ESTABLISHED ON NOVEMBER
12, 1922
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 Irene White Marbury, Nannie Mae Gahn Johnson, Hattie Mae Annette Dulin Redford, Bessie Mae Downey Rhoades Martin, and Cubena McClure. The group became an incorporated national collegiate sorority on December 30, 1929, when a charter was granted to the Alpha chapter at Butler University. Since its inception, the dynamic women of Sigma Gamma Rho have built and sustained a well-known and well-respected reputation for leading positive change to help uplift the community through sisterhood, leadership, and service.
Sigma Gamma Rho has welcomed more than 100,000 collegiate and professional women from every profession. The sorority has more than 500 chapters in the United States, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Germany, South Korea, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the United Arab Emirates. The organization also has active affiliate groups devoted to empowering women at different stages in life. The Rhoer Club Affiliates (teenage girls) and Philos Affiliates (friends of the sorority) also assist alumnae chapters with various service efforts and programs.
Sigma Gamma Rho’s commitment to service is expressed in its slogan, “Greater Service, Greater Progress.” The sorority has a proud history of providing positive and proactive community outreach nationally and internationally. The programs, partnerships, and sponsorships represent Sigma Gamma Rho’s commitment to promoting the greater good in education, service, and leadership development. In 2004, the National Headquarters moved from Chicago, Illinois to its current home in Cary, North Carolina. Sigma women are dedicated to helping each other and their personal success is recognized in The AURORA and through various awards.
Key Facts
-
Established: November 12, 1922 at Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana
-
Membership: 1000,000+ members
-
Conference: National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC-Divine 9)
-
Division: Five Regions-Central, Northeastern, Southeastern, Southwestern, Western
-
Service Channel: Over 500 Chapters in the U.S. Bahamas, Bermuda, the Virgin Islands, Canada, Germany, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.
-
Sorority Flower: The Yellow Tea Rose
-
Sorority Mascot: The Poodle
-
Sorority Slogan: Greater Service, Greater Progress
-
Sorority Slogan: Greater Service, Greater Progress
-
Sorority Abbreviated Title: SGRho or Sigma
-
Sorority Call: EE-YIP!
-
Sorority Magazine: The AURORA
Sigma Gamma Rho is the only :
-
Member of the NPHC which started as a professional organization
-
NPHC sorority founded at a predominantly white institution
-
NPHC sorority not founded at Howard University
-
Greek-letter organization founded by university graduates rather than undergraduates
-
Sorority founded at Butler University
-
Sorority with a poodle as its mascot
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 involvement in sorority activities. Sorority activities provide an atmosphere where. friendships and professional contacts are developed which often lead to bonds that last a lifetime.
Sigma women are dedicated to helping each other and. their personal success is recognized in The AURORA and through various. awards.
ESTABLISHED ON NOVEMBER
2, 1937
Nu Sigma Chapter was chartered on November 2, 1937. The charter members of Nu Sigma was Sorors Vivian Bell, Aline Maney, Mildred Parish, Ozell Estes Drain, Annie Mae Bond, Annie Moloy Holder, Suzie Porter, Odessa Beck, and Alma Wyche. On December 3, 1932 ,Alpha Gamma Chapter was chartered bringing Black Greek Life to Lane College and West Tennessee. In 1986, Soror Olga Baskerville initiated the chartering of Kappa Gamma Undergraduate Chapter on the campus of UT Martin. In 2011, Kappa Gamma made its presence back on the campus of UT Martin under the leadership of Sorors Kimberly Graham and Porsha Austin. Nu Sigma Chapter has made significant and impressive contributions to the sorority at the local, regional, and national levels.
Past national officers:
Grand Basileus and First Grand Basileus: Helen Owens
Syntaktis: Clara Hewitt and Helen Owens
UCC- Clara Hewitt and Cassandra Owens
Regional Parliamentarian- Vivian Bell
Regional and National Chaplin- Cassandra Owens
Secretary, Board of Directors- Soror Clara Hewitt
Nu Sigma Past Chapter Basileus:
Ozell Drain, Vivian Bell, Annie Moloy, Fannie Dobbins, Darlene Hutson, Grace Hurst, Mildred Harris, Clara Hewitt, Cleo Boyd, Annie Boyd, Devernice Bryant, Alberta Jamison, Olga Baskerville, Mattie Milliken, Nancy Lyons, Helen Owens, Clara Hewitt, Denise Bond, Elizabeth Shaw, Ruby Hurt, Sabrina Transou, Tommie Kirkendoll, Geneva Hoyle, Tiffany Polk, Lonette Cobb, Cassandra Owens, and Monica Mathis
_edited.jpg)
It is the mission of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. to enhance the quality of life for women and their families in the United States and globally through community service, civil, and social action. Our goal is to achieve greater progress in the area of education, health awareness, and leadership development. Our members, affiliates, staff, and community partners work to create and support initiatives that align with our vision.
We visualize a world which all women and their families reach their full potential in all aspects of life and are able to create unlimited opportunities for future generations.