[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 109 (Friday, June 28, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CELEBRATING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GAMMA PHI OMEGA CHAPTER OF 
                           ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. TIMOTHY M. KENNEDY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 28, 2024

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 80th 
anniversary of Buffalo's Gamma Phi Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa 
Alpha (AKA) Sorority, Incorporated.
  The Gamma Phi Omega chapter was charted on June 25, 1944, by a group 
of young women returning to Buffalo from college. As a chapter of AKA, 
the oldest Greek letter organization established by African American, 
college-educated women, Gamma Phi Omega upholds the pillars of service, 
scholarship, and sisterhood within our community. For 80 years, the 
sisters of Gamma Phi Omega have provided essential services to the 
people of Western New York. Then efforts focus on sisterhood, family 
support, economic development, local community outreach, environmental 
protection, and social justice. Through initiatives such as their 
annual MLK Day of Service, the Debutante Leadership Program for young 
women's professional development, and Black Dollar Days to support 
local black-owned businesses, the Gamma Phi Omega chapter has made a 
positive impact on many lives.
  Carrying out their commitment to service, the Gamma Phi Omega chapter 
ensures that members of our community have access to the essential 
resources they need. Their program, Childhood Hunger Initiative Power 
Pack (CHIPP), supplies weekend and holiday meals to children in need. 
To date, this program remains AKA's most ambitious effort to combat 
childhood hunger. Additionally, the chapter provides academic 
scholarships to young students in the area, supporting their pursuit of 
higher education and fostering the value of scholarship.
  Today, we thank the sisters of Buffalo's Gamma Phi Omega chapter of 
AKA for their unwavering commitment to serving our community. Please 
join me in congratulating the Gamma Phi Omega chapter on an exceptional 
80 years of service and thanking them for all they do to make our 
community a better place.

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