Sigma Kappa Sorority
Philanthropies
Community Service
Sigma Kappa Sorority provides many opportunities for members to become involved in community service and philanthropic projects. Chapters across the country support Sigma Kappa philanthropies, which include:
Alzheimer's Disease/Gerontology
In 1954, Sigma Kappa became the first sorority to recognize the need for continued comprehensive work on the study of aging and the needs of the elderly population. Responding to an increasingly critical problem facing older Americans, Sigma Kappa added an emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease to its gerontology program in 1984.
Alzheimer’s disease is a growing epidemic that affects one in three people in the communities where we work and live and is now the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death. As baby boomers age, the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease will rapidly escalate, increasing well beyond the estimated 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s today. This is why the Sigma Kappa Foundation is committed to “Making Alzheimer’s a Distant Memory” by creating a major funding stream to the national Alzheimer’s Association for research to find a cure.
In 2000, the Sigma Kappa Foundation entered into an agreement with the national Alzheimer’s Association whereby the Association selects scientific research proposals, ideally submitted by a female researcher working on a campus with an active Sigma Kappa chapter, for sponsorship by the Sigma Kappa Foundation.
Through Alzheimer’s disease and gerontology-related research grants from the Sigma Kappa Foundation, Sigma Kappa has become one of the nation’s leading contributors to Alzheimer’s disease prevention, research and treatment efforts. Since 1989, the Sigma Kappa Foundation has granted more than $2 million in research and psychosocial grants to investigators and practitioners who are on the front lines in the fight against this debilitating disease.
For information about Alzheimer’s disease and gerontology-related research, visit the Alzheimer’s Association website.
The Maine Sea Coast Mission
The 1918 convention chose the Maine Sea Coast Mission as Sigma Kappa Sorority’s first national philanthropy in honor of Sigma Kappa’s founding in Maine and the early Sigma Kappa members who volunteered their time in support of this missionary society. Through annual contributions from Sigma Kappa chapters and members, the Sigma Kappa Foundation provides funds to the Maine Sea Coast Mission in support for the mission’s Christmas program, emergency relief program, and scholarships.
The Christmas program provides gifts to needy families during the holiday season. Many families benefit from the emergency relief program which provides assistance with food, clothing, shelter and medical needs. The scholarship program benefits young men and women from the islands who might not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue educational opportunities beyond high school.
With the help of the 75-foot mission vessel Sunbeam V, direct programs and services include church and pastoral work, assistance to those in sickness and poverty, financial aid, food banks, recycled clothing shops, crisis intervention, youth programs, and ministries in the field. The Mission serves the islands along the coast of Maine. Learn more about the Maine Sea Coast Mission here.
Inherit the Earth
Sigma Kappa is committed to improving the environment. Improvements can happen every day through purposeful actions and choices that, collectively, make a significant impact on the overall health of our planet. This national service project provides the opportunity for collegians, alumnae and citizens to work together to improve local environments.
Learning about your individual consumption of environmental resources can influence your daily habits and change your approach to improving the environment. Determine the impact you have – positive or negative – on the world around you.
Sigma Kappa Sorority provides many opportunities for members to become involved in community service and philanthropic projects. Chapters across the country support Sigma Kappa philanthropies, which include:
Alzheimer's Disease/Gerontology
In 1954, Sigma Kappa became the first sorority to recognize the need for continued comprehensive work on the study of aging and the needs of the elderly population. Responding to an increasingly critical problem facing older Americans, Sigma Kappa added an emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease to its gerontology program in 1984.
Alzheimer’s disease is a growing epidemic that affects one in three people in the communities where we work and live and is now the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death. As baby boomers age, the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease will rapidly escalate, increasing well beyond the estimated 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s today. This is why the Sigma Kappa Foundation is committed to “Making Alzheimer’s a Distant Memory” by creating a major funding stream to the national Alzheimer’s Association for research to find a cure.
In 2000, the Sigma Kappa Foundation entered into an agreement with the national Alzheimer’s Association whereby the Association selects scientific research proposals, ideally submitted by a female researcher working on a campus with an active Sigma Kappa chapter, for sponsorship by the Sigma Kappa Foundation.
Through Alzheimer’s disease and gerontology-related research grants from the Sigma Kappa Foundation, Sigma Kappa has become one of the nation’s leading contributors to Alzheimer’s disease prevention, research and treatment efforts. Since 1989, the Sigma Kappa Foundation has granted more than $2 million in research and psychosocial grants to investigators and practitioners who are on the front lines in the fight against this debilitating disease.
For information about Alzheimer’s disease and gerontology-related research, visit the Alzheimer’s Association website.
The Maine Sea Coast Mission
The 1918 convention chose the Maine Sea Coast Mission as Sigma Kappa Sorority’s first national philanthropy in honor of Sigma Kappa’s founding in Maine and the early Sigma Kappa members who volunteered their time in support of this missionary society. Through annual contributions from Sigma Kappa chapters and members, the Sigma Kappa Foundation provides funds to the Maine Sea Coast Mission in support for the mission’s Christmas program, emergency relief program, and scholarships.
The Christmas program provides gifts to needy families during the holiday season. Many families benefit from the emergency relief program which provides assistance with food, clothing, shelter and medical needs. The scholarship program benefits young men and women from the islands who might not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue educational opportunities beyond high school.
With the help of the 75-foot mission vessel Sunbeam V, direct programs and services include church and pastoral work, assistance to those in sickness and poverty, financial aid, food banks, recycled clothing shops, crisis intervention, youth programs, and ministries in the field. The Mission serves the islands along the coast of Maine. Learn more about the Maine Sea Coast Mission here.
Inherit the Earth
Sigma Kappa is committed to improving the environment. Improvements can happen every day through purposeful actions and choices that, collectively, make a significant impact on the overall health of our planet. This national service project provides the opportunity for collegians, alumnae and citizens to work together to improve local environments.
Learning about your individual consumption of environmental resources can influence your daily habits and change your approach to improving the environment. Determine the impact you have – positive or negative – on the world around you.