[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15559-15560]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ALUMNAE CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 27, 2012

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect and admiration 
that I recognize the Gary, Indiana Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta 
Sorority for recently celebrating its 75th anniversary. The theme for 
the event was ``Through the Looking Glass: A Supreme Record of 
Sisterhood, Scholarship and Service.'' In honor of this momentous 
occasion, a reception was held on Friday, October 19, 2012, at the 
Genesis Convention Center in Gary, Indiana.
  Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, is a private, non-profit 
organization that was founded on January 13, 1913, by 22 students at 
Howard University in Washington, DC. The organization was founded in 
order to promote academic excellence and to assist the underserved 
population by providing scholarships, supporting community 
organizations, and by empowering people to fight for positive public 
policy. In one of their first public acts, the Delta founders 
participated in the Women's Suffrage March in Washington DC on March 3, 
1913. The Deltas were incorporated in 1930 and today, the sisterhood 
has over 200,000 female members and 900 chapters across the world.
  Throughout the years, the sorority has continued to establish 
programs that strengthen the African American family and improve 
education, healthcare, and international development. The programs 
supported and developed by Delta Sigma Theta are based on the 
organization's five-point thrust that includes: economic development, 
educational development,

[[Page 15560]]

international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, 
and political awareness and involvement. Each program is coordinated by 
committees that work together to develop and implement this five-point 
thrust.
  The Gary, Indiana, Alumnae Chapter has worked diligently to serve the 
city of Gary and all of Northwest Indiana. The Gary Alumnae chapter has 
created many innovative programs that have helped numerous people 
throughout the community. Delta Days at Gary City Hall is a program 
that was created in order for chapter members to voice their concerns 
about issues affecting the community to the mayor, city council, and 
other elected officials. Every year, the Gary Chapter gives out five 
$1,000 scholarships to girls that attend Northwest Indiana schools. The 
mentoring program has been implemented to help students learn the 
importance of staying in school, setting goals, and making positive 
decisions. The Gary Alumnae Chapter contributes to the Maama Project, 
which supports efforts to help with the healthy and safe delivery of 
babies of women in Africa. For several years, the chapter has hosted a 
free Thanksgiving dinner feeding hundreds of people. There is so much 
that the chapter has accomplished over the years, and Northwest Indiana 
is not only proud but inspired by the good works of this outstanding 
organization.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the members of the Gary, Indiana, 
Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority for the exceptional 
contributions they have made to the city of Gary, Northwest Indiana, 
and throughout the world. I ask you and my other distinguished 
colleagues to join me in congratulating the Gary, Indiana, Alumnae 
Chapter on the organization's 75th anniversary.

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