Issue 3, Fall 2019
Empowering Personal and Professional Success
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aunchpad was a preConvention leadership and educational opportunity for Sigmas of all generations, leadership roles, and experiences to come together for learning and growth. The focus of Launchpad was to empower women in their personal and professional success with tangible life skills. The Foundation provided 100% funding for this Tri Sigma program. Along with free registration for participants, 38 Launchpad Scholarships were awarded to alleviate the expense of the Thursday night hotel to participate in the Friday morning program. A special thanks to Mary C. Brown, Rho, and
JeanMarie Komyathy, Gamma Kappa, for their generosity and support for leadership development that helped make this program possible.
Launchpad’s keynote speaker was Diony Cespedes, who is a financial coach, business strategist and author. With more than 140 participants, each had the opportunity to learn: • How to develop habits that help build wealth regardless of profession or income • How to define, assess and evolve one’s personal brand • How to find free or low-cost resources to help achieve goals. 90% of participants strongly
agreed or agreed that they are a better professional because of the skills and tips provided during this program. Additionally, 66% shared they would attend a similar program if it were offered at no additional cost. Whether Launchpad was a Sigma sister’s first program or part of her leadership program journey, the Foundation will continue to pave the way for empowering Tri Sigmas. “I set up money to go directly to my savings every pay period to start to build up my emergency fund. I met with my financial advisor for an annuity account to discuss where I am and want to be. I plan to schedule a retirement fund meeting with her too. I’m planning to attend a home buying seminar so I can start to be more knowledgeable in that as I’d like to own rather than rent. This all came out of Launchpad. There’s more I have on my list but the financial ones were big for me. That was typically my weaker area.” Amanda Marchegiani, Beta Xi
Imagine What’s Possible Dear Sisters,
Las Vegas is known as the city that never sleeps and I’m sure at Tri Sigma’s 45th National Convention that held true for many sisters. It was four days of fun, sisterhood, business, fundraising, ritual, and very little sleep! This was my first Convention and it was more than I could have ever expected. I enjoyed meeting so many of you, and greatly missed those who could not be with us. The experience was one of a kind and I highly encourage every sister to attend a Convention at some point. One of my highlights was the kickoff of the Foundation’s Imagine What’s Possible campaign. Thanks to a generous matching gift of $40,000 from our Board of Directors, many sisters quickly answered the call to give and double their impact. Whether it was collegiate sisters joining Lucy’s Legacy Undergraduate Giving Club or alumnae joining our Steadfast Giving Club with a recurring monthly gift or Sigma philanthropists and Executive Council who made pledges for 2019-2020, we rallied together to raise more than $235,000.
Welcome the Newest Foundation Team Members
Mary Keleher, Financial Manager
With over 20 years of fraternity, foundation, charitable organization and association nonprofit experience, Mary serves as our Financial Manager. She handles all accounting activity for the Foundation, including monthly financial statements, bank and investment account reconciliations, and the annual audit.
It is powerful what can happen when we all come together. Thanks to your support, we are empowering more characterfocused leaders, providing more financial aid to offset the rising cost of higher education, and fighting for the health of all moms and babies. I believe you are vital to our mission because it requires an army of advocates and donors like you to create change. Be on the lookout this year as I continue to share stories of how you impact the lives of others. I invite you to join us this year as we Imagine What’s Possible for the future of our philanthropy. With your continued support, I believe we can reach our fundraising goals and set the tone for the new triennium. Tri Sigmas can and will change the world. Empowered by your generosity,
Megan Caldwell Director of Donor Engagement
Chris Smithhisler, Advancement Officer
Most recently serving as the Director of Chapter Programs for because I said I would, a nonprofit dedicated to making and keeping promises for the betterment of humanity, Chris joined the Foundation as our Advancement Officer. She supports Sigma sisters in reaching their philanthropic goals, while also serving as the liaison for our March of Dimes partnership.
Celebrating Philanthropy at 45th National Convention
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n Saturday, June 29, Foundation Chair Bonnie Rainey began the State of the Foundation by reflecting on our past, but also the progress made during the 2016-2019 triennium. She, along with Kaye Schendel, Stephanie Everett, and SAM! Farrell, invited everyone on a journey to Imagine What’s Possible for the future of our philanthropy. Their report included an assessment of the critical issues the Foundation mission tackles:
• We need empowered leaders in our community and world that are character-focused and committed to serving others. • We need to provide more scholarship funding to support our members’ academic achievements and to offset the rising cost of higher education. • We need to fight for the health of all moms and babies as premature birth rates in the US continue to rise.
