Since founded in 1851, the sisters of Alpha Delta Pi have held a high ideal of service and leadership. Our national philanthropy, the Ronald McDonald House, is something we hold dear to our heart. The idea behind Ronald McDonald House is simple: provide a “home-away-from-home” for families of seriously ill children who are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. In these houses, the families of children with serious illnesses can sleep, eat and find solace, sympathy and counsel. In the 25 years since the first House has been opened in Philadelphia, more than two million families have used them.
Our local Ronald McDonald Houses are located in Richmond and Roanoke, where we go each semester to help with any household tasks like gardening, cleaning, organizing and cooking. Our efforts toward the House don’t just end when we head back to school; we are continuously raising money to go toward the foundation. Nationwide we collect “pop tabs” off cans that the Ronald McDonald House recycles and uses the money to help house families. Exactly 10 pounds of pop tabs can house a family one night at the House! In order to promote our philanthropy we plan events throughout the year where all proceeds go toward the Ronald McDonald House. This upcoming semester we have our 9th Annual 5K Walk/Run on Oct. 19 called Miles4Smiles. All money raised at this event, along with the pop tabs that are donated, go straight to the House.
Not only do our sisters volunteer for the Ronald McDonald House, but they are also very involved in other organizations on and off campus. As mentioned before, we have a high ideal for service, which is why we spread our service through other organizations like F.A.C.E.S, the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts and Zephyr Stables. Working together, we are able to fulfill our open motto, “we live for each other,” not only working with our sisters, but working to better the community.
