FHC: A Legacy for Learning

Since its 2010 founding, the Fraternity Housing Corporation has partnered with the Fraternity to provide safe, competitive and attractive housing to Alpha Gams across the country. In the past 11 years, the FHC has served nearly 100 chapters of all sizes and situations. You may be surprised to learn, but the Fraternity is not the FHC's only partner.

The FHC has collaborated with the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation to fund educational spaces throughout a number of FHC homes. These spaces help members learn, grow and prioritize their education. Fundraising partnerships—known as Educational Area Grant Campaigns—seamlessly blend the missions of both the Foundation and FHC and result in a cohesive collaboration.

Whenever the FHC constructs a new home or renovates a house, the property can be given one of two designations: educational areas and non-educational areas. Tax-deductible donations can then be made to support the financial cost of building educational spaces within these homes.

Whether a 32-member study room with white boards and a projector or an 8-person projectstyle study room with a conference table and chairs, the FHC and Foundation work together to fund these spaces through the support of generous alumnae from the chapter.

Raised funds can also be used to provide internet hardware, fire safety equipment in designated areas and educational furniture such as desks and chairs for member bedrooms. In recent new builds, the desks are designed to provide charging capabilities for tablets, computers and phones.

EAG Campaigns span five years and gifts can be given throughout that time. The FHC and the Foundation currently have open campaignsat Beta Beta-North Dakota State University and Epsilon-University of Kentucky.

A themes is chosen for each campaign and represent something meaningful to the chapter.

The Beta Beta theme, “Heart & Home," was chosen to remind members the new house— completed in 2019—is now where the heart is. Epsilon's theme, “My New Kentucky Home,” references a song from the mid-1800s that is frequently played at football games by the university's marching band. It is a nod to the "old home" underneath the extensive renovations that were completed this spring.

One of the most rewarding aspects of each campaign is engaging alumnae in the fundraising process. Alumnae are encouraged to give gifts—individually or as a group—and gifts of a certain amount qualify for naming opportunities.

While all money raised goes toward educational spaces, naming opportunities for rooms are not limited to study spaces and are available throughout the chapter facility.

For example, a group of young alumnae from Epsilon donated $250 each to the Epsilon EAG Campaign and their names will be displayed on a plaque outside the mail room.

To launch the Epsilon EAG Campaign, alumnae were invited to tour the chapter facility while it was still under construction.

More than 50 alumnae attended and signed a bare wall to leave their literal mark within the house before drywall was installed.

As the house had been under construction since 2018, alumnae eagerly relished the opportunity for an early look at the renovation.

Former Chapter President Taylor Agathen Shah attended the event with her mother, Kaye Turpin Agathen, to visit the home they both lived in as collegiate members.

“My mom and I love to visit the house—we both created so many memories here!" said Taylor. "Epsilon is such a special part of our lives—and we are thrilled to see the house grow.”

In addition to these ongoing projects, the FHC and Foundation are thrilled to announce their partnership will continue with updates and refreshes to some chapter spaces through smaller EAG Campaigns. Existing chapter facilities need minor periodic updates—including educational spaces—and the FHC aims to provide those upgrades as needed. There are currently 10 FHC chapters set to receive furnishings and updates to their educational spaces in the coming year.

Completed Educational Area Grant Campaigns have benefited both Upsilon-University of Oklahoma and Epsilon Nu-University of Central Oklahoma. Alumnae from all over the U.S. showed their love of Alpha Gamma Delta and their sisters through generous donations to both of these campaigns.

The FHC is proud to be a part of the Alpha Gamma Delta family and honored to collaborate with the Foundation to provide safe, competitive and attractive housing that includes dedicated spaces where members can work toward their degree.

LEARN MORE: Educational Area Grant Campaigns are just one way you can give back to the Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation and help provide educational space for a chapter. Email housing@alphagammadelta.org for more information.

Alumnae have the opportunity to give to Educational Area Grant Campaigns at a variety of levels. Alpha Gam symbols, campus landmarks or community traditions add a personal touch to each level of giving. A gift between $2,500- $4,999 to the Epsilon EAG puts a donor in the Columbia Club, which is named after the chapter house’s address: 325 Columbia Terrace.

Taylor Agathen Shah, '14, and Kaye Turpin Agathen, '86, got a sneak peek of the Epsilon renovations during a 2020 fundraising event where they got a chance to leave their mark—both literally and financially.

The third-floor study room at Upsilon

Upsilon received the largest Educational Area Grant gift to date, a $50,000 gift from Sandy Kinney, who was initiated into Upsilon in 1966. Sandy’s donation to the Upsilon campaign went toward the chapter’s third-floor study room and she chose to name the Grand Foyer.