Gary Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will host its Annual Scholarship Fundraiser, “The Art of the Grande Tea,” on Sunday, May 15, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. The event will be held at Innsbrook Country Club, 6701 W. Taft St., Merrillville, IN.
As a primary fundraiser of the Arts & Letters Committee, the Grande Tea helps to support scholarships for graduating Northwest Indiana seniors. Following nearly a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the in-person celebration brings together supporters and members.
“The goal of the event is to afford students in the community much-needed financial assistance, through scholarships to attend college. COVID has caused a huge financial burden on many families, making it very difficult for them to send their children to college,” said Shana Caruthers, President, Gary Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
The mission of the Arts and Letters Committee of the Gary Alumnae Chapter directly aligns with that of the National Commission on Arts and Letters. The committee strives to boldly advance the Black experience by highlighting the artistic contributions of African American people of the past and present elevating them to public attention through the medium of music, dance, drama, and poetry.
This year’s honorees are a diverse cross-section of art community advocates and contributors. This year’s honorees are:
Mark Spencer, West Side Theatre Guild; Verlie Suggs, Radio Personality on WJOB & WLTH; Janet Bloch, Executive Director, Lubeznik Center for the Arts; Vernon Smith, The Black International Film Festival.
“We are able to honor some amazing folks that have made significant strides in our community, as Community Tea Pot Awardees” said Mary Cossey, Chair, Arts & Letters.
Chapter programming and scholarships happen in partnership with gracious partners and generous contributors in the community. Special thanks to our sponsors: King & Murdaugh, Tolbert & Tolbert, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez, NIPSCO, Ari Foundation, Shanta Mack, ATLED Financial, St. John Baptist Church, Tolbert & Tolbert, NAACP, Guy & Allen Funeral Directors, Odessa & Louise Foundation, Calumet Township, Divinity Funeral Directors, American Family Insurance, Jewels of Fortitude Foundation, Haywood Fleming & Associates, Robinson Engineering, HomeSmart Legacy, Karma Cigar Bar, American Family Insurance – Nannette McCullough, NAACP Gary Branch, Harris Law Firm, Dany Lane, Lois Wilkins & Mary Cossey, Realtor HomeSmart Legacy.
Opportunities to support The Art of the Grande Tea are still available. For more information about sponsorships or questions about the annual fundraiser, please contact Mary Cossey at [email protected] or 219-313-5072.
ABOUT Gary Alumnae Chapter
The Gary Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated is comprised of 200 members actively engaged in serving Lake, Porter, and LaPorte Counties. The Gary Alumnae Chapter has successfully hosted numerous events over the years that has substantially contributed to the well-being and betterment of the region, specifically through scholarships for college bound students.
ABOUT DELTA SIGMA THETA, INC.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. is a private, not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world. The sorority currently has 1,000 collegiate and alumnae chapters located in the United States, Canada, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica, West Africa and the Republic of Korea.
