Our three founders: Anna Boyd Ellington, Mary Comfort Leonard, and Eva Webb Dodd adopted the motto “Do Good” in 1873. Since then, every Delta Gamma strives to live that motto through our philanthropy work, our dedication to our sisterhood, and our work within our university and community.
Delta Gamma adopted Service for Sight as its national philanthropy in 1936. Delta Gammas all over the country work to serve blind and visually impaired individuals of all ages. The Delta Gamma Foundation has provided millions of dollars to our four Delta Gamma schools for visually impaired children, as well as other organizations who provide services to the visually impaired. Delta Gammas nationally have completed over 150,000 Service for Sight volunteer hours each year.
Delta Gammas at Southern Methodist University fulfill our Service for Sight mission by working with the visually impaired in the Dallas and SMU communities. As a chapter, we partner with the Meadows Museum on campus, Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind, American Council for the Blind, Texas School for the Blind, Essilor Vision Foundation and many more
We raise money through a number of philanthropy events during the year. In the fall, we host our Signature Foundation Event: AnchorSplash, as well as S’Mores and Outdoors. In the Spring, we host AnchorSlam, a March Madness-inspired tournament.
3,080 hours served
$78,000 money raised
AnchorSplash
Before our switch this year to Anchorbowl, SMU Delta Gammas hosted AnchorSplash every fall semester at the SMU recreation center pool. As a philanthropy event that the campus looks forward to, Delta Gamma’s AnchorSplash drew over 20 teams of fraternities and sororities, along with some of SMU’s athletic teams and multicultural groups. The outfits, the routines and the competition of both individual and team races in the pool are highly entertaining. AnchorSplash has raised more than $10,000 each year for Service for Sight. Check out our Facebook page for more information!
Lectureship
Every year as part of the Delta Gamma Lectureship in Values and Ethics series, our chapter brings a nationally known speaker to SMU as a service to the university and Dallas community. The Lectureship event is provided at no cost to the public. Past Lectureship speakers have included Madeline Albright, Julie Andrews, William Bennett, Barbara Bush, Mike Domitz, Kelly and Becca, Larry Brown, Jerry Greenfield, Piper Kerman, and Nastia Liukin. Christine Ha, was our speaker in Fall 2021.
Check back in later for next year’s Lectureship Speaker!
Joining Forces
Delta Gamma Fraternity and Foundation are taking their dedication to helping those with visual impairments a step further. Delta Gamma is launching Service for Sight: Joining Forces. This initiative will encourage our membership of more than 200,000 women to offer service and raise funds for blind or visually impaired veterans.
SMU Delta Gammas worked together with the US Military Veterans of SMU in the spring, and look forward to more collaborations in the future.