Philanthropy
At colleges across the U.S. and Canada, the philanthropic efforts of Alpha Delta Pi chapters go toward the Ronald McDonald House.
This is a story about a rare and wonderful house-- 200 houses by the end of 1999, to be precise, and with more coming every day. The idea behind Ronald McDonald House is simple: provide a "home-away-from-home" for families of seriously ill children who are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. In these houses, the families of children with serious illnesses can sleep, eat, find solace, sympathy, and counsel. The Houses have a name that children love and identify-- Ronald McDonald House. In the 25 years since the first House opened in Philadelphia, more that two million families have used them.
For the child, it's knowing that mom and dad are close by, in a good place near the hospital. For mom and dad, it's knowing that they are not alone, that others have gone through similar situations and survived. It's people drawing hope and strength from late-night conversations in corridors and kitchens, and it's a place to treasure every moment of having a child "home," even if for just a short visit sometimes.
In 1979, members of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority adopted the Ronald McDonald House program as its national service project, uniting all of its members in the commitments to service and to the community. 1994 marked the 20th anniversary of the Ronald McDonald House program and the 15th year of Alpha Delta Pi's commitment to Ronald McDonald House.
Individually, ADPi chapters and alumnae associations have always shown their love of community and their dedication to service through fund raising efforts for various charities. Adopting Ronald McDonald House gave the sorority a single focus: a common goal for the general good and welfare of others, and the opportunity to act as "big sisters" to the families with ill children who stay at the Ronald Houses.
The Omicron Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi is incredibly lucky to have a Ronald McDonald House right here on Duke's campus! Although our sisters are very involved in other philanthropy endeavors both within and outside of ADPi, every ADPi gives her time to the RMH. Groups of ADPi sisters visit the Ronald McDonald House to prepare a warm meal for the residents every week, and we also schedule arts and crafts, cookie baking, and holiday parties for the children.
In addition to cooking dinner and planning activities, we offer support to the residents. Our sisters spend time playing with the children, and we often find ourselves lending an ear to the parent of a sick child. We visit the House in "prides" composed of sisters from different classes. This allows our members to get to know each other and form strong bonds while serving the community. ADPi is one of the RMH's most dedicated volunteer organizations, and the staff at the House have come to rely on us to help them out in any way possible.
