Kappa Alpha Theta - Purdue University

KAPPA ALPHