Tri Sigma Foundation

Are you looking to volunteer at your local March for Babies walk? Do you want to engage your community or campus and raise awareness for March of Dimes?

The Tri Sigma Foundation and March of Dimes are excited to introduce Bubble Zone as an opportunity to engage with our national philanthropic partner. Bubble Zone will bring Sigma sisters together to have fun with children, families, and communities while shedding light on how March of Dimes research has impacted premature babies everywhere.

1. Download the Bubble Zone Guide and watch the webinar below.
2. To sign up to host a Bubble Zone, complete the form here.
3. For additional support, contact Chris at csmithhisler@trisigma.org.

You’ll learn from the webinar:

• What is March for Babies and how can I volunteer at my local event
• What is Bubble Zone and why is it important
• What is surfactant and surfactant replacement therapy
• 5 tips for how to host a Bubble Zone
• Preview the new March of Dimes brand

Have you heard about our new partnership with CrowdChange to help you raise more money for your philanthropy events? We want to make your lives easier when it comes to philanthropy. This online fundraising platform offers tons of features to help you take your philanthropy events to the next level. The Tri Sigma Foundation has created our own custom CrowdChange site that you can use at no charge to your chapter.

• Download PDF of CrowdChange Features 

Foundation Chair Training

A recording of the CrowdChange webinar is available under Sigma Connect under Sigmapedia within Foundation Resources.

The training includes a top-rated and entertaining session called “7 Ways to Crush your Philanthropy Event” led by CrowdChange’s Founder & CEO, Russell Citron. We are confident that at the end of it, you will leave inspired and also with actionable steps you can use to make your philanthropy event more successful than ever. It will also walk you through how to use our CrowdChange page and get the most out of it for online fundraising for your event.

Get the tools to start your Foundation fundraiser online. Sample fundraiser below.

For questions about CrowdChange, email Desiree at dpaulhamus@trisigma.org. For technical support, email support@crowdchange.co.

FAQs

1. Does our chapter have access to the funds collected through CrowdChange? All donations, from either an individual, organization or business, made through CrowdChange go directly to the Foundation. All donors will receive an acknowledgment of the tax-deductible donation.
2. Can the chapter be reimbursed for philanthropy event expenses from funds the Foundation receives from our fundraiser? Unfortunately, no. All chapter expenses associated with the philanthropy event should either be budgeted for by the chapter or be deducted from the funds collected offline through ticket sells, day-of event fundraising, etc.
3. Should the chapter use CrowdChange to submit additional funds collected offline for that fundraiser? No. The chapter treasurer should follow BillHighway processes for transferring all funds not collected through CrowdChange to the Foundation. Your Foundation Chair and Treasurer should refer to their position manuals. For questions, email Desiree at dpaulhamus@trisigma.org.
4. How can we sell philanthropy t-shirts on CrowdChange for our event? The Foundation is unable to transfer money back to your chapter or an individual. We discourage selling any items such as t-shirts via your online CrowdChange fundraiser. Any funds for tickets, sponsorships, or funds collected within CrowdChange will not be accessible by your chapter officers, advisers or Foundation Chair.
5. Will funds raised via CrowdChange be credited to our chapter for Accreditation? Yes! Not only will we give credit to the individual donor for their gift to the Foundation, but your chapter will receive credit for all funds within your CrowdChange fundraiser. If your chapter is striving to reach $10 per member or $20 per member for Foundation fundraising, the standard will be calculated by totaling all funds the Foundation has received via BillHighway and CrowdChange from your philanthropy events during that calendar year (January 1 – November 15) and then divided by your chapter’s fall membership.

The Foundation welcomes Bonnie Rainey as the 2017-2019 Chair of Board of Directors. She moves into her role after serving as secretary for the board this past year. A couple of her Tri Sigma leadership experiences also include serving on Tri Sigma Executive Council as past National Treasurer and on the inaugural Foundation Board of Directors as past Vice Chairman from 1992 to 2001.

Bonnie shares, “It’s an exciting time for me to be leading the board as we celebrate the 25^th Anniversary of the Foundation. I remember being at the 1992 Convention when we announced that Robbie Page Memorial Fund and the Educational Foundation would merge to create the Tri Sigma Foundation. While I know we will be looking back at the Foundation’s history for our anniversary, I cannot wait to move us forward.”

Help the Foundation Board of Directors and staff lead our philanthropy in the right direction. We appreciate your time and thank you for your continued generosity.

Provide your feedback through our short survey.

Watch to hear why Bonnie gives her time and treasures to the Foundation.

As part of the Foundation’s 25^th anniversary celebration, we are excited to announce our new STEADFAST GIVING CLUB, which recognizes Foundation donors who give monthly reoccurring gifts.

Maybe you have an annual goal for your Foundation giving. Monthly gifts are a great way to make your philanthropic goals realistic and easily attainable. Will you join your fellow sisters who have made the Foundation a priority each month?

See the full list of Steadfast Giving Club members.

To join today, visit trisigma.org/donate.

Read about a few of our inaugural Steadfast Giving Club members:

JeanMarie Komyathy, Gamma Kappa

What actions do you take to be a generous person?

I am generous by giving in many ways. I support various organizations through regular payroll deductions as part of the Combined Federal Campaign.  I give monthly to the Tri Sigma Foundation. I volunteer my time to many organizations, particularly those that have helped me achieve my goals.  And, I give my time, experience and wisdom as a mentor and friend.

Why do you give to the Foundation?

I give to the Tri Sigma Foundation because Tri Sigma has given so much to me.  Tri Sigma gives me the opportunity to meet women from all over the country and all walks of life. TriSigma has given me the opportunity to be a leader and share my talents. And, TriSigma has given me the opportunity to give back.  I learned as a new member that to receive much, you must give much. And so, I do.

Joey Jackson, Theta Delta

Why do you give to the Foundation?

I give to the Foundation because the organization has done so much for me. I have been able to benefit from its endeavors, and I want to help continue carrying on its legacy.

Why are you passionate about the work of the Foundation?

As a collegiate I was so excited to discover the Foundation’s involvement with polio research because my father suffered from the disease. As an alumna, I continue to be inspired by the Foundation’s goals to empower women and continue to donate to medical research now through its partnership with the March of Dimes.

Michelle Tantillo, Epsilon Omicron

Why do you give to the Foundation?

I value what they do for our members and for the world. I enjoy that [the Foundation] has resources used to support our members that helps to “grow” members and empower them to transform the world.

How have you played a part in the Foundation’s past?

I have been a donor since my initiation.  I have after college been a regular donor as a part of the previous GOLD program and have continued to increase my monthly donations as I can.  I also give donations for Founders Day and other campaigns.

Dear Sisters

Jennifer Avenel as 2014-2017 Chair, Tri Sigma Foundation Board of Directors

At the end of September, the Foundation Board had its annual meeting at Mabel Lee Walton House. Being in our heart home, surrounded by so much history, is always so empowering, and I always find myself reflecting on my Tri Sigma experience.

I’ve been blessed and grateful to have had so many experiences since my initiation 25 years ago – and this annual meeting marked the end of one of those experiences. My term as Chair of the Foundation Board of Directors has ended. I have been so honored to serve our sisterhood in this role over the last three years. I can’t believe how quickly the time passed. I learned so much from other board and sorority leadership, and certainly from our dedicated staff. This opportunity has helped me grow as a leader and educate members about the importance of giving and serving, with the goal of cultivating philanthropists and future Tri Sigma leaders.

I am thrilled to congratulate and welcome Bonnie Rainey as the new Chair of the Foundation Board. Bonnie has a long-standing history with the Foundation. Prior to her appointment on the board in 2016, she served on the board during the 90s and has been giving generously to the Foundation since it was created 25 years ago. She has made philanthropy an important part of her Tri Sigma experience. Her Tri Sigma story is inspiring and I know that with her leadership, the Foundation will become stronger and continue to support the future of Tri Sigma.

I still have one year left to serve on the Foundation Board, and I’m excited to work alongside this talented and committed group of women. I am inspired by what the Foundation has accomplished, and I’m so proud of the direction in which the Foundation is moving.

For Sigma,

Jennifer Avenel, Delta Pi

March of Dimes President Stacey Stewart thanks Tri Sigma for our support.

In 2016, Tri Sigma partnered with March of Dimes to enhance the service and philanthropic opportunities for its members. Tri Sigmas all across the country have joined the fight against prematurity, and we are just getting started.

