Altruistic International Projects
At the International level, Alpha Delta Kappa reaches out to others in two very significant ways. First, through its International altruistic projects, it has contributed more than one million dollars to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee and 2013 International Convention delegates chose the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago, Illinois as its second International altruistic project. Secondly, Alpha Delta Kappa biennially awards over a quarter of a million dollars through its scholarship programs. The many lives these scholarships have enriched are testimony to the collective efforts of Alpha Delta Kappa.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital — Since June 1986, when members, chapters, and states/provinces/nations started sending their contributions for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to International Headquarters to be recorded and forwarded, the membership has contributed more than $230,000.00.
Improved therapy has dramatically increased survival rates for children with cancer over the past three decades, but worldwide, fewer than 30% of children with cancer have access to modern treatment. The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s International Outreach Program is to improve the survival rates of children with catastrophic illnesses worldwide, through the transfer of knowledge, technology, and organizational skills.
International Outreach transfers the progress achieved in the treatment of childhood cancer in developed countries to those with limited resources. To date, St. Jude has treated more than 20,000 children from across the United States and 60 foreign countries.
Recognizing the positive impact of International Outreach on the survival rates of children with cancer in countries with limited resources, the St. Jude Board of Governors approved two ambitious programs in 1999. With an emphasis on using advanced telecommunication technologies for increased education and training and the knowledge that nurse training is the basis for improved patient care, the two programs that are now implemented are:
*Cure4Kids – An Internet-based distance learning initiative at www.cure4kids.org International Training Center for Hematology-Oncology Nurses in Central America – a collaboration with the professional nursing society in El Salvador, Sociedad de Profesionales de Enfermeria Sodeproe S.A. de C.V., to train Latin American nurses in the pediatric subspecialty of Hematology/Oncology.
At the local level, International Outreach develops partnerships with medical institutions and fund-raising organizations and facilitates the involvement of other agencies and organizations to support key programs and the education of local personnel; at the regional level, International Outreach develops programs through the use of technology. The primary goal is to promote local and regional self-sufficiency. This model results in significant overall improvement in health care facilities, the level of practice, the self-confidence of health care providers and local community involvement.
The Alpha Delta Kappa Foundation started a five-year St. Jude Altruistic Project during the 1981-1982 fiscal year to send at least a $60,000.00 annual contribution to St. Jude. This program and an additional $61,000.00 in recognition of our Founder, Agnes Shipman Robertson, was completed in the 1985-1986 fiscal year. Since that time, an annual contribution has been made from the Foundation funds to St. Jude for a total of $1,203,600.00. Adding the membership’s contribution of $23,000.00, Alpha Delta Kappa has contributed a grand total of $1,433,600.00 to help children plagued with dread disease through research and treatment. Adding donations made directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital from chapters on the local level, proceeds from Math-a-thon events, letter-writing campaigns and other efforts, cumulative Alpha Delta Kappa contributions have reached nearly $2.7 million (information received from St. Jude on March 16, 2017).
Eighty-five cents of every dollar received supports the research and treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Families facing Alzheimer’s and all other dementia need us now more than ever — and with your help, we can be there for them. Every dollar you raise through Walk to End Alzheimer’s allows the Alzheimer’s Association to provide 24/7 care and support while accelerating critical research. Register today to help those in your community and beyond.
We salute the health care professionals and long-term care staff who are dedicating themselves to tirelessly serve the Alzheimer’s community. You are making a difference, and we stand with you in this fight. Join us. Find the walk nearest you and you can join the Alpha Delta Kappa team as a walker or donate to a specific sister walking for your chapter: https://act.alz.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=walk_homepage
Altruistic Georgia Projects
Ronald McDonald House Charities
State wide Georgia district and local chapters continue to support The Ronald McDonald House Charities as one of their altruistic projects. Georgia Alpha Delta Kappa has supported the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) throughout the state with time, finances and physical labor since 1998. At the 2012 State Convention, we presented the Ashford-Dunwoody Ronald McDonald House with a donation of over $5,000.00.
Please continue to save your pop tabs.
For more information about the RMHC pop tab program visit, http://www.rmhc.org/other-ways-to-help.
Disaster Relief Program
DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM
Georgia Alpha Delta Kappa established a Disaster Relief program in 1994 to aid members in need due to catastrophic events. Chances to win an item are provided at each District Meeting and at the state convention in order to raise the funds need to help support Georgia sisters in such times of need. The Application is always part of the Appendix in the Georgia Alpha Delta Kappa Policies & Procedures Manual.