ΔΓ
DELTA GAMMA
do good
est. 1873
Delta Gamma was founded on Christmas Day in 1873 at the Lewis School for Girls by three visionary women, Anna Boyd Ellington, Eva Webb Dodd, and Mary Comfort Leonard. In the over 150 years since our founding, Delta Gamma has grown into an international organization with over 250,000 members and 150 collegiate chapters across North America. Being a member of Delta Gamma means having access to a nationwide network of women who are committed to doing good. Built on the pillars of friendship, educational and cultural interests, social responsibility, and the best qualities of character, Delta Gamma fosters lifelong connections and growth opportunities for its members. Guided by these principles, the sisters of Beta Epsilon chapter are involved in every corner of campus and beyond, epitomizing our motto of doing good. Our sisters are involved with internships ranging from the U.S. Supreme Court to Defenders of Wildlife, and on-campus organizations including Model United Nations, Club Lacrosse, the Juris Mentem Law Review, the Public Health Association, Voters of AU, Ego Magazine, AU Ambassadors, the Office of Inclusive Excellence, and countless others that promote personal growth and a commitment to change beyond our chapter. We also hold monthly sisterhood events to strengthen our bonds as sisters, including movie nights, chapter retreats, picnics, crafts, and more. Joining Delta Gamma is not just a commitment to joining our sorority, but it offers countless opportunities for personal growth, professional development, and lifelong friendships.
About us
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Philanthropy
Our philanthropy is embodied by our motto: Do Good. The Delta Gamma Foundation has three vital parts: Service for Sight, grants to the fraternity for educational and leadership growth, and grants to individual sisters in need. Since 1936, Service for Sight has been at the heart of our mission, seeking to provide access and advocacy for members of the blind and visually impaired community. This became Delta Gamma’s philanthropy after one of our own members who was blind, Ruth Billow, petitioned to adopt it, highlighting that support for our sisters is at the heart of everything we do. Service for Sight funds five schools across the country that provide opportunities for visually impaired youth, as well as providing guide dog training and advocating for sight preservation and conservation. Service for Sight provides key opportunities for and awareness about the blind community, but it importantly extends far beyond that. Anyone who wears glasses or contacts is impacted by the work we do. The crosswalks on American University’s campus have audio directions because of the work of our chapter! Additionally, our Foundation empowers members to become impactful women through leadership training, social responsibility initiatives, and financial support on an individual level. Scholarships and fellowships further invest in our members’ academic success. Because our philanthropy was founded by and is currently run through Delta Gamma, everything we do makes a tangible and direct impact on our community and beyond. In the past five years, the Delta Gamma Foundation has made significant contributions, including nearly $700,000 in grants to 25 guide dog organizations, $805,957 to national and local sight-related organizations, and $28,000 annually to each of the five DG schools. Beta Epsilon chapter contributes to this through our two annual philanthropy events: Anchor Splash and Cycle for Sight. Since 2019, our chapter alone has raised around $30,000 for Service for Sight through these events, which involve the entire AU community in fun activities for a good cause. Delta Gamma is the Do Good Sisterhood, centered on promoting Service for Sight and seeking to impact each individual member through individualized support and opportunities for conversations in values and ethics.
A Letter from our President
Being chapter president has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career. When I joined Delta Gamma, I was surrounded by nothing but genuine, loyal, and passionate women. Women who were likeminded, yet valued and celebrated individuality. I knew from day one that Delta Gamma was my home away from home. My safe harbor on a stormy day. From meeting my role models, best friends, and lifelines, to providing opportunities for self-growth and leadership positions that have taught me invaluable lessons, I thank Delta Gamma.
As a new member, I would never have thought I would be chapter president. Had it not been for the encouragement from my friends and women in this organization I would not be writing this today. Being able to give back to this organization that has given me so much has been so fulfilling. These women inspire me each and every day, and I am forever grateful and proud to have the opportunity to represent Delta Gamma at American University as chapter president.​
With love, Lili Zens
A Letter from our Vice President of Foundation
Hi y’all, my name is Ava Pektor and I am the VP Foundations for Delta Gamma! Supporting Service for Sight is an exciting endeavor that fosters empathy, compassion, and gratitude as we serve those who are visually impaired. We show pride through our impact, a sense of responsibility to Do Good, and solidarity with those we support. Most of all, we inspire hope knowing our efforts create meaningful, lasting change. Service for Sight is very important to me because I have a very close friend who is blind so this cause affects me personally. Being able to support another avenue for the same purpose is very impactful and I am proud to be a part of leading this cause for our sorority. Having the honor of holding this position of VP Foundations again, I want to continue bring more awareness to the cause of Service For Sight. I would like for our community to bond over this shared purpose.​​
Love, Ava Pektor
A Letter from our Director of Lectureships
As director of Lectureships, I had the wonderful opportunity to help plan our inagural Deese-Knight Family Delta Gamma Endowed Lectureship in Values and Ethics. Lectureships focuses on the importance of spreading values and ethics to the AU community. This past fall, we had the opportunity to have Piper Kerman as our first speaker! Piper is a social justice advocate, and the author of Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison.
This inaugural Deese-Knight Family Delta Gamma Endowed Lectureship in Values and Ethics is especially meaningful because our chapter is the only one on campus with the privilege of having the opportunity to host such important conversations in ethical leadership and civic responsibility.
Lectureships is a vital part of Delta Gamma's foundation and it allows us to do good in our entire community!
​Love, Layla Younis
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