Tri Kappa Inc. Has Benefited Indiana Community Since 1901
BY LISA HORNUNG | PHOTOS BY CHRISTIAN WATSON
TAMMY PERSINGER, now a retired teacher and real estate agent, kept hearing women at work talking about Tri Kappa. “What is that?” she asked. “How can people get involved?”
One day, Persinger received an invitation in the mail to go to a meeting where she could learn more about this mysterious organization. She’s been a member for eight years now and loves it.
Tri Kappa is a philanthropic sorority for women in Indiana, with 247 chapters all over the state. It’s not like a traditional sorority in which you join as a college student, but you do have to pledge and be initiated, similar to other women’s groups. “You approach someone who is already a member and get information about it,” Persinger said. “We really look for people that have that giving spirit.”
Persinger is a member of the Floyd County chapter of Kappa, Kappa, Kappa Inc., along with Kerry Nicolas, a real estate agent who has been a member for 25 years.
“I like it because we’re giving back to the community, and it’s strictly philanthropic,” Nicolas said. “So, all we do is have fundraisers to give back.”
Tri Kappa was founded by some young college women in Indianapolis in 1901. They decided their organization’s purpose would be “charity and kindness,” which the organization still follows today. When the ladies dispersed to their homes after college, they formed chapters, which helped the organization spread throughout the state.
Today, the organization works to raise money for charity, culture and education. At the end of each fiscal year, they dole out funds for scholarships and grants to other non-profit organizations. The Floyd County chapter gives out about $5,000 a year in scholarships and about $5,000 to $6,000 a year in grants to charities and arts organizations. Last year, they were able to give grants to every group that requested funds, Persinger said. The group also helps support Riley Children’s Health in Indianapolis, and they have made blankets and “puppy pillows” for kids as they come out of surgery.
Tri Kappa raise money through various events throughout the year, including their annual gala in February, as well as selling macaroni and cheese at Harvest Homecoming. They also do service projects that don’t involve raising money, such as painting swingsets at a park and giving the residents of a retirement community a “spa day” complete with shoulder massages and nail painting.
LAST YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE GRANTS TO EVERY GROUP THAT REQUESTED FUNDS.
–TRI KAPPA MEMBER TAMMY PERSINGER
The women also enjoy the sisterhood that comes alongside the philanthropy. “We have people from all different backgrounds, all different races, all different cultures, all different religions and occupations,” Persinger said. We’re a very diverse group of women. It’s just been interesting to get to meet everybody and get to network with them. We just get together and have fun, and in having fun, we make money to give back to the community.”
For more information, visit trikappa.org.
