Delta Zeta Foundation Celebrates Remarkable Giving Circle Milestones at Orlando Diamond Reception

Diamonds and Delta Zeta are Everlasting

(Oxford, Ohio) To kick off the 2025 Convention, Delta Zeta Foundation donors gathered for a Diamond Reception to celebrate their impact on the Sorority and recognize sisters reaching milestones in their lifetime giving.

Outgoing Foundation President Margaret A. Purcell, Ph.D., Alpha Gamma, University of Alabama, shared the impact the Foundation has had over the past biennium: donors contributed over $2.1 million dollars, and the Foundation awarded $834,250 in scholarships over the past two academic years. In addition to scholarships, the Foundation’s grant to the Sorority continues to support crucial educational and leadership development programming such as Leader Summit, Protect Your Shell and Everlasting events.

Attendees were celebrated for their ongoing dedication and welcomed into donor circles as recognition for their lifetime impact, including special recognition for Distinguished Past National Officers Anne Marie Jones Gavin, Delta Iota, Tufts University, and Merry Westbrook Adamcik, Delta Theta, University of Houston, who joined the Diamond Circle, which celebrates over $75,000 of lifetime giving. Merry was also recognized for her service as a Foundation Trustee and Secretary as she just completed her term. Current Foundation Vice President Jenny Bogen Morrison, Theta, The Ohio State University, was then recognized and welcomed into the Presidents Circle, celebrating her lifetime giving of over $100,000 to the Foundation.

Donors reaching recognition levels starting at $3,500 are honored with jewelry bearing the Ionic Column that allows them to display their steadfast support of every sister.

After recognizing these milestones in lifetime giving, Foundation donors heard powerful stories of how their generosity makes an impact. Current national headquarters interns Karsen Damon and Anni Anderson, Gamma Kappa, Kent State University, shared their gratitude for Delta Zeta and the lifechanging experiences they have had thanks to the support of Foundation donors.

Karsen, fresh off a week of volunteering at SeriousFun’s Camp Boggy Creek, shared the impact of receiving two Delta Zeta scholarships: the Gail Patrick Women of Distinction Scholarship and the General Speech and Hearing Scholarship, which will help her pursue her graduate degree in speech-language pathology at the University of Pittsburgh.

“Because of this support, I’ve been able to focus more deeply on my studies and say yes to incredible opportunities — like serving as a Global Marketing and Philanthropy Intern for Delta Zeta National Headquarters and traveling to El Salvador and the Dominican Republic with the Starkey Hearing Foundation to help fit individuals with hearing aids. These awards aren’t just financial support. They’re a powerful reminder that this sisterhood believes in my future and in the change I hope to make.”

Anni shared her leadership journey within the Gamma Kappa chapter at Kent State University and the impact she has seen because of the Foundation’s investment in leadership programs and scholarships. After experiencing CORE Training as Vice President of Membership, the Norma Minch Andrisek Leadership Conference (NMALC) as Alumnae Relations Chair, Leader Summit as chapter President and NMALC and Leader Summit as a National Headquarters intern, Anni’s favorite moment was watching her chapter’s current Vice President of Membership and Vice President of Philanthropy as their excitement and passion emerged: “Watching them be empowered and empower others reminded me of how powerful this sisterhood is.”

She also reminded attendees of the impact their support has not just for the women who receive scholarships, but also for their chapters: “Some of the sisters I now call my best friends would not have been able to continue their membership journey if it weren’t for the financial support they received through Foundation scholarships. Your generosity has not only changed individual lives; it has kept our sisterhood whole.”

National President Cathy Irvin Painter, Alpha Gamma, University of Alabama, took the floor to welcome three attendees into the President’s Society — a new tradition to strengthen the network of young leaders who have served in the most challenging and rewarding role in the sorority.

Before the evening’s program closed, Chief Advancement Officer Alicia Favata, Pi Beta, University of Hartford, welcomed outgoing Foundation President Margaret Purcell into the Diamond Circle in recognition for her lifetime giving of over $75,000 to the Foundation and thanked her for her years of service as Foundation President.

After enjoying reunions with old friends and mentors and creating new memories with sisters from across the country, Delta Zeta’s most loyal supporters left feeling honored and inspired by their impact through the Foundation.

Learn more about the Delta Zeta Foundation’s donor recognition levels and how you can make a lasting difference here.

About Delta Zeta 

Delta Zeta Sorority is a global women’s organization whose shared values support a vision to truly inspire action and impact lives through leadership, service and philanthropy. Founded on Miami University’s campus in Oxford, Ohio in 1902, the Sorority has more than 300,000 members in the United States and Canada. The Delta Zeta Foundation, a non-profit organization, makes possible gifts and support for scholarships, leadership, philanthropy and education. The Delta Zeta National Housing Corporation provides safe housing and chapter facilities for more than 2,000 collegiate students on more than 70 campuses. Learn more about our mission at deltazeta.org. For more information about the Delta Zeta Foundation, visit deltazeta.org/foundation.  
 
For more information, please contact Cindy Menges, Chief Executive Officer, at [email protected].