Community Partners  

Kappa Alpha Theta: 20 Years of Speaking Up for Children 

Since 1989, the women of Kappa Alpha Theta have been standing up and speaking up for abused and neglected children through their support of National CASA and CASA programs across the country. Kappa Alpha Theta and its members have made lasting contributions as leaders, financial supporters and passionate ambassadors for the CASA mission. The fraternity’s 125 college-based chapters and 190 alumnae chapters are generous supporters of the National CASA network of local programs; in 2008 alone, Kappa Alpha Theta chapters gave more than $330,000 to CASA programs in their communities.

Santa Barbara Alumnae: “Proud to Be Part of This”

When the holidays rolled around in 1989, Maureen Null, president of the Santa Barbara, CA, Kappa Alpha Theta alumnae chapter, wondered whether CASA of Santa Barbara County was having a holiday party for the children served by the program. Yes, program staff told her, there would be a party. Null wondered if there would be gifts for the young people. No, she was told. There would be food and games and fun—but 120 children meant 120 gifts, and that was just more than the program could provide.

Null and the other Santa Barbara Theta alumnae went into action, filling 120 gift bags with small toys, toiletries, gift cards as well as zoo and museum passes. It was the start of a holiday tradition for the Theta alumnae as well as the Theta collegians at UC Santa Barbara, who soon got involved, lavishly decorating children’s gift bags.

“We love supporting Theta’s national philanthropy on a local level,” says Null. “We are very proud to be a part of this.”

Read more about the long relationship between CASA programs and Kappa Alpha Theta in the Fall Connection magazine.

Omega Delta Phi Fraternity: New Partner!