ESA Presents Gift to Methodist Health System Foundation

The ESA Theta Pi Chapter of Texas recently presented a $14,000 gift to Methodist Health System Foundation. The gift will help the Women’s Imaging Center at Methodist Charlton Medical Center ($12,000) and the PSAP-Prostate Screening and Awareness Program ($2,000). The grants enable Methodist to provide routine mammograms to women would would be unable to pay to to financial limitations. The PSAP program at Methodist has tested more men for prostate cancer than any of hospital-based program. Epsilon Sigma Alpha has always tried to help the cancer services at Methodist. In turn Methodist is a sponsor for the ESA Cancer Awareness Race.

ESA Hope for Heroes

ESA members participated in the Tulsa Veterans Day Parade to show their support for Hope for Heroes: An ESA National Event. Members of the Tulsa Area Council walked next to this car decorated by members of ESA. The car was also featured at the St. Jude Give Thanks Walk in Tulsa. The members of ESA that participated said they had numerous opportunities to spread the good works of ESA.

The ESA members in Kansas also received a letter of appreciation from a Staff Sergeant in the US military. It reads:

I received several care packages over the past two weeks and enclosed was an informational flyer with this email, so I wanted to take a few minutes to respond & say thank you.

Karen Knorp-Brown from Wichita, Kansas was the addressee and I would like to write to you to acknowledge her hard work and service as well as personally thank her through your organization. The flyer also mentioned Kim Kummer as the Kansas State President, so thank you to her as well.

I read a little bit about your organization on your website & I also want to thank all of you for all of the hard work and service you provide for all of the causes and people you support.

Thank you!!!!

ESA Member Excels at Stillman

Kellena H. Leech also known by her friends as Tiah considers herself to be a jack of all trades and she has really displayed that while attending Stillman. Leech started at Stillmanin 2003 and ever since it has been a roller coaster ride full of on and off campus activities. While at Stillman, Leech played basketball, ran track, played in the band, sang in the choir, served as president and modeled for Sophistication Unlimited Modeling Troupe, served as vice president of the UNCF-Pre Alumni Council, became a member of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority and Epsilon Sigma Alpha International, and was in the Campus Queens Association, serving as Miss King Hall and Miss Beta Phi Beta. She also served as a Student Ambassador to the Office of Admissions and was a volunteer with Student Government Association. She was a student orientation leader for 2 years and a contributor to the yearbook staff and student publications. She currently works with the Office of Marketing & Public Relations as a student journalist and photographer. In 2006 after accomplishing so much at Stillman Leech decided to go into active duty with the army. Leech covered more than 50 press conferences while in Iraq and took many photographs. Leech is now a graduating senior and will be presenting her senior project soon. Her project is a journalism exhibit call "VII Measures" and will feature work done by Leech over the past 7 years. After experiencing everything that she has she knows that it has made her who she is today. "I learned how to be well-rounded and cherish my family after years with the band, choir, modeling troupe, and the non-Greek community," said Leech.

Fifteen Students Earn President's Volunteer Service Award

Fifteen students at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, TX were awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award. Most of the students honored are members of the Delta Chi Chapter of ESA. The President's Volunteer Service Award is a White House initiative that was created to encourage Americans to improve their communities through service. To earn this award, students must complete at least 100 hours of community service during the 2009-2010 academic year.



Angelica Rodriguez, pictured here, is a member of Delta Chi and has earned a bronze medal (awarded for 100-174 hours of service) for the second year. To read more about these OLLU students and the President's Volunteer Service Award, click here.

Chapter Donates Gift Bags to Victims of Domestic Abuse

The Tau Tau Chapter of Summerville, NC recently donated 30 gift bags filled with soaps, lotions, snacks and other items to the Summerville Police Department's Victim Advocates Office to be given out to victims of domestic abuse.

"The whole idea is to remind them that as bad as things might seem right then, someone cares," said Susan Broyles, Tau Tau member. "These bags may not change the situation they are in, but it may make it a little better."

The chapter got the idea after contacting the Summerville Police Department and asking if there were any projects they could help with. They were soon contacted by the Victim Advocates Office. They were told that the office had many stuffed animals and toys for children victims, but they had nothing for the mothers.

"Epsilon Sigma Alpha International Tau Tau Chapter is a local chapter looking for ways to improve/help our community," said SPD Captain Jon Rogers. "They are always looking for projects they can do to help others and we really appreciate them for doing this."

To read the full article, click here.

Looking for ways to get more involved in your community? Think about contacting your local police station and ask about how you can help!

