Tri Kappa celebrates 125 years, local chapter fills Blessing Boxes
- Nathaniel Smith | Editor-in-Chief
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
This week, February 22 through 28, marks the 125th anniversary of the founding of Tri Kappa, and this week has even been designated as “Tri Kappa Week” by a proclamation made by Mayor Justin Green. Tri Kappa was formed in 1901, and the Salem Beta Tau Chapter was organized on March 5, 1919. It currently maintains a membership of roughly 35 women.
This year, the Beta Tau Chapter will celebrate Tri Kappa Week by filling the blessings boxes in Washington County. They filled the box on Water Street yesterday, and they plan to fill the boxes at the hospital and the community ballpark on Wednesday and Friday this week. They will also be providing bracelets to the county schools for distribution to the students. The arm band will serve as a reminder to “be kind.”
“Being able to give back to the community is everything,” said Ashley Tarr. “That’s our main focus. There are many organizations that we try to give to every year, but we also try to do other things like fill up these boxes and provide food and serve at the Warming Station.”
The origin of Tri Kappa dates back to February 22, 1901 when a group of young ladies who were attending the Girls’ Classical School in Indianapolis decided it might be fun to form a “secret” organization. They each avowed to return to their hometown and form a chapter. Today, the philanthropic sorority, which exists solely within the boundaries of Indiana, has roughly 6,500 members in over 200 chapters and supports a variety of special projects which promote charity, culture, and education. In fact, millions of dollars and countless hours are donated annually to worthwhile projects across the State of Indiana including Ronald McDonald House, Special Olympics, Alzheimer’s Association, and many other charitable causes.
In keeping with its values, Tri Kappa has a longstanding charitable relationship with James Whitcomb Riley Hospital at Indiana University Health for Children in Indianapolis dating back to the hospital’s opening in 1922. Monetary contributions in the millions and in-kind donations of dolls and blankets have been donated since its founding.
“We try to be aware of what’s in our community and try to help others,” said Melissa Dick. “We help out at the food bank, we’ve done food drives and helped with the Humane Society. We try to be there for different organizations that need our help.”
Culture is also important to Tri Kappa. The Hoosier Salon, located in the John Logan Memorial Library at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, is home to the Tri Kappa Art Collection containing more than 100 paintings and valued at more than $500,000.00.
Educationally speaking, Tri Kappa is known for its generosity in scholarship awards. Fine Arts scholarships are given annually to students across the state majoring in dance, theater, art, and music. Locally, the Beta Tau Chapter provides scholarships to a graduating senior from each of the 3 county schools every year.
According to our Beta Tau Chapter, their April meeting is always the most rewarding due to it being the “money giveaway” night. Chapter members are encouraged to nominate a non-profit organization or individual they feel deserving to be on the receiving end of donations. Before the evening is even over, the chapter donates thousands of dollars to numerous worthwhile causes. An increase in corporate sponsorship and the community’s generosity to their “Beer on the Bricks” fundraiser has made it possible for the Salem Beta Tau Chapter to give away over $10,000.00 annually the last few years.
Tri Kappa Week is celebrated annually during the week of the sorority’s founding as a way to make the community more aware of Tri Kappa’s efforts as a philanthropic organization as well as a way to help its members recognize their accomplishments.
The Beta Tau Chapter wishes to encourage the Washington County community to “be kind,” stating that even small acts have the power to brighten someone’s day.
