St. Louis Alumnae Chapter History
 

1909 – Charter granted to Sigma Alumnae Chapter, one of the first fourteen alumnae chapters of Kappa Alpha Theta.

1916-1917 – Custom of having Alpha Iota Initiation Banquet in conjunction with Founder’s Day Banquet began. Alumnae Chapter gave Theta pin to the initiate with highest scholastic record.

1919 – National Convention of Kappa Alpha Theta held on campus of Washington University with attendance of 800.

1922 – Alumnae Chapter gave $100 to Alpha Mu toward a chapter house.

1928 – 1930 – Local philanthropies: Board of Religious Organizations and Boyle Memorial Center.

1930 – 1932 – Local philanthropy was Urban League Day Nursery.

1934 – 1936 – Philanthropies included: Bethlehem Mission; the Home of the Friendless; Children’s feeding Station; adopted three needy families, giving food, clothing, fuel and medical care; gifts of $40.00 each to Alpha Iota and Alpha Mu.

1936 – 1939 – Urban League Day Nursery was philanthropy. Equal gifts given each year to Alpha Iota and Alpha Mu Chapters.

1940 – 1941 – Two planes, food and clothing given to the Phyllis Wheatley Branch YWCA.

1941 – 1946 – South Side Day Nursery was local philanthropy.

1946 – Kappa Alpha Theta Established the Institute of Logopedics as the National Philanthropy.

1946 – 1947 – First evening program for Thetas and guests given at Washington University.

1947 – Marie Louise Cellier, French War Orphan, adopted through Foster Parents’ Plan and supported through 1955

1948 - First Talent Sale held at home of Alice Rubelman Knight for benefit of Marie Louise Cellier

1949 - Lecture for benefit of Institute of Logopedics given at Mary Institute

1958 – Last Talent Sale held at Ladue Chapel. Proceeds given to Institute of Logopedics, Foster Parents’ Plan, and Girl Scouts of Greater St. Louis from 10 annual Talent Sale Projects

1962 – Award for Most Outstanding Alumnae Chapter in College town given at Grand Convention in June.

1962 – Total amount contributed by St. Louis Alumnae Chapter to the Institute of Logopedics as of January 24th was $12,261

1963 – Alumnae staffed St. Louis Children’s Hospital Coffee Shop every Tuesday from September – June. Donations made to Institute of Logopedics and St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

1964 – Received Grand Convention award for having contributed $15,000 to the Institute of Logopedics

1965 – Contributions to Children’s Hospital, Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation and St. Louis Panhellenic Scholarship Fund totaled $1,229

1966 – 1967 – Contributed $1,300 to Institute of Logopedics and $500 to Children’s Hospital

1968 – Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation $20,000 award presented at Grand Convention

1969 – First Tasty Treat Project – Contributed $1,000 to the Institute of Logopedics and $1,000 to the St. Louis Speech and Hearing Center

1970 – Centennial Celebrations for Kappa Alpha Theta

1971 – 1972 – Tasty Treat nets over $3,000 for the Good Shepherd School for Children and for the Institute of Logopedics

1973 – First Santa’s House project at Webster Hills Parish House. Contributed $4000 each to Good Shepherd School and KAO Foundation.

1974 – Began St. Louis Collegian Scholarship Program with Santa’s House proceeds.

1975 – Established St. Louis Educational Trust Fund. Santa’s House netted $15,000

1976 – Grand Convention award for continued Excellence. Santa’s House netted $19,000

1978 – Received $1000 Community Involvement Grant for Good Shepherd School from Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation

1980 – Added Silent Auction to Santa’s House Patron’s Party

1982 – Santa House moved to Jarville House in Queeny Park with proceeds of $15,000. Collegian Scholarship given of $1,100

1984 – Celebration of 75 years as Alumnae Chapter. $21,000 proceeds from Santa’s House. Panhellenic Golden Kite award from Grand Convention

1986 – Most Outstanding Chapter and Continued Excellence Awards at Grand Convention

1987 – Aided with Rush and installation of collegians when Alpha Iota Chapter returned to Washington University. Santa’s House moved to Thompson Center

1988 – Received $1,000 Community Involvement Grant for St. Louis Crisis Nursery from Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation. Received two Grand Convention awards for Alumnae-Collegiate Interaction and Continued Excellence. Many Santa’s House decorations replaced after November tornado.

1989 -Alumnae Chapter converted all membership records to digital format. Began contributions to help with Van transportation for Girl Scout Troop 3007 sponsored by St. Louis Society for Disabled Children

1990 – Golden Kite and First Place Panhellenic Awards received at Grand Convention. Donated $1,500 to local CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocates

1992 - Golden Kite, Most Outstanding Large Chapter in College Town, Second Place Efficiency, third Place Fraternity Education and Honorable Mention Founders Award for Excellence at Grand Convention

1993 – Most successful Santa’s House, largest profit $23,000

1994 – Kappa Alpha Theta Santa’s House Finale. Twenty-one year cumulative contributions of $365,000

1995 – 85th Anniversary Celebration of St. Louis Alumnae Chapter. 125th Anniversary of Kappa Alpha Theta

1996 – Received 6 awards at Grand Convention: Twin Stars Award for Continued Excellence; 1st Place Panhellenic, 2nd Place Innovative Programming; & 3 awards for Foundation Giving

1998 – First “Kilometers for Kids” 5K Run/Walk sponsored by Alpha Iota Chapter and St. Louis Alums to benefit CASA in St. Louis. Raised over $5,000 for CASA

2000 – Continued sponsoring Kilometers for Kids – received two awards at Grand Convention: Fraternity Member Education and Twin Stars award for continued excellence.

2003 – First Year “Movies in the Moonlight” – Out Signature Fundraiser for CASA – Earned $17,000 in 2003 and $22,000 in 2004

2004 – Received Founder’s Award at Grand Convention for Best Overall Chapter with Membership > 200

2006 – Received Twin Stars Alumnae Recognition Award at Grand Convention. Also noted foundation giving surpassed $200,000

2008 – Theta Not-For-Profit exceeded $550,000 in Giving. Movies in the Moonlight moved to Tilles Park

2009 – Centennial Year of our Chapter – Centennial Celebration held on January 24, 2010 at the Greenbriar Country Club. Last Year for Movies in the Moonlight – Event raised over $79,000 over 6 years. First Service Socials were organized

2010 – Received Black and Gold Award at Grand Convention. Service Socials continued. First Membership Coffees were held to increase awareness of our Chapter Activities.

2012 - Record number of Service Socials held by the St. Louis Alumnae Chapter in the St. Louis Metro area.  Alumnae chapter members helped serve the community in 2011
by visiting children at a rehab hospital, cleaning and decorating apartments for families escaping domestic violence, sorting donations for a local organization serving low-income mothers and infants, preparing and enjoying breakfast with homeless teen mothers and their babies, and helping members of the community choose and purchase holiday gifts for children in foster care.  Received the Twin Star Award at Grand Convention.

2013 - Installment of the Eta Omega chapter at Saint Louis University on
November 9, 2013. 140 charter members were welcomed into the bonds of sisterhood.

2014 - Received the Twin Star Award at Grand Convention. Ranked as the 7th highest alumnae chapter in donations to the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation. Eta Omega welcomed 64 new members during their first formal recruitment.

2018 - Recognition Luncheon added as an annual event

2022 - Annual Kappa Alpha Theta Day of Service Event started with St. Louis Area Foodbank to honor Bettie Locke Hamilton during her birthday month.