November 2005

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PASADENA DELTAS ESTABLISH PERMANENT SCHOLARSHIP FUND AT PASADENA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

At the 2005 Annual Meeting of the Pasadena Delta Foundation, Inc (PDF), the PDF presented a check for $125,000.00 to the Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) to begin a permanent

Academic Award Fund to support the ten annual Commemorative scholarships given annually by the Pasadena Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. The chapter has given over $300,000.00 to deserving Pasadena graduates. John Singleton, award winning film producer and John Kennedy, successful developer, are among the awardees.

These awards have been named by the Platinum Founding Donors of the PDF, Anita Cole-Townsel, Gloria Hines, Denise Jones, Saundra Lewis Knox, Mabel Lockett Martin, Gwendolyn McMullins, Jean Mills, Mary Jane Moses, Gwendolyn Sherard-Bishop and Presidents (Brenda Bullock, Betty Holliday, Anita Jackson, Elaine Wrice, Deborah Williams)

Delta Sigma Theta is an international public service sorority founded in 1913 at Howard University in Washington D. C. There are now over 900 chapters throughout the world. Yvonne Brown is the president of the 44 year old Pasadena Chapter which meets monthly at the Pasadena Senior Center. City Councilwoman, Joyce Streator was one of the chapter’s founding members.

The members of the sorority are involved in a wide range of activities. Through Delta Academy One, in cooperation with the Pasadena NAACP, the sorority provides mentors in math, science and technology and books for Middle school children. Delta Academy Two targets high school youth. The chapter underwrites an annual trip to Sacramento for the Academy Two students. There, they role play legislative activities, tour the capitol and interact with the legislators.

Giving back is an important priority for Delta. Members supply food for the AIDS Food Pantry; conduct women’s health classes; partner with Habitat for Humanity and Women At Work; participate in the annual Pasadena Posada Walk; and underwrite field trips for students at Jackson Elementary. To educate, pass on important traditions and convey a spirit of joy, the sorority also sponsors a yearly Kwanza Celebration at La Pintoresca Library, open to the community.

The chapter scholarship and community activities have been supported by various fund raisers including, a Christmas Boutique the Saturday after Thanksgiving, a spring Cotillion and a number of Theater Parties at the Pasadena Playhouse. The Delta Academic Award Fund at PCF is now the main funding source for the scholarships.

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