Tabs for St. Jude...it's a team effort

In the past, the Beta Pi Chapter of Huntsville, AL collected soda can tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. At the 2009 St. Jude Mall Walk at Madison Square Mall in Huntsville, Beta Pi members saw members of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church carrying signs to support Maddie, a St. Jude Children's Research Hospital patient and church member. After speaking with members of the church, Beta Pi unanimously decided to direct their support to St. Jude and little Maddie.

Judith Londene, Alabama ESA St. Jude Senior Coordinator's husband Fred, through a business contact, was able to gather 276,575 tabs, filling the trunk of his car. Beta Pi members collected 30,000 tabs. On April 6, 2010, a record 306,575 tabs were delivered to the Good Shepherd Church to be recycled and exchanged for money for St. Jude.

Well done, Beta Pi. It is through your dedication and kindness (and lots of soda) that you make a difference in the lives of the kids of St. Jude.

With ESA help St. Jude Dream Home is a Success

After having his name drawn from nearly 9,000 entries, Dan Adams is thankful every time he drives down his street to his home. Dan Adams was the winner of the St. Jude Dream Home giveaway in 1996. The St. Jude Dream Home giveaway is coming up on it's 20th year of operation. The fundraiser started in Shreveport and grew from the idea of Dr. Donald Mack after someone in 1991 offered to donate a prefabricated home. The event has turned into one of St. Jude's biggest events and has raised more than $155 million since its start in 1991. Mack assembled the help of Epsilon Sigma Alpha to handle all the tickets sales for the giveaway. "The first year was a hard year," said Martha McGee, one of the original ticket sellers. "It was a learning year. We were doing everything by hand. We had a loose-leaf notebook, and we numbered everything by hand." Once the popularity of the event grew the members of ESA began to play a much larger role in the giveaway. "We staff the dream house during open houses, we work at the telethon when it's in conjunction with the dream house," McGee said. "We answer the 10 millions questions people have to ask. We still handle all ticket sales."

St. Jude Dream Home Marks 20th Year

In 1991 Dr. Donald Mack of Shreveport, LA was offered a prefabricated house to use as a fundraiser for St. Jude. Now, 20 years later, the St. Jude Dream Home is one of the biggest fundraisers for the hospital, having raised more than $155 million dollars nationally. Dr. Mack relies on members of Epsilon Sigma Alpha to head tickets sales for the Dream Home. To read more about the Dream Home and how ESA has helped to make this event so successful, click here.

Chattanooga ESA supports St. Jude through Dream Home

During Tennesse's Epsilon Sigma Alpha state convention, chapters learned that they raised $102,634.21 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in 2009-2010 and remain in the top 10 states for fundraising efforts for St. Jude. As part of a nationwide effort by ESA to raise funds for St. Jude, Chattanooga ESA chapters (Alpha Beta, Delta Rho, Gamma Chi, Omicron Mu) are once again handling ticket sales for the annual Dream Home Giveaway. For more information, view the article here.

Alpha Gamma celebrates Memorial Day

Members of Alpha Gamma Chapter of Grand Prairie, Texas, visited Veterans Memorial Park during Memorial Day where they honored America's troops for their Hope for Heroes: an Epsilon Sigma Alpha National Event project. A permanent plaque will soon be installed to showcase all that Alpha Gamma did for our soldiers this past year.

ESA receives heartfelt thanks from soldiers abroad

In appreciation for all that Epsilon Sigma Alpha does for our heroes abroad, Sergeant First Class, Steve Toth, wrote a heartfelt thank you to ESA members that participated in Hope for Heroes, addressing the letter to his "Heroes at home": "I want to thank each and every one of you, your families, friends, various businesses and organizations who have supported us during this deployment. Our heartfelt thanks is beyond words for the cards, e-mails, letters and packages y'all sent us. You have taken the time and made the effort to support us during our mission to defend freedom of not only America, but the freedoms of our neighbors all over the world -- as we are doing here in Afghanistan."

Well done everyone, this is what it's all about!

Virginia Tech takes Relay for Life prize

Epsilon Sigma Alpha members of Omega Psi, Chapter of Virgina Tech and Blacksburg, VA, won "Best Looking Campsite" at Virginia Tech's Relay for Life for the second year in a row! According to member Kristin May, the relay went well -- with Omega Psi raising a total of about $3,500 with almost every member in attendance. Congrats and great work!

Teaming up with Dollar Tree to support heroes

Members of Alpha Chi Chapter of Olympia, WA, teamed up with Dollar Tree for a Hope for Heroes/Veteran's Day event. Dollar Tree runs a program called "Make a Soldier Smile," in which they have an agreement with Joint Base Lewis McChord to pick up purchased items for distribution to active military personnel in Afghanistan. Alpha Chi members developed flyers with the Hope for Heroes and Epsilon Sigma Alpha names. The flyer included a list of requested items by service men and women. They set up their table on Veteran's Day in front of the local Dollar Tree store for three hours and introduced the program to shoppers as they entered the store. During that time the store reported more than 170 items sold! One customer commented that it was like a scavenger hunt.

