LAMBDA SIGMA SIGMA ALUMNAE CHAPTER
SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY, INC.
NEW
NATIONAL PROGRAMS
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., is fully committed to assisting those in need as well as the betterment of communities around the globe. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority works in partnership with national support organizations including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), National Urban League, The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and many others. The Sorority has a proud history of offering service wherever chapters exists under the auspice of the organization’s signature program entitled, Project Reassurance, which is broken even further into five essential programs under its umbrella:
Project Cradle Care
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A collaboration between Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and the March of Dimes, Project Cradle Care Prenatal Health Program seeks to improve pregnancy outcomes in high-risk communities by increasing the number of women of childbearing age who receive adequate prenatal education and care. The program also focuses on educating moms about proper infant care and child development. Through Project Cradle Care Prenatal Health Program, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and the March of Dimes join forces with medical professionals and community-based organizations to educate and raise awareness in high-risk communities of prematurity prevention by hosting informational baby showers, health symposiums and health fairs.
SWIM 1922
Swim 1922 was created to address the unfortunate truth that according to the CDC, approximately 10 people drown every day in the U.S.A. An even more startling fact is that 70 percent of African American children and 60 percent of Hispanic children in the U.S. do not know how to swim. Additionally, African American children are three times more likely to drown than Caucasian children. Through the partnership with USA Swimming, Sigma Gamma Rho’s Swim 1922 campaign aims to address this disparity by having. Olympians and members of the sorority teach the community about water safety and how to swim. With USA Swimming, Sigma Gamma Rho has touched close to 20,000 lives, directly, with the projection of changing multiple generations to come.
Women's Wellness Initiative
The Women’s Wellness Initiative is a consolidated effort that allows chapters to focus on health issues that impact women; specifically, women of color. The Women’s Wellness Initiative was developed after the Sorority’s participation in the United Nations/March of Dimes Prematurity Awareness panel in New York. Acceptable educational and programmatic efforts under this Initiative include, but are not limited to Breast Cancer Awareness, Intimate and Domestic Violence, Heart Health, Diabetes Health, Mental Health and other issues that target women.
Annual Youth Symposium
Held simultaneously, on the second Saturday of March by Alumnae Chapters across the nation, our Youth Symposium serves as a unifying effort during Sigma Week. The Symposium is designed to highlight some of the prevalent concerns that negatively impact our youth (drugs, teen violence, abuse, low self-esteem, suicide, teen pregnancy, human trafficking, etc.). Our goal is to be relevant in the lives of our youth. Through this program we:
- Improved educational outcomes.
- Improved behavioral outcomes.
- Provide a highly anticipated annual event supported by local communities.
Operation Big Book Bag
Operation Big Book Bag is a program designed to address the needs, challenges and issues that face school-aged children who are educationally at-risk, in local homeless shelters and extended-care hospitals and facilities. Through this program, chapters and members collect and donate educational materials, equipment and school supplies. Established in 1996 by the late Dr. LaRona J. Morris, 18th International Grand Basileus, the program has expanded in recent years to focus on exposing students to STEM curriculum and careers, and a refocus on tutoring support and mentoring programs.