Kappa Delta sorority became the first and only National Panhellenic Conference group to adopt the Girl Scouts as a national philanthropy in the spring of 1998.

“We are really excited about our newest philanthropy,” said Christine Grasso, president of Kappa Delta, 2102 Sunset Drive, and junior in chemistry. “So far we have had a lot of fun with the local troops and are really looking forward to future activities.”

All 121 Kappa Delta chapters and their alumnae will be working with the Girl Scout troops in their communities. The women will be helping troop members earn a badge that bears the Girl Scout and Kappa Delta names and a picture of two people joined together by a heart.

“I think it is great that Kappa Delta is helping us,” said Annette Jensen, service unit manager for the Ames and Gilbert Girl Scout troops.

She said the Girl Scouts have a great time with the sorority members, and the experience provides them with positive female role models.

“We hope to get them involved with many of the 28 local troops with such activities as our Thinking Day,” Jensen said. “This will have a cultural theme and may include teaching the girls about other holidays and different dances.”

Both Kappa Delta and the Girl Scouts offer opportunities for girls and young women to develop leadership skills, confidence and self-esteem. To reflect those opportunities, two themes, “Lending hearts and hands” and “Together preparing girls for college, for life and all they hope to become,” were created.

“I have had a lot of fun planning and coordinating activities with the troop leaders,” said Andrea Frideres, philanthropy chairwoman for Kappa Delta and sophomore in elementary education. “It is neat to interact with the different age groups. So far we have helped with the Daisy meetings and attended the Girl Scout fall picnic.”

Jensen said it is beneficial for the Girl Scouts to see the sorority members engaging in community service.

“With Kappa Delta helping us, it helps expel a lot of negative myths about the greek system by showing the girls how much they are doing for them and the community,” Jensen said.

Many ISU Kappa Delta members said they are former Girl Scouts, so they feel nostalgic working with the Ames troop.

“I think it is fun working with the girls because they do a lot of the same activities I did as a Brownie,” said Angela Fontanini, Kappa Delta member and senior in psychology.