Springfield IL SGRho Webpage

Epsilon Sigma Sigma

Alumnae Chapter

This local body, Epsilon Sigma Sigma Alumnae Chapter, was charted on July 18, 1981 by seven dynamic women. Epsilon Sigma Sigma of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. is located in Springfield, Illinois and is part of the Central Region. The chapter aims to provide community outreach services that align with the values of our seven illustrious Founders, while continually striving to be a beacon of light within the Springfield community and beyond.

Message from the President

Welcome!

We are the women of Epsilon Sigma Sigma Alumnae Chapter in Springfield and Decatur, Illinois. Epsilon Sigma Sigma is comprised of a diverse group of professional women who support our mission “to enhance the quality of life for women and their families through community service, civil, and social action.”

Each year we strive to impact the lives of families throughout our community, through national initiatives such as Operation BigBookBag, Project Reassurance, SWIM 1922, and Women’s Wellness. We also serve local area residence through various partnerships with Fresh Visions Community Church, Simmons Cancer Institute, and more.

As Basileus, I hope to lead this knowledgeable group of independent thinkers in a direction that exemplifies our national motto, “Greater Service, Greater Progress.” Thanks for visiting our website and we hope that you will consider partnering with us through future donations, community service, and sponsorships.

Theresa Clay, M.S.

Basileus

2022-2024 Executive Officer

Madam Basileus

Theresa Clay

basileus.ess@gmail.com

2022-2024 Executive Officer

Madam Grammateus

Rashonda Andrews

Grammateus.ess@gmail.com

2022-2024 Executive Officer

Madam Anti-Grammateus

ess.antigrammateus.sgrho@gmail.com

2022-2024 Executive Officer

Madam Tamiochus

Regena Wilson

Tamiochus.ess@gmail.com

2022-2024 Executive Officer

Madam Epistoleus

Dr. Santita Odom

santitanunn@yahoo.com

2022-2024 Executive Officer

Madam Parliamentarian

CheVaughn Starling-Jones

parliamentarian.ess@gmail.com

Epsilon Sigma Sigma Charter Members

Carrolyn Delk Rountree

Deborah Catchings Smith,

24th Int’l Grand Basileus

Kathryn Harris

Reba Morrison

Carmelita Hogan Washington

Estelle Booth

Ruth Warden Waller

International History

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was organized on November 12, 1922, in Indianapolis, Indiana, by seven young educators: Mary Lou Allison Gardner Little, Dorothy Hanley Whiteside, Vivian White Marbury, Nannie Mae Gahn Johnson, Hattie Mae Annette Dulin Redford, Bessie Mae Downey Rhoades Martin, and Cubena McClure. This dedicated group of women became an incorporated national collegiate sorority on December 30, 1929, when a charter was granted to the Alpha chapter at Butler University.

From seven young educators, Sigma Gamma Rho has become an international service organization comprised of women from every profession. Sigma Gamma Rho offers its members opportunities to develop their unique talents through leadership training and sorority activities. Sorority activities provide an atmosphere where friendships and professional contacts are developed which often leads to bonds that last a lifetime.

National Programs

Operation BigBookBag – AUGUST & JANUARY

A Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority International Project in which chapters provide selected schools and other facilities across the nation with bookbags, notebooks, writing and drawing paper, pencils and pens, dictionaries, thesauri, rulers, glue, construction paper, textbooks, computers, and many other needed school items. In addition, many chapters have expanded this project to be implemented twice a year because the supplies given in the fall often need replenishing after the New Year holiday.

Women’s Wellness - OCTOBER & FEBRUARY

Cognizant that African Americans bear a disproportionate burden of cancer — the highest mortality rate of any ethnic group — Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority is committed to providing education and active support of early detection as well as research for the prevention and cure of heart disease, breast, prostate, ovarian, colon and other types of cancers.

Project Cradle Care - JANUARY

“Project CRADLE Care” is a prenatal education and resource program that seeks to improve pregnancy outcomes in high-risk communities by increasing the number of women of childbearing age who receive adequate prenatal education and prenatal care. On the 3rd Saturday of January, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. alumnae chapters host prenatal education fairs. This community-based collaboration includes hospitals, managed care organizations, and community-based prenatal care providers. This program is done with our national partner, the March of Dimes.

National Programs

Youth Symposium - MARCH

Sponsored in conjunction with and in commemoration of Sigma Week, the Sigma Youth Symposium was designed to highlight some of the prevalent concerns that negatively impact our youth: drugs, teen violence, abuse, low self-esteem, suicide, teen pregnancy, etc. Each Alumnae Chapter, simultaneously, offers a Sigma Youth Symposium that addresses issues that affect today’s teens on the 2nd Saturday in March.

SWIM1922 in Partnership with USA Swimming

Swim 1922 was created to address the unfortunate truth, according to the CDC, approximately 10 people drown every day in the U.S.A. An even more startling fact is that 70 percent of African-American children and 60 percent of Hispanic children in the U.S. do not know how to swim. SWIM1922 aims to address this disparity by having Olympians and members of the sorority teach the community about water safety and how to swim. With USA Swimming, Sigma Gamma Rho has touched close to 20,000 lives, directly, with the projection of changing multiple generations in the U.S. do not know how to swim. SWIM1922 aims to address this disparity by having Olympians and members of the sorority teach the community about water safety and how to swim. With USA Swimming, Sigma Gamma Rho has touched close to 20,000 lives, directly, with the projection of changing multiple generations to come.