During the first year of our partnership, Sigmas engaged to support March of Dimes through philanthropy, service and awareness raising. While some chapters, both collegiate and alumnae, volunteered at their local March of Dimes office, others raised money by hosting a fundraiser on campus or within their community. Chapters raised funds benefitting both the March of Dimes and Tri Sigma Foundation. For every gift designated for March of Dimes, Tri Sigma helps fund the five innovative and collaborative March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centers.

As March of Dimes signature event, March for Babies allowed members to show their purple pride as they volunteered or walked in their local community. From setup to tear down, Sigmas rallied with hundreds of babies, mothers and families who have been impacted by premature birth.

Together, we raised $99,413 benefitting the March of Dimes mission. As we begin our second year, we hope to continue our efforts and give even more hours of service in support of this cause. Through our March of Dimes partnership, Sigma Serves Children.

Top 3 Collegiate Chapters with Highest Fundraising for March of Dimes*

• Alpha Chi
• Alpha Mu
• Theta Iota

Top 3 Alumnae Chapters with Highest Fundraising for March of Dimes*

• Twin Cities
• Pittsburgh
• Central Florida

(*Ranking is measured by dollars designated for March of Dimes and received by the Tri Sigma Foundation during the 2016-2017 fiscal year.)

Our distinguished Heritage Society honors all planned giving donors for their support of our mission. Your planned gift can best fit your financial and philanthropic goals. The following are a few ways you can choose to leave a legacy with the Foundation:

• Provide for the Foundation in your will or trust.
• Designate us as the beneficiary of a qualified retirement plan, savings bond, bank account, or life insurance policy.
• Create a planned gift that returns fixed or flexible income to you or others.

After you include the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation within your planned gifts, you can notify us by emailing Shelly Bateman at sbateman@trisigma.org. We will add you to our Heritage Society honor roll and mail you a golden pin as a gift. The Heritage Society pin recognizes you as a member of distinguished Sigmas who support the Foundation through their financial and estate plans.

The Beta Delta Chapter at Shepherd University impacted their local hospital and its members with a 2016 Robbie Page Memorial (RPM) grant.

“Beta Delta chose to continue to work with Winchester Medical Center (WMC) because of its proximity to Woodstock, Virginia and our chapter wanting to spread the word about the great work of the Foundation in our local community,” said Samantha Knopp, 2016 Chapter President. “The items requested through our RPM local grant were needed and will be used by infants and children during their stay in the Pediatric Unit.”

As the chapter’s second RPM grant, Beta Delta continues to build a relationship with WMC and its staff. The Tri Sigma Foundation awarded $1280 to fund the purchase of an air hokey table, two Fisher Price Baby Bouncers, two BTRFLLY hospital quality Bouncer Seat covers, four Calming Seas Projection Soothers, and two Fisher Price Grow with Me mobiles.

(L-R) Morgan Wilkins, Laken Pope, Erika Miller, Alexis Smith, Myranda Wiles,
Kara Waldeck, Kelsey Chaney, Madison Steeley, Tiana Davis

“The RPM Grant definitely had a positive impact on our chapter,” said Kelsey Chaney, 2017 Vice President of Operations. “A majority of our sisters in our chapter are nursing majors and education majors. One of the main reasons they are passionate about Sigma is because of Robbie Page Memorial.”

WMC staff invited Beta Delta members to a reception to celebrate their generosity and see the toys they helped fund. During their visit of the Pediatric Unit, Sigmas spoke to WMC administrative leaders, nurses and other staff about their chapter.

“Being able to provide our local hospital with a grant to buy a hockey table and much more touched our hearts, but being able to physically visit the hospital and meet the nurses and other staff members is what really took it to a whole other level,” said Chaney. “Our sisters were able to talk to nurses and staff about Tri Sigma, our values, our philanthropy, our majors and why we care so much about helping children.”

While the grant funds directly provided items of need, members also benefitted through the connections made with their local hospital.

“I believe visiting the hospital helped girls realize how much RPM actually does,” said Chaney. “It helped me realize that no matter how small the philanthropy fundraiser or grant it is going to always help someone, and it will have a huge impact on their life.”

Every year the Tri Sigma Foundation awards local grants to therapeutic play programs nominated by alumnae and collegiate chapters. Grants range from $100 to $2,500. The 2017-2018 RPM grant application process is available online. Submit applications no later than April 30, 2017.