Ensuring a True Sense of Belonging in Delta Gamma: The Wendy and William Faust Social Responsibility Fund
By Wendy Adams Faust, Epsilon-Ohio State
As an 18-year-old college freshman attending a university of 64,000 students, I knew I needed to find a community in which I could grow, learn and contribute to others. I found that in Delta Gamma. As a first-generation college student, I knew nothing of what joining a sorority meant; I only knew that I had met a group of women who made me feel like I belonged, I mattered to them and I was valued. That was in 1979, and those feelings have only expanded throughout my years of membership.
As an alumna, Delta Gamma has afforded me many opportunities to lead various efforts for Delta Gamma to evolve to meet the needs of women today and into the future. The members I have worked alongside have lifted me as a leader professionally as well as within our own organization. The relationships I have made will truly last a lifetime. These are the unexpected gifts the Fraternity and the Foundation willingly give to each one of us. It is up to each one of us to not only accept those gifts of sisterhood, but to pass them on to generations moving forward.
I have actively volunteered in my community, focusing on creating spaces of belonging for our youth who are struggling to survive because of societal norms. I have served at the highest levels of leadership within Delta Gamma and know we can be a place of acceptance and assistance to our sisters whenever they may need it. This is why, in 2021, I chose to endow The Wendy and William Faust Social Responsibility Fund to provide financial support to Delta Gamma members through Foundation-funded training and programming. This endowed fund will be used to support opportunities in the area of social responsibility, focusing on inclusion and equity for individuals of all gender identities and sexual orientations (LGBTQ+). When we share the message that we accept personal differences, we will grow a culture of safety where members can bravely share their identities and live authentically. We all walk through life differently and by embracing those differences, we all belong.
Contact Senior Director of Development Aleesa Ross at 614-481-8169 or plannedgiving@deltagamma.org for more information about how an endowed fund gift can create a true sense of belonging for all members of Delta Gamma.