Theta Service - Then and Now

  • The world should be a better place because Kappa Alpha Theta exists.

    Adelaide MacDonald Sinclair

    Sigma/Toronto, Fraternity president, 1936-1942

The following images reflect the myriad ways Thetas have, over the years, contributed on an international level in the U.S. and Canada, in our communities, and to the Fraternity and Theta Foundation.

Theta Service Through the Years

  1. 1916
  2. 06/01/1917
  3. 1936
  4. 1942
  5. 1943
  6. 1950
  7. 1956
  8. 1963
  9. 1966
  10. 1968
  11. 1986
  12. 2010
  13. 2012
  14. 2014
  15. 2015
  16. 2016
  1. 1916

    Scholarship Fund, 1916
    Scholarship Fund of Kappa Alpha Theta, Report, 1916

    Los Angeles alumnae established the fund in 1906 to support scholarships for Kappa Alpha Theta members, the first national philanthropy project of the Fraternity.

    Scholarship fund publication
  2. June 01
    1917

    Knitting for War Effort, 1917
    Knitting for the War Effort, 1917 Grand Convention, Charlevoix, Mich.

    Grand Convention attendees knitted for the Red Cross at all Convention activities. Marie Davis Thomson, Alpha Iota/Washington-St. Louis, with her red, cross-shaped knitting bag.

    Woman heritage photo
  3. 1936

    DePauw Memorial Library Fund, 1936
    DePauw Memorial Library Fund, 1936

    Established by the 1922 Grand Convention from funds remaining after World War I projects, the fund provided money to purchase books for the library on the topic of vocations for women. The first books were given in 1925. Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation continues to support the purchase of books to this day.

    Women reading in library
  4. 1942

    Book Collection, 1942
    Collecting Books for the Victory Book Campaign, 1942

    Theta college and alumnae chapters participated in many home-front efforts during World War II. Pictured, Rho/Nebraska depositing their collected books.

    1942 Maycover
  5. 1943

    Merchant Marine Ship Library, 1943
    Merchant Marine Ship Library Donated, 1943

    Theta funded six libraries for Merchant Marine ships, each named after Thetas who had died in service to their country during the war. Eleanor Campbell Nate, Beta Beta/Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, and member of the U.S. Women's Army Corps, died in 1942.

    Library dedication plaque
  6. 1950

    Foster Parents
    Foster Parent's Plan for War Children, 1950s

    Many college and alumnae chapters sponsored a child through the Foster Parent’s Plan for War Children. The Fraternity participated from 1942-1973, and by 1964 had raised more than $111,000 to assist more than 600 children.

    Foster Parents' Plan for War Children headline
  7. 1956

    Friendship Fund
    Friendship Fund Collection by the Spokane Alumnae Chapter, 1956

    Colleen Cooke Heideman, Alpha Lambda/Washington, Shirley Jane McBride Pettis Pozzi, Alpha Sigma/Washington State, and Patricia Sheely Conley, Alpha Sigma/Washington State. The Friendship Fund was established in 1926 to assist Thetas in need. Annual collections still take place.

    Friendship Fund Collection
  8. 1963

    Memphis Alumnae Chapter, 1963
    Memphis Alumnae Chapter Fundraiser, 1963

    Catherine Dyer Wise Harrison and Mary Ann Hodge Fisher, Alpha Eta/Vanderbilt, Jeanne Pauley Smith Broemmelsick, Alpha Iota/Washington-St. Louis, cooked favorite recipes. The event and resulting cookbook raised funds for the Institute of Logopedics and a local charity.

    Women Cooking Fundraiser
  9. 1966

    Theta Foundation Table
    Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation Table at the 1966 Grand Convention.

    Virginia Ford Hood, Alpha Omicron/Oklahoma, Theta Foundation membership chairman enrolled Marian MacDonald, Gamma Omega/Auburn.

    Theta Foundation Table
  10. 1968

    Western Ontario
    Painting the Campus Tunnel, 1968

    Gamma Epsilon/Western Ontario members, alongside other students, participated in a campus improvement project.

    Western Ontario
  11. 1986

    Institute of Logopedics, 1986
    $1 million for the Institute of Logopedics, 1986

    Selected as Theta’s national philanthropy in 1946, the Institute, now known as Heartspring, serves those with communication disorders. In 1986, Kappa Alpha Theta reached the $1 million mark in cash donations to the Institute.

    Institute of Logopedics
  12. 2010

    Upsilon Service,
    CASA Fundraiser, 2010s

    Theta college, including Upsilon/Minnesota, and alumnae chapters find many ways to raise funds to support both their local CASA groups and the national CASA organization.

    Upsilon Service
  13. 2012

    CASA Walk, 2012 Grand Convention, Tucson, Ariz.
    CASA Walk at 2012 Grand Convention

    Convention attendees enjoyed walking in Tucson to raise funds for CASA.

    CASA Walk 2012 Grand Convention
  14. 2014

    CASA Walk, 2014 Grand Convention

    Grand Convention attendees in Orlando, Fla., gathered in the early morning.

    CASA Walk 2014 Grand Convention
  15. 2015

    Spokane Area Alumnae on Day of Service, 2015

    Spokane-area Thetas participated in the 2015 Day of Service.

    Spokane
  16. 2016

    Alumnae Service Trip, 2016

    Participants in the first Alumnae Service Trip worked at projects around New Orleans, La., including planting trees in the St. Bernard Wetland. Pictured, left to right: Erin Wood, Upsilon/Wisconsin, Yasaman Karimianpour, Epsilon Sigma/UC Irvine, and Mary Katherine Kronzer, Gamma/Butler.

    Alumnae Service Trip 2016