Charlotte Alumnae Celebrates
75 Years of Service
Written by Melissa Deas and Sondra Hines
Established in 1941
M
CAC sorors stand outside WSOC-TV after donating 75 coats on live television.
embers of Charlotte Alumnae kicked off its season long community celebration commemorating 75 years of service. It was appropriate the first activity – “75 Acts of Kindness Day of Service,” was held on Founders Day. Sorors conducted several city wide service activities: donating 75+ coats live on TV, serving lunch at the Salvation Army women’s shelter and delivering surprise baskets of goodies to local educators and civil servants. An event highlight was serving breakfast to the staff at West Charlotte Senior High, one of two historically black high schools. A Title I school, employees face incredible daily challenges. “This is so fantastic! We are humbled by the outpouring of love to our staff,” says Monica Martin, West Charlotte High’s IB program coordinator. The celebration continued the following morning as sorors, Delta GEMS and Delta Academy members participated in the annual MLK parade. Former CAC chapter presidents, rode a stunning float, surrounded by a sea of Delta Red Sorors. Saturday afternoon, 200+ sorors and guests fellowshipped for an Art & Letters Red Carpet event, at the movie “Hidden Figures.” On Sunday, members were encouraged to attend church with another soror. The chapter will be engaged in other events to highlight its commitment to the Charlotte area, including: Feed The Needy Food Drive (January-May) Go Red For Women (February), Third Annual Sorority Greek Health Olympics (March), 38th Debutante Cotillion (April), Eighth Annual Community Day (April), Second Annual Stop Hunger Meal Packing (May) and Habitat For Humanity Build (May). “The need to play a role in an inclusive, diverse Charlotte with opportunity for all, is critical to our mission as an organization,” says Pamela Lewis Murphy, President Charlotte Alumnae Chapter. “Community service is at the heart of the work performed
CAC sorors delivered a delivered small tokens of appreciation to the teachers and staff of West Charlotte High School.
by Charlotte Alumnae Chapter. We have dedicated ourselves to empowering our youth, families and neighborhoods through education, financial literacy, voter education, scholarship support for college and charitable donations for 75 years,” she says. The chapter is proud of its many notable “firsts” in the city of Charlotte; first black female mortician, Soror Ruth Powell; the first black female high school principal, Soror Virginia Shadd; the first black female optometrist, Soror Paula Newsome. Soror Dorothy Counts-Scoggins was the first black student to integrate CharlotteMecklenburg Schools. Soror Bertha Maxwell Roddey was the first Regional Director and the 20th National President from the Charlotte Alumnae Chapter. The celebration culminates on June 10, 2017, at the chapter’s 75th Anniversary Dinner, Gala and Silent Auction.
“The need to play a role in an inclusive, diverse Charlotte with opportunity for all, is critical to our mission as an organization.” —Soror Pamela Lewis Murphy, President
41