In honor of the Delta Gamma Zeta Zeta chapter’s philanthropy event, Anchor Splash, we have directed our next donation towards the Delta Gamma Foundation.

Delta Gamma has a special place in our hearts, as Shawn was a member of DG at Arizona State University, and Caroline is now a member at Boston University.  Shortly after Caroline joined Delta Gamma, Shawn passed down the golden anchor necklace her father Hugh made for her when she joined.  The anchor is a symbol of hope within Delta Gamma, much like Shawn was and is to many of us.

The Delta Gamma Foundation is dedicated to helping those affected by blindness as well as preventing blindness before it begins.  Service for Sight, the official philanthropy of Delta Gamma, focuses on serving the blind and visually impaired directly. It supports the five schools founded by Delta Gammas and other North American organizations that provide access and advocacy for people in the blind or visually impaired community or who promote sight preservation and conservation. This philanthropy has been at the heart of the Delta Gamma mission since 1936 when a member who was blind, Ruth Billow, petitioned to adopt “Aid to the Blind” as their official philanthropy.

Zeta Zeta’s Anchor Splash is an annual philanthropy event that raises money for Service for Sight.  Different Greek life and campus organizations come out and compete in fun competitions such as swim relays, synchronized swimming, and more, and tickets are sold to those who wish to come support and watch all the fun.  All proceeds go to the Delta Gamma Foundation.

Special thank you to the Zeta Zeta chapter’s current and former VP: Foundation Ellen Olender and Tina Boye for their efforts in this matter.

More information can be found on their website https://www.deltagamma.org/foundation/

On Sunday the 17th of March, Driving Out Cancer held a fundraiser for their organization at the Huntington club, at which we directed our most recent donation.

Driving Out Cancer has a mission “to raise money for cancer research and care while honoring friends and families battling all forms of cancer. It is an all-volunteer 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. Funds are raised through charitable donations, sponsorships, and your participation in annual golf tournaments, car shows, dinners, concerts, events, and live and silent auctions. Proceeds from these events go directly toward specific cancer research projects. Some proceeds will also go toward assisting families and/or individuals with cancer treatment costs.

Since its inception in 2012, DOC has raised over $1.5 million to fight cancer through a combination of charitable contributions and matching funds. DOC has funded over 10+ specific research projects at leading institutions (such as City of Hope, Children’s Hospital of Orange County) focusing on cures for a wide range of cancers.”

More information can be found on their website https://drivingoutcancer.com/

National Charity League - Pacific Coast Chapter has always had a special meaning to Shawn. Both Caroline and Catherine joined with Shawn beginning in 7th grade. Through NCL, both girls were able to do good for their community, gain leadership experience, and of course spend time with their mom. Some of the girls’ most cherished memories were made with their mom through NCL. Caroline and Catherine both often reflect on how inspiring it was to watch their mom interact with their community in this manner; her kindness, warmth, and empathy was truly exceptional and unmatched. She could make anyone feel at home.

This past weekend, the Pacific Coast Chapter of NCL had their annual fashion show, the purpose of which is to fundraise for their various charity organizations they partner with. Their Giving from the Heart Fundraiser raises cash donations, and we directed ours to go towards college grants for girls in need. Carl and Catherine both spoke at the fashion show fundraiser, in honor of this donation.

In his speech, Carl revealed, “for the last two years I thought it would be too difficult for Cat to do NCL being the only girl there without a mom. So every time a big event came up, I’d ask her ‘are you sure you really want to do this?’ And she always replied ‘yes, NCL was really important to mom so it’s really important to me. I want to finish it out to honor mom.’

After Shawn‘s passing, we set up the Shawn Elizabeth Kawabe Memorial Charity Fund in her honor. The purpose of which is to donate to charities which Shawn was actively involved with or charity organizations doing things which embody her kind and loving spirit.

Last year we gave to several charities, one of which Shawn got involved with via NCL, the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen. Today we’d like to help kick off NCL’s Giving From the Heart Fundraiser by donating $4,000 toward college grants for girls in need.”

Additionally, a huge thank you Matthews, Robinson, and Berrios families for helping Cat get through last year and this year and allowing her to finish out her time in National Charity League honoring Shawn.

More information can be found on their website https://www.nationalcharityleague.org/

In light of the holidays and giving season, we are directing our second donation to the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in Costa Mesa, CA.

Shawn, Caroline, and Catherine volunteered frequently at the Someone Cares Soup kitchen in Costa Mesa, often through NCL.  Some of their favorite memories made and perhaps some of the most meaningful moments spent together took place at this establishment.  Shawn was often stationed at the front to greet and assist people with their needs and provide toys, blankets, and bread as additional goods to those who came in.  She admired the work done within the organization, and she absolutely lit up when she was a part of it.  She inspired her daughters in so many ways, and they are so grateful for the time they spent together here.

Someone Cares Soup Kitchen is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit serving Orange County, CA. Merle Hatleberg, who at the time was working as a Costa Mesa site director for an Orange County seniors program, founded the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen in 1986. They believe that no one should go to bed hungry on the street or otherwise. The Soup Kitchen provides meals 7 days a week at their Orange County facility.

Between 1986 and 1997, the Soup Kitchen dedicated itself to serving meals, establishing its presence in local churches and the Rea Community Center in Costa Mesa. The demand for their services has experienced remarkable growth over the years. In the early 2000s, Someone Cares extended a helping hand by providing an average of 120,000 meals annually. Fast forward to today, the scale of their impact has tripled, with an estimated annual serving of over 300,000 meals.

Additionally, their Tutoring Program assists local children from Kindergarten to 4th Grade in advancing their education.

Someone Cares Soup Kitchen has served more than 300 meals per day since 1986 to those who are in need in Orange County.

More information can be found on their website https://someonecareskitchen.org/

In response to the unbelievably devastating impacts of the Maui Wildfires, we are directing our first donation to the Maui Food Bank.

The Maui Food Bank functions as a channel for donated food and essential resources, with a specific focus on aiding disaster relief efforts.

During the initial eight days of responding to the wildfires, the Maui Food Bank dispatched a total of 146,000 pounds of food. Established agency partners have taken charge of distributing food on the western side and among families who have been displaced. They are supplying fresh produce to collaborators like Chef Hui and Mercy Chefs, both of which are actively preparing thousands of meals each day.

Serving as Maui County's primary safety net for addressing hunger, the Maui Food Bank ensures the provision of nourishing and safe sustenance to individuals facing the risk of hunger in the region. Of those served, 40% are children and young individuals. Collaborating with over 100 distribution partners and programs, the Food Bank allocates nutritious food to individuals, families, children, the struggling working class, seniors with fixed incomes, those without homes, and anyone confronted by the threat of hunger. This encompasses individuals in need residing in the rural communities of Hana, Molokai, and Lanai.

With every $1 donated, the Maui Food Bank can provide 4 meals to the hungry living in our island community.

More information can be found on their website https://mauifoodbank.org/