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2023 SESSION

23106866D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 405
Offered February 20, 2023
Commending the Denbigh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
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Patrons-- Mason, Lucas and McClellan; Delegates: Mundon King, Price, Simonds and Ward
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WHEREAS, the Denbigh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., was chartered on December 21, 1997, under the direction of Nettie Faulcon, the former South Atlantic regional director, according to the guidelines of the Grand Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Denbigh Alumnae Chapter’s initial membership of 31 college-educated women has grown to 90 active members, and they continue their commitment to provide public service in the region, which extends from J. Clyde Morris Boulevard in the City of Newport News to York County and in communities abroad; and

WHEREAS, Denbigh Alumnae Chapter has implemented local, national, and international initiatives in accordance with the Five-Point Programmatic Thrust of Delta Sigma Theta (DST): economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement; and

WHEREAS, Denbigh Alumnae Chapter’s economic initiatives include maintaining an Adopt-A-Spot Community Clean-up site in Denbigh at Warwick Boulevard and Colony Road; co-sponsoring the One City Celebration, formerly known as the North District Food Drive; sponsoring Dashing Thru with the Deltas annual Christmas food drive and distribution; supporting the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank and Toys for Tots; participating annually in the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign; providing food baskets and furnishing a room at the Menchville House, a shelter for women and their children; hosting a toiletry drive and financial fortitude workshops; and annual participation in Give Local 757; and

WHEREAS, Denbigh Alumnae Chapter’s educational initiatives include partnering with Lutrelle F. Palmer Elementary School to support and provide tutoring programs, school supplies, clothing, and Christmas gifts in support of the school’s Christmas Angel Tree, along with teacher appreciation gifts; co-sponsoring Megagenesis, a free college and career-ready experience for middle and high school students, in partnership with Zeta Lambda Education Foundation of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Newport News City Schools; partnering with Peninsula READS; hosting an annual high tea and scholarship presentation, which has awarded over $130,000 in scholarships to deserving high school women; hosting the annual Jabberwock Beautillion Cotillion, which has awarded over $150,000 in scholarships to deserving high school students; sponsoring three youth programs: the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy for young ladies aged 11 to 14, Delta GEMS (Growing and Empowering Myself Successfully) for young ladies aged 14 to 18, and EMBODI (Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence) for young men aged 13 to 17; and

WHEREAS, Denbigh Alumnae Chapter also hosts an annual May Week, a national DST initiative that is set aside for programs such as college fairs and college preparation workshops, highlighting academic and professional achievements, and events that emphasize the importance of higher education, especially for African American women; and

WHEREAS, Denbigh Alumnae Chapter’s public service initiatives extend beyond the City of Newport News, with international initiatives to include World AIDS Day; Stop Hunger Now; donating to Dollars for Darfur; helping to fund the digging of water wells in Africa and in Haiti; donating to Dolls for Haiti; supporting earthquake relief efforts in Haiti; providing clothing and toiletry items to students who transferred to Hampton University from the Bahamas due to being displaced by Hurricane Dorian; and supporting an orphanage in the Kingdom of Eswatini, formerly the Kingdom of Swaziland, Africa; and

WHEREAS, Denbigh Alumnae Chapter’s physical and mental health initiatives include Circle of Sisterhood: Honoring Military Women; Delta Walk Against Domestic Violence; health fairs, blood drives, exercise programs, and workshops that focus on diabetes awareness and prevention, teen pregnancy, and mental health; and annual participation in Relay for Life, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, and St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer; and

WHEREAS, Denbigh Alumnae Chapter is committed to service through social action and continues to advocate for the passage of laws and policies to sustain and expand the rights and privileges of all and to protect vulnerable citizens through attendance at Delta Day at the nation’s capital, the General Assembly, local school board meetings, and local city council meetings; through monthly voter registration drives; and by co-sponsoring restoration of voting rights clinics; and

WHEREAS, Denbigh Alumnae Chapter has received numerous accolades and awards for its public service and social action initiatives, including the South Atlantic Region of DST’s 2006–2007 Leadership Team Star Award and the 2010 Public Service Award; a public tribute in 2012 by the Newport News Chapter of the Links, Incorporated for outstanding service and leadership recognizing transformational services in Hampton Roads for the period 2009–2012; a community service award from the Zeta Lambda Education Foundation of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., for participation in Megagenesis; and a certificate of achievement from Councilwoman Sharon Scott in recognition of significant contributions to the former North District Food Drive; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Denbigh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., on the occasion of its 25th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Denbigh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the chapter’s accomplishments and contributions to Newport News, the Commonwealth, the United States, and communities around the world.