Delta Gamma Schools Help Children Reach Their Full Potential
The founding of the first Delta Gamma School, Blind Children’s Center, in 1938 was the result of the request by Ruth Billow, Eta-Akron, to make sight-related initiatives our official philanthropy. Since then, Delta Gammas have passionately supported children living with blindness through hands-on service, school board leadership, fundraising and Foundation Service for Sight grants. Here are the latest updates from the five Delta Gamma Schools for Children with Visual Impairments, along with how each of the schools put their Delta Gamma Foundation Service for Sight grant funds to good use.
Anchor Center for Blind Children | Denver, Colorado
Founded in 1982 by the Denver alumnae chapter and Colorado Library for the Blind.
Over four decades ago, a small group of visionary Delta Gamma alumnae in Denver set out to create a safe haven for young children who were blind or had low vision. Today, that vision has grown into the Anchor Center — offering education, intervention and specialized support for students with low or no vision, with a focus on the formative years — birth to age five.
In a unique partnership, Anchor Center’s state-of-the-art eye clinic brings pediatric ophthalmology faculty and physicians from the University of Colorado, Children’s Hospital Colorado and private practice on-site for exams and treatment. It’s a familiar and comfortable environment for the children and their families, and it enables their teachers to participate in the treatment, too.
Additionally, Anchor Center is emerging as a national leader in pioneering research, early diagnosis and treatment of Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), a brain-based neurological condition affecting the brain’s ability to accurately interpret visual stimuli. CVI is the leading cause of pediatric visual impairment in the developed world.
Together with its Children’s Hospital partners, Anchor Center is researching the use of a non-invasive screening tool to assess neurological risk for CVI in premature infants who are particularly vulnerable to brain-based visual impairment. The goal is to diagnose and provide targeted intervention to CVI patients as early as possible, during the critical period when the brain-eye connection is developing. As part of this important work, Anchor Center staff has trained hundreds of hospital staff and early interventionists nationwide on the innovative assessment protocol.
“Anchor Center is incredibly thankful to DGs and the Delta Gamma Foundation for their long-standing volunteer and financial support,” said Anchor Center Executive Director Meghan Klassen. “It’s an honor and privilege for our team to be able to bring to life the DG commitment to do good every day.”
2023-24 Service for Sight Grant: The grant was used to help fund the Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) Program for young children offering specialized screening, assessment, research, and training for parents, caregivers and H/C professionals.
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Blind Children’s Center (BCC) | Los Angeles, California
Founded in 1938 by the Los Angeles alumnae groups and Dr. Lillian Ray Titcomb, Upsilon-Stanford.
Last fall, BCC celebrated its grand reopening, marking a new chapter in its inspiring history of supporting visually impaired children. New specialized classrooms are designed to the tailored educational approach at BCC. One room, dedicated to preschoolers, is fully accessible, ensuring every child has a safe, welcoming place to learn and includes a calming corner for students to express and manage their emotions. Another room is stocked with specialized tools to help students engage with their environments in a sensory-rich, supportive setting.
“We have always been committed to providing an inclusive space where children of all abilities can learn, grow and thrive,” said BCC Executive Director Sarah Orth, Delta Phi-UC Irvine. “This renovation strengthens our ability to fulfill that mission and we look forward to witnessing its positive impact on our students, families and the broader community.”
Delta Gamma collegians in the Los Angeles area have played a vital role in supporting BCC for many years, and their dedication continues to make a meaningful impact. Through hands-on volunteer work, fundraising efforts and advocacy, these passionate sisters contribute their time and resources to enhance the lives of the students and their families.
Last June, the Delta Gamma Hope Serving program was held at BCC. Alumnae and collegians spent a week engaging in hands-on service at the Center and helped students and teachers in their classrooms.
The Los Angeles community has recently experienced significant devastation due to the wildfires, impacting families, homes and local institutions. Despite these challenges, the school has successfully reopened, and air quality conditions have improved, allowing students and staff to return to a sense of normalcy as the community begins to rebuild.
2023-24 Service for Sight Grant: The grant was used to support the BCC’s Zero to Three Program, focused on building critical skills in daily literacy, mobility and motor skills training in an inclusive classroom.
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Delta Gamma Center (DGC) | St. Louis, Missouri
Founded in 1951 by the St. Louis alumnae chapter.
DGC fulfills its mission by empowering children who are blind or have low vision to reach their full potential through family-centered, specialized services and strong community support.
This past fall, DGC welcomed students and families to their annual DGCKids All-Family event at a local farm and greenhouse. Collegians from Eta Theta-St. Louis spent the day volunteering at the event and helped kids enjoy pumpkin decorating and a petting zoo.
Gamma Iota-DePauw also did good at DGC last fall by helping assemble over 1,300 packets for the vision screening program. The packets will be distributed to families after their free vision screenings.
DGC kicked off the new year with their January GRADS (Group Recreation and Developmental Support) event at the Center. Through monthly group meet-ups, special events, and outdoor adventures, GRADS helps children practice orientation and mobility, socialization, and life skills in a fun, engaging environment. The January event included a visit from Champ Assistance Dogs and a goalball lesson from MindsEye Adaptive Athletics.
2023-24 Service for Sight Grant: The grant was used to help fund the Early Intervention Program, which provides specialized health, educational, developmental, and support services for infants and toddlers with low vision.
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Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired (CCVI) | Kansas City, Missouri
Founded in 1952 with the Greater Kansas City alumnae chapter being a founding partner.
CCVI’s mission to help children reach their highest potential in the sighted world starts with a comprehensive model that includes vision screening, early interventions, a preschool, Early Learning Academy and specialized physical and occupational therapies, like speech-language, orientation and mobility to meet the multiple disabilities and challenges many students face.
In October, CCVI celebrated the tool of independence in a new way, with its first-ever White Cane Safety Day community celebration. CCVI hosted a White Cane Walk-A-Thon followed by crafts, food, face painting, and a concert. There was no shortage of Delta Gamma sisters at the event helping hand out lunch and cheering the students on.
2023-24 Service for Sight Grant: The grant was used to support the delivery of therapeutic and specialized services to children with blindness or low vision, ensuring that each child receives intervention tailored to their needs.
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Foundation for Blind Children (FBC) | Phoenix, Arizona
Founded in 1952 by parents of children who were blind and designated a Delta Gamma School in 2018.
Over the past 72 years, FBC has gone from serving four students in a family living room to being an essential resource for over 2,000 people across Arizona. FBC has always aspired to do more to help more people. And while there is always work to be done, FBC’s new five-year strategic plan focuses on ensuring that every person with a visual impairment in Arizona has access to the resources, tools and services they need to thrive. This is the organization’s new guiding principle and will be spearheaded by FBC's new Chief Executive Officer, Jared Kittelson. He says, “FBC is about hope. It’s about what’s possible.”
Earlier this month, the Delta Gamma Hope Serving program visited FBC for a week of doing good. Four alumnae and six collegians worked hands on with students and learned all about the school. One of the participants, Kaisha, Zeta Eta-Texas State, reflected on her week at FBC: “This experience is expanding my views on the limitless possibilities for people with visual impairments and has forever changed how I will interact with people with a disability in the future."
2023-24 Service for Sight Grant: The grant was used to support FBC’s Early Intervention Program, providing year-round home visits for children from birth to age 3 and preschool for ages 3-5. Funding will go toward staff training and supplies.