A thank you note from Afghanistan

Hello all. This is Chief Eric Purcell of NMCB 4 in Afghanistan. I would like
to thank you for your time and effort of support for the troops and thank
you for the box. I am sharing right now. Appreciate this a lot. I sent Diane
Hammes a Facebook message as well.

We appreciate the support! Thank you.

Very Respectfully,
ITC(SW) Eric Purcell

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Four
S-6 ISSM/Information Dominance
ISM BS/Security Plus
COMM:(805) 982-3495
DSN:(312) 551-3495
Roshan: 0795798544

Sigma Phi participates in for Relay for Life

Members of Sigma Phi Chapter of Columbia, SC, and South Carolina University, participated in Relay for Life on April 18th. Epsilon Sigma Alpha members helped raise $84,000 to fight cancer. “I think that this is a good way to get a lot of people together to fight for those who can’t do it themselves,” said Megan Johnson, an ESA member. “It’s very important to us because we have a few cancer survivors in our sorority.” For more information on the event, visit the article here.

ESA member wins Yellow Ribbon award

BJ Voll, member of Delta Zeta Chapter of Jasper, IN, was given the Yellow Ribbon award by the Indiana National Guard for her leadership in support of guard members and families through the Hope for Heroes: an Epsilon Sigma Alpha National Event project. "We got to see and hug on all the soldiers from the Bloomington Unit. I met our 'Christmas family' ... they had a full opening ceremony and the soldiers marching into the room...I had God pumps the whole time," said BJ of the event. Great work, this is what we love to see!

Thank you, ESA!

Members of ESA receieved a thank you e-mail from Iraq:


To the members of Epsilon Sigma Alpha,

I am 1SG Joseph Martinez of Charlie Company, 52D Infantry Regiment, and I would like say to thank you to each and every one of you for your support. We really appreciate you folks in taking the time to send us care packages and letters. This why the Armed Forces are motivated and willing to do what it takes to defend our freedom and our way of life.

Feel free to check our Company pictures on www.strykernews.com . Click on the photo tab at the top of the page, then look for C Co. 52D IN REGT.

Very Respectfully,
1SG Joseph Martinez
C Co. 52D IN REGT, 3-2 SBCT
FOB Warhorse, IZ
APO AE 09336

Photo from strykernews.com.

Floats for Veterans

ESA members of Beta Rho Chapter of Carlsbad, NM, created two floats for their local Veteran's Day Parade which family members of veterans rode proudly.

ESA support for the troops

Members of Alpha Iota Chapter of Anchorage, AK, attended the Redeployment Ceremony of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) 25th Infantry Division stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska. Alpha Iota supported the 2-377 Parachute Field Artillery Regiment Bravo Company, which was deployed to Afghanistan for a year.

Pictured are Alpha Iota members and their husbands having lunch with several members of the Combat Team after the ceremony.

Chapter Pride for Hope for Heroes

ESA members of Xi Chi Chapter of O'Fallon, IL boasted 100 percent chapter participation at a fundraiser for Hope for Heroes on November 7, 2009.

Alpha Upsilon 'Math-a-Thon' for St. Jude

Members of Alpha Upsilon Chapter of Mattoon, IL, held a Math-a-Thon at Riddle Elementary School to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Students solved math problems in a printed or online Funbook and asked family and friends for donations in support of their participation. "We are very proud of our students for wanting to work hard to raise money for St. Jude through Math-A-Thon," said Suzi Coffman, Epsilon Sigma Alpha member and coordinator of the event. "Our school, students and community are helping St. Jude in its work to find cures and save children."

For more information on the event, visit the article here.

Photo on right courtesy of Mattoon Journal Gazette/Charleston Times-Courier

ESA member volunteers for a dozen years at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Course

Shirley Gresham, member of Beta Beta Chapter of Palm Harbor, FL was featured in an article for the St. Petersburg Times for her long-lasting volunteer work.

Click this link to read the whole story:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/innisbrook-resort-and-golf-course-volunteer-is-about-more-than-tournaments/1081337

Going once, going twice...

Members of Alpha Nu Chapter of Merritt Island, FL, had a ball at their very successful purse auction fundraiser. Throughout the event, ladies dressed up as "old bags" provided entertainment with skits and silliness.

Making ESA known on Veteran's Day

In November, members of Delta Xi Chapter of Portland, OR (and two Men of ESA) proudly walked in the Annual Veteran's Day Parade in Portland, OR. ESA members passed out fliers about Delta Xi and ESA, as well as collected items that they'd later send to the troops in Iraq as part of Hope for Heroes: An ESA National Event.

