Philanthropies

Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. supports a variety of charitable organizations as a part of our community service commitment. As a national organization, we are proud to dedicate our philanthropic efforts to: Breast Cancer Awareness and the TRIO programs. Sorority entities conduct and participate in extraordinary programming events that are designed to bring about public awareness and education on these topics. In addition to our national service programs, our organization knows no limits in the quality and innovativeness of seminars and workshops which are facilitated by our membership.
Women, children and societal issues serve as a focal point for the programming efforts of our collegiate and alumnae groups. On the regional and local levels, chapters and alumnae associations identify important issues within their respective communities to create a positive change for the next generation. It is our goal to collaborate with many campus organizations and philanthropic groups to share the belief in community service and instill a compassion for the hardships faced within our global family.

Breast Cancer Awareness

www.breastcancer.org

Sigma Lambda Gamma and its member groups actively support the important societal issue of Breast Cancer Awareness. Our support of this cause comes in various avenues: from fundraising campaigns; educational workshops to create awareness; active participation in run/walk events; volunteer participation with organizations; or a combination of these forms. The two primary programs our organization supports in respects to breast cancer awareness include, but are not limited to: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization.

Statistics

Every three minutes a woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2004, it is estimated that about 216,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed, along with 59,390 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer. And 40,000 women are expected to die from this disease.

Breast cancer incidence in women has increased from one in 20 in 1960 to one in 8 today.

Causes

The exact cause of breast cancer is not known. Factors that can increase a woman’s risk include heredity, early puberty, late childbearing, obesity, and lifestyle factors such as heavy alcohol consumption and smoking. Most breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50, and women over 60 are at the highest risk.

A woman’s risk for developing breast cancer increases if her mother, sister, daughter, or two or more other close relatives, such as cousins, have a history of breast cancer, especially at a young age. However, 85% of women who develop breast cancer have NO known family history of the disease.

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

www.komen.org

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was founded in 1982 on a promise made between two sisters – Susan Goodman Komen and Nancy Goodman Brinker. Today, this foundation has become a leading institution of both education and research in the area of breast cancer on a national and international scale. Through fundraising, research grants, supporting education, screening and treatment projects in communities, this organization has become a leading and vital instrument in the eradication of breast cancer. The Komen Foundation and its Affiliate Networks currently have invested millions of dollars to this cause. Such programs include: Komen Affiliate Grant Program; Komen Foundation Award; and Research Grant Program.

Furthermore, the Komen Foundation advocacy principles encompass the belief that scientific progress must be completed by sound public policy. Therefore, the foundation works to influence public policy-makers at the federal, state and local levels to increase public investment in quality breast health and breast cancer care.

Currently, the Komen Foundation has over 75,000 volunteers working through a network of more than 100 U.S. and international Affiliations. In celebration of the success of the Komen Foundation, in 2003, it celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Komen Race for the Cure, a series of 112 Races in the United States and two international races, and the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walk in the world. In 2004, it is predicted 1.5 million people are expected to participate.

Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization

www.y-me.org

The Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization was founded in 1978 by breast cancer patients, Mimi Kaplan and Ann Marcou, to provide peer support and fellowship to breast cancer patients. This organization has become an important mechanism for education and advocacy in the education and support for women and men dealing with breast cancer.

Mission Statement

The mission of Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization is to ensure, through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone.

Some notable milestones reached by the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization are:

In 1989, the Y-ME National Cancer Hotline (1-800-221-2141) is made available to anyone touched by or concerned about breast cancer and breast health.
In 1994, the Spanish Hotline (1-800-986-9505) is introduced to provide breast cancer support and information to the Latino Population. Later that year, the Men’s Match Program was developed to provide peer support to men whose partners have breast cancer.
In 1999, Y-ME expands the teen breast health educational program nationally.
In 2000, the ShareRing Network was launched providing a free, monthly one-hour teleconference featuring a breast cancer related presentation by a healthcare professional.
Lastly, in 2002, the 24-hour Y-ME National Breast Cancer Hotline expanded to include the translation of more than 140 languages.

TRIO Programs

www.trioprograms.org

Sigma Lambda Gamma supports the TRIO programs for its innovative and proactive stance on the continual education of individuals who otherwise would not have been afforded the education or financial assistance to further their education and livelihood. These programs have become stepping stones for many students within our organization and other affiliates who have benefited to identify and continue secondary education.

Our nation has asserted a commitment to providing educational opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, ethnic background or economic circumstance.

In support of this commitment, Congress established a series of programs to help low-income Americans enter college, graduate and move on to participate more fully in America’s economic and social life. These programs are funded under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and are referred to as the TRIO Programs. While financial aid programs help students overcome financial barriers to higher education, TRIO programs help students overcome class, social and cultural barriers to higher education.

Mission Statement

The mission of the council is to advance and defend the ideal of equal educational opportunity in post-secondary education. As such, the focus of the Council is assuring that the least advantaged segments of the American population have a realistic chance to enter and graduate from a post-secondary institution. A secondary purpose of the Council is to provide a voice and a political vehicle for administrators, counselors and teachers who are employed in institutionally-, state- and federally-funded opportunity programs, especially those professionals with Trio Programs.

TRIO programs developed to assist students succeed academically in high school and college education includes: Talent Search; Upward Bound; Upward Bound Science; Veterans Upward Bound; Student Support Services; Educational Opportunity Centers; and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement.