Hello!

My name is Claire Leingang, and I am currently serving as vp: Foundation for the Eta Theta chapter of Delta Gamma at Saint Louis University. Our chapter's motto is “do good”, and one way that our chapter lives out this motto is through service. Delta Gamma is unique in that we created our very own philanthropy, Service for Sight, after a chapter member named Ruth Billow, who was blind herself, petitioned that Delta Gamma adopt advocating for blind and visually impaired communities as our official mission. In the Eta Theta chapter, we commit ourselves wholeheartedly to advocating for vision awareness and serving blind and visually impaired populations by volunteering with organizations across the St. Louis area.

Only a few miles away from campus, we are fortunate to have one of the five Delta Gamma Centers (DGC)! The DGC provides early interventions for children who are struggling with visual impairments, as well as education and activities for families such as an annual ice skating event and pumpkin painting party. Along with the DGC, our members have the opportunity to engage in events with the St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired, complete youth vision screenings for those in the St. Louis community through Kids Vision for Life, participate during Beep Ball practices through MindsEye, and volunteer for other organizations like the Missouri School for the Blind and the Sight and Sound Impaired of St. Louis!

In addition to our volunteer work in the St. Louis community, Eta Theta also hosts an annual Anchor Splash competition, which is our signature fundraising event for our campus community. Anchor Splash is a synchronized swimming and dancing competition among fraternity members at SLU. Our members get to participate by choreographing and coaching teams or simply cheering the participants on! Not only is this a great way for our own members to bond, but it is an excellent opportunity for connection and collaboration with the entire FSL community.

Delta Gamma’s commitment to Service for Sight was one of the first things that immediately made me want to go DG. As a pre-optometry student myself, Service for Sight is a cause close to my heart and, throughout my time in DG, some of my greatest memories have come from serving alongside my sisters. Though many of our members may not have a personal connection to our mission, they come to recognize its importance throughout our meaningful service opportunities and the relationships we form with those we serve. From painting pumpkins with the children of the Delta Gamma Center to cheering on the participants of the Foundation Fighting Blindness’s annual Vision Walk, I have grown closer with my sisters, made friends with people I’ve served, strengthened my passion for Service for Sight, and done good in the St. Louis community. This past year, the Eta Theta chapter has raised over $4,000 for the Delta Gamma Foundation and spent over 1,000 hours volunteering. I am so proud of my sisters and their commitment to our mission, and I can’t wait to see the amazing things we do next!

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the “do good” sisterhood!

Claire Leingang

claire.leingang@slu.edu

Anchor Splash

Anchor Splash is a chance for our SLU community to get involved, learn about our mission, contribute to Service for Sight, and do good! SLU’s Fraternity & Sorority Life and the greater SLU community get first-hand involvement with our Service for Sight during this main event of our philanthropy week. Our event features groups of fraternity members who pair up with Delta Gamma coaches to choreograph, practice, and perform synchronized swimming and dancing routines, as well as compete in relay competitions. Following this exciting and hilarious event, Eta Theta continues to raise awareness about visual impairments and fundraise throughout our philanthropy week with profit shares at local favorites, such as Chipotle and Cane’s, and other fundraising events like Whatever Floats Your Boat where we sell root beer floats & raffle tickets!