Service for Sight and Sight Conservation
Although Delta Gamma's good work actually began in 1873 when the Founders adopted the motto "Do Good," the Delta Gamma Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Fraternity, was not incorporated until 1951. Early in the 1900s, the Student Loan Fund was established. The meeting of wartime emergencies in 1914 led to Delta Gamma's support of a hospital in Holland and a home for war orphans in Belgium.
In 1936, at the urging of blind member Ruth Billow, Delta Gammas adopted Sight Conservation and Aid to the Blind as an international project. Delta Gamma's work for the visually impaired became unique among philanthropies as members answered the needs within their own communities as well as on the international scene.
Governed by a Board of Trustees, and administered by the Foundation Director and a Director for each area of activity, the Foundation continues to grow. Scholarships were added to the Grants and Loans program in 1957. Approximately $200,000 is awarded annually in scholarships, fellowships, and loans to recognize and assist outstanding members.
The Ruth Billow Memorial Fund provides financial aid to visually impaired members and educational grants to those members pursuing careers in services to the visually impaired.
In recent years, the scope of the Foundation has expanded to include a wellness program, Well Aware; a career networking system, Cable Connection; and educational programming and leadership training. In 1990, the Delta Gamma Foundation acquired Art of the Eye, an educational exhibit created by professional artists who are visually impaired. All of the Foundation activities are supported by staff housed in the Dorothy Garrett Martin Foundation Center at
Delta Gamma Executive Offices in Columbus, Ohio.