Boxes for Heroes

Retired Air Force Colonel Bruce Deane (brother-in-law of Kentucky State Council President Sherry Suggs) was proud to deliver 20 Kentucky 4H4 boxes to the patients at Walter Reed Hospital on behalf of the members of ESA.

Beta Nu flips pancakes for a good cause

Members of Beta Nu Chapter of Prattvile, AL, sponsored a pancake breakfast to raise funds for Easter Seals of Central Alabama this past weekend. For more information on the Epsilon Sigma Alpha sponsored event, check out the story here.

Alpha Rho fills blizzard bags for Meals on Wheels

Members of Alpha Rho Chapter of Broken Arrow, OK, filled blizzard bags for Meals on Wheels and donated $500 on behalf of Epsilon Sigma Alpha this week. For more information, visit the story here.

Omega Pi's love for the troops is answered

Deployed soldiers stationed in North Carolina and currently deployed in Afghanistan received Valentine’s Day care packages in time for the big day and sent photos back along with their thanks. Members of Omega Pi Chapter of East Carolina University and Greenville, NC, assembled Valentine’s Day care packages for soldiers in Afghanistan for their Hope for Heroes: an Epsilon Sigma Alpha National Event project.

Thanks from Afghanistan

Epsilon Sigma Alpha members continue to touch lives overseas during the Hope for Heroes national event. A troop stationed in Afghanistan (pictured above) sent an email and picture in thanks for the packages they recieved.

SFC Steve Toth writes, "A big thanks from all of us in Alpha Company, 2-151st Infantry, Indiana for all that y'all do."

Omega Pi shows their heroes some love for Valentine's Day

Members of Omega Pi Chapter of East Carolina University and Greenville, NC, assembled Valentine’s Day care packages for soldiers in Afghanistan for their Hope for Heroes: an Epsilon Sigma Alpha National Event project. One package will event be sent to the husband of their faculty advisor.

Alpha Rho supports their heroes

In support of Hope for Heroes, Ruth Berg and Dolly Andrus, members of Alpha Rho Chapter of Tampa, FL, presented Bob Williams with almost 150 small pillows that the chapter made to be sent to the troops overseas. Mr. Williams, of Wesley Chapel, regularly prepares packages for the soldiers.

Alpha Lamba continues to show love for the troops

Members of Alpha Lamba Chapter of Vermillion, SD, sent 50 care packages to troops overseas for their Hope for Heroes: an Epsilon Sigma Alpha National Event project. Alpha Lamba sewed cloth string bags and filled them with goodies for their fourth year of Heroes. Member Crystal Monk was honored to get a picture with Curtis, a serviceman from the Yankton unit.

Cowboy Pancake Breakfast

Epsilon Sigma Alpha members find creative ways to get involved! ESA member Teresa Christensen Colgate of California is featured in this article about her chapter's unique annual fundraising event. http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/news/ci_14238471

Former St. Jude patient, and ESA member's spouse, urges giving

Epsilon Sigma Alpha members have connections with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital beyond fundraising. This article published in The Ruston Daily Reader illustrates how St. Jude's work positively impacted ESA member Alice Byrne's life - by saving her husband's life when he was a child. The article also discusses the event Alice is co-chairing to benefit St. Jude. Check it out! http://rustonleader.com/news.php?id=6249

Theta Epsilon shows support for troops

Theta Epsilon Chapter of Blytheville, AR, sent out 22 care packages to troops overseas for their Hope for Heroes: an Epsilon Sigma Alpha National Event project. The heartfelt gratitude Theta Epsilon received hit home as one care package recipient is a cousin to chapter second vice president, Denise Holdaway. "Please thank everybody that sent stuff for us, they don't know how much it means...Most of us are just trying to do our job and get back to our loved ones safe. It is nice to know that those back home appreciate us and what we do and I think that is the best support they can give," Razer Sargeant Bradley said. Theta Epsilon plans to send more care packages in time for Valentine's Day.

Greetings from Afghanistan

Members of Epsilon Sigma Alpha recently received a thank you letter for their efforts during the Hope for Heroes: An ESA National Event.

Alpha Nu helps raise funds for veteran service dogs

Alpha Nu Chapter of Merritt Island, FL, hosted a three-day event to raise money and support for America’s VetDogs for their Hope for Heroes: an Epsilon Sigma Alpha National event project. America’s VetDogs is an organization that trains service dogs to provide mobility, independence and companionship to veterans who return home with life-altering injuries. With the help of Alpha Nu’s donation drive, America’s VetDogs is able to provide dogs, training, and a lifetime of aftercare at no cost to the veteran. Having been a huge success, the chapter looks forward to participating again next year.