June 28 - July1, 2019
Each Sigma took action by writing their own Foundation story - describing what Tri Sigma could achieve if we could impact even more women, children and families. Then a fundraising challenge was issued by the Foundation Board of Directors to match their cumulative gift of $40,000. In less than 72 hours, Sigmas in Las Vegas and across the country not only matched the $40,000, but raised a total of $235,000 to benefit the Foundation mission. Thank you to everyone who contributed, and your continued belief in the work we do each day to empower leadership development, scholarship, philanthropy and service! We celebrated the end of our 2018-2019 fiscal year at Convention surrounded by many of our biggest advocates and dedicated volunteers. As of June 30, our Foundation family cemented that the 2019-2020 fiscal year will be our largest granting year on record - including a greater number of scholarships and Robbie Page Memorial grants awarded.
Foundation Awards $27,600 for 2019-2020
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ach year the Foundation awards undergraduate and graduate scholarships. For 2019-2020, we are excited to provide financial aid to 29 Tri Sigmas - totaling $27,600 in scholarships. With more than 200 scholarship applicants this year, it is crucial that we continue to empower academic achievement. Foundation scholarships provide relief to the rising cost of college tuition and the supplies students require to be successful in pursuit of their degree. For a full list of 2019-2020 scholarship recipients, visit trisigmafoundation.org. Scholarship applications for 2020-2021 academic year will open in January.
A big thank you to all our donors who have or are currently endowing a scholarship with us. Congratulations to Ann Rutkowski and Bonnie Rainey on the first year their scholarship was awarded. We would also like to recognize Eta Omicron at Sam Houston State University for recently endowing the Shelby Whitten Memorial Scholarship.
Tri Sigma’s first Giving Day to benefit the Foundation coming this spring.
“Thank you for supporting my education and future. I am honored to be selected as the recipient of the Ann Rutkowski Scholarship. A heavy weight is lifted off my shoulders and I can now purchase books for my first semester of law school.” Caitlin Barrett, Alpha Iota
Welcome 2019-2020 Incoming Board of Directors
Veronica Atkins, Theta Epsilon & Southern Nevada Alumnae Chapter
Camille Chasteen, Zeta Rho & Twin Cities Alumnae Chapter
JeanMarie Komyathy, Nancy McGowan, Gamma Kappa & Northern Kappa & Chicago NW Virginia Alumnae Chapter Suburban Alumnae Chapter
Founders Day 2019 Giving Snapshot EMPOWERING WOMEN TO CHANGE THE WORLD
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
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“Because of you, the Foundation helps fund programs for women to grow as leaders not only in my chapter but other chapters around the nation.” Ashley Cornforth, Beta Beta
“Because of you and your Founder’s Day gift, you continue to support Tri Sigma leaders around the world to empower one another and carry on what they have learned from Tri Sigma.” Caitlin Doyle, Epsilon Nu
2019-2020 Foundation Collegiate Ambassadors
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he Foundation’s Collegiate Ambassador Program provides undergraduates an opportunity to serve our philanthropy and advocate for our mission. For 2019-2020, five Tri Sigmas have been selected for their passion for the Foundation and willingness to empower others through
Samantha Beck, Eta Xi
philanthropy on a national level. Each Ambassador completed an application and interview process for selection. Throughout the academic year, they will help educate their chapters and peers about the Foundation mission and share opportunities to engage
Hannah Douglas, Eta Rho
Erica Hagood, Theta Beta
through philanthropy and service. Additionally, they fundraise each semester to support areas of Greatest Need. The Collegiate Ambassadors are led by Ambassador Coordinator Joey Koenig and Director of Chapter Fundraising Desiree Paulhamus.
Isabel Mason, Zeta Chi
Rebecca Purcell, Beta Xi
60 Destination Sigma Scholarships Awarded
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ndowed in 2004 by an anonymous Sigma in memory of her parents, a Destination Sigma Scholarship provides financial aid to collegiate chapter delegates attending a Tri Sigma National Convention. The hope is this support helps young Sigma leaders have the best Convention experience and represent their chapters with pride. The Foundation awarded 60 Destination Sigma Scholarships for the 2019 Convention. For a full list of the recipients, visit trisigmafoundation.org.
“As a young woman putting herself through college by nannying and cleaning houses, your generous donation allowed me to buy a new carry on bag, ritual dress and pearls, and three new outfits of badge attire.” Katie Howey, Epsilon Delta Chapter President “I would not have been able to afford a formal dress for the Festival of Lights if it weren’t for you! I thank you so much for giving and for inspiring me to do the same.” Kelli Morgan, Alpha Iota Chapter President