Alpha Gamma Delta was the first women’s fraternity to establish an international philanthropic project. In 1920, a summer camp for underprivileged children was opened in Jackson, Michigan. For more than 25 years, the collegians and alumnae staffed the summer camps before Alpha Gamma Delta changed its philanthropic focus. The Fraternity sponsored a training program for counselors involved with the rehabilitation of the physically impaired in 1947. In 1979, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation was adopted as the official beneficiary of financial support and service. The philanthropic efforts of the Fraternity were directed toward the treatment, research and cure of diabetes mellitus in 1991. In 1990, the official Foundation name became the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation.
Helping organizations and people in need is an integral part of Alpha Gamma Delta. Each chapter includes philanthropic projects in its annual calendar to benefit the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation. Such projects can be fun ways for sisters to interact with each other, while serving the needs of others. It is the responsibility of each member to "contribute to the world's work."
Some of our past philanthropies include a Halloween carnival, Kickball Klassic, Alpha Gam Slam, and Style in the City.
Every fall KU Alpha Gams participate in a walk at a scenic Kansas City destination to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. This year's walk will mark the 16th year and will be held on October 9, 2010 at the Legends Shopping Center in suburban Kansas City. Last year, the walk raised a significant amount of money to fight juvenile diabetes, one of the causes closest to Alpha Gamma Delta's heart.