July 2006, Tri Delta made a commitment to support St. Jude through a "10 in 10" campaign. This campaign is focused on raising $10 million in 10 years, to build a new floor that will focus on patient treatment and brain tumor research. As of the July 2009, they have raised over $8 million of their 10 million dollar goal.

Tri Deltas are committed to helping St. Jude in every way possible. To date, Tri Delta has raised $7.8 million for St. Jude. The month of March has now also been designated as St. Jude / Tri Delta month.

In addition to the national partnership, Tri Delta also continues to raise money annually to support various local Children's Cancer Charities, including the long-running Sleighbell Luncheon.

[edit] Notable members

• Donna Axum (Delta Iota) - Miss America 1964, Public Service^[2]
• Lee Phillip Bell (Upsilon) - Talk Show Host^[2]
• Sara Blakely (Alpha Eta) - Founder of Spanx and Celebrity Judge^[2]
• Lisa Boscola (Gamma Beta) - Pennsylvania State Senate^[2]
• Betsy Boze (Theta Kappa) - CEO and Dean of Kent State University Stark^[3][4][5]
• Bobbe Bridge (Theta Alpha) - Former Associate Justice of the Washington Supreme Court^[2]
• Dixie Carter (Delta Sigma) - Actress^[2]
• Kathy Castor (Alpha Omega) - Democratic Congresswoman for Florida's 11th congressional district^[2]
• Kiran Chetry (Alpha Pi) - CNN Anchor^[2]
• Kellie Coffey (Theta Gamma) - Musician^[2]
• Nellie Connally (Theta Zeta) - Former First Lady of Texas^[2]
• Leanza Cornett (Beta Gamma) - Miss America 1993 and television host^[2]
• Katie Couric (Beta Sigma) - Anchor, CBS Evening News^[2]
• Catherine Crier (Theta Zeta) - Judge, TV personality^[2]
• Mary Frances Crosby (Theta Zeta) Actress, TV's "Dallas"^[2]
• Elizabeth Dole (Alpha Omicron) - U.S. Senator from North Carolina, Former Secretary of Transportation^[2]
• Farrah Fawcett (Theta Zeta) - Actress, Charlie's Angels^[6]
• Terry Gabreski (Delta Omega) - Vice Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base^[2]
• Joanna Garcia (Alpha Eta) - Actress^[2]
• Rita B. Garman (Delta Pi) - Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois^[2]
• Cynthia Geary (Chi) - Emmy-Nominated Actress^[2]
• Leeza Gibbons (Alpha Lambda) - Actress, Talk Show Host^[2]
• Doris Kearns Goodwin (Alpha Upsilon) - Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian^[2]
• Cathy Guisewite (Iota) - Comic-Strip Author^[2]
• Hoda Kotb (Beta Nu) - News Anchor^[2]
• Deborah Norville (Alpha Rho) - News Anchor^[2]
• Kathy Orr (Omicron) - Meteorologist^[2]
• Anne Rivers Siddons (Phi Theta) - Author^[2]
• Molly Sims (Delta Gamma) - Actress, Model^[2]
• Sally Stapleton (Unknown) - Award winning journalist^{[citation needed]}
• Shawn Weatherly (Beta Theta) - Miss Universe 1980, Actress^[2]
• Tyler Willis (Phi Eta) - Miss Texas USA 2005, Top 15 at Miss USA 2005^[2]
• Melissa Witek (Alpha Psi) - Miss Florida USA 2005, 4th Runner-up at Miss USA 2005^[7]
• Savitree Suttichanond (Beta Upsilon) - Singer on True Visions's Academy Fantasia^[2]
• Molly Daniels (Theta Omega) - The American Cancer Society's Director of Nationwide Grassroots Advocacy

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Tri Delta National Web Site