Sisters for St. Jude
Submitted photo Kelly Cole, director of philanthropy for Louisiana Tech University’s Tri Delta Sorority, is shown celebrating Tri Delta Sisterhood Philanthropy Day during fall recruitment. She would go on to lead the group in raising more than $26,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
When Kelly Cole was growing up, her friend Corbin Gulde suffered from childhood cancer.
He would go on to battle four different types of cancer throughout his lifetime, ultimately losing his fight at the age of 18.
At the age of three, Corbin began going to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for treatment. While there he stayed in Tri Delta Place, St. Jude’s only on-campus housing facility. As an early observer of Corbin’s journey and its intersection with Delta Delta Delta (Tri Delta) Sorority, Cole developed an early passion for St. Jude families and the many needs they face.
That’s why she leads the charge for members of Louisiana Tech University’s Tri Delta chapter to support St. Jude and its ongoing mission.
“Tri Delta officially adopted St. Jude as its national philanthropic partner in 1999,” Cole said. “As Director of Philanthropy for our chapter, I believe in this philanthropy so much because it’s actually making a difference in other’s lives. I truly believe St. Jude is saving lives each and every day.”
To help support the work of St. Jude, Cole guided Tri Delta through an incredibly successful fall quarter fundraiser. With the goal of raising $5,000 through a social media campaign, the sisterhood raised a staggering $26,295 for the hospital.
“Working with our Director of Public Relations and Marketing, Jenna Roblee, was phenomenal,” Cole, a 21-year-old senior communications major, said. “She blew me away with her work on the graphics for the social media posts. And the support from our St. Jude representative Craig Thompson gave me the confidence and reassurance I needed whenever I needed it. Whatever resources or advice I needed, Craig was there to encourage me.”
According to Cole, Tri Deltas remain dedicated to three aspects of philanthropy: sisters helping sisters through Tri Delta’s Foundation, a commitment to changing the way the world treats and defeats childhood cancer through work with local and regional children’s hospitals and pediatric cancer initiatives and through a national partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Yet community service is also an important part of the plan with events on tap that will allow the Tri Delta sisters to interact with members of the community and other Greek organizations. In fact, if you’re up for a little fun, Tri Delt has something just for you.
“Our next event is small but going to be unbelievably fun,” Cole added. “We are planning a “Pie a Tri” event where students, family and friends can make a donation to St. Jude and “pie” a Tri Delta sister with a plate of whipped cream.”
This in-person event will be held Nov. 9, from 2-4 p.m. at Louisiana Tech’s Centennial Plaza. It is a prelude to Sincerely Yours, the winter quarter large-scale philanthropy event where the sorority members write letters to family and friends and invite them to donate to St. Jude.
Coming later will be Delta House of Pancakes (DHOP), an event where tickets are sold for plates of pancakes with profits benefitting St. Jude.
“Even though we are the youngest sorority on Louisiana Tech’s campus, our girls take pride in our work on and off campus, especially when it comes to St. Jude,” Cole said. “Tri Delta at Louisiana Tech, and nationwide, is a wonderful assembly of women who steadfastly love one another and truly believe in being kind alike to all.
“With women in our chapter who have personal St. Jude stories, their love for this philanthropy stretches far beyond our events. I love being a Tri Delta woman and being able to represent my sorority as well as St. Jude as the Director of Philanthropy,” she said.
