Sincerely Yours -- A Thank You Note

Since our national philanthropic partnership began in 1999, St. Jude Children's Research hospital has been at the heart and soul of every Delta Delta Delta chapter in the nation.  Here at the University of South Carolina, we are especially committed to the cause.  Not only were we one of the top fundraising chapters in the country last year, but we were also the first collegiate chapter to ever raise over $100,000 in one year for St. Jude.  On a national level, Tri Delta just wrapped up its "15 in 5" campaign-- a mission to raise $15 million in 5 years, a mission that we accomplished in just 3.5 years.



The last week of February, our girls participated in our annual "Sincerely Yours" event, a letter-writing fundraiser for St. Jude led by our philanthropy chair, Sara Carota.  I am writing today's blog post to everyone out there receiving a letter in hopes that you will decide to donate to St. Jude on behalf of Tri Delta.

"Soon, you will be receiving a letter from me.  Or maybe you already have.  Although it will come in the standard stamped white envelope, it is my sincere hope that this letter escapes your 'junk pile' and gets opened.  Why?  Because by opening this letter, you are opening your heart to the story of Mae, a young girl who is currently being treated for Wilms tumor at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  I know that her story will captivate you more than mine, and I hope that you will decide to help her on behalf of Tri Delta.

Many of our sisters have visited St. Jude on one of our chapter's annual trips to Memphis, TN where we've seen firsthand Tri Delta's influence on the hospital.  We've seen the Tri Delta-sponsored C-Clinic, a specialty clinic wing of the hospital, and the Teen Room, a place for teenage patients to escape the stress of treatments, doctors and parents and just be kids.  Our letters can be seen anywhere from hallway floors and walls to the t-shirts of the patients.  St. Jude truly is Tri Delta's hospital.

Even those of us who haven't been to Memphis have seen our influence through a family in Columbia, S.C.  Evan Pertile was treated at St. Jude hospital after being diagnosed with medullablastoma (a type of brain cancer) at an early age.  We are proud to say that Evan is now completely cancer-free, but he and his family still participate in all of our chapter's philanthropy events.  Evan is just one example of the incredible strength St. Jude gives their patients, and we are so thankful to have the opportunity to know him and help others like him.

I want to make one thing clear-- we're not in it for the recognition.  We're not asking you to support Tri Delta, we're asking you to support St. Jude, because so many times people say that they'd like to help but don't know how.  This is where we come in.  We're simply giving you a means of supporting a cause that you already believe in.

The letter you're about to receive is more than just a piece of paper.  It's an invitation to give suffering children another chance at life.  Please, by all means, do not donate for Tri Delta.  Donate for Evan.  For Mae.  For your co-worker's daughter.  For your future son.  Help us ensure that no child dies in the dawn of life, the vision on which Danny Thomas founded St. Jude.

We believe that Danny Thomas said it best when he said,

'A dream is one thing.  A realization is something entirely separate... I publicly thank you, wherever you may be, for the support of this dream... it took your hearts, loving minds, and generous souls to make it come true.'

From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank you for considering a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Sincerely,
The women of the Alpha Lambda chapter of Delta Delta Delta"

**If you do not receive a letter but would still like to donate on behalf of our chapter, click here
and select University of South Carolina in the drop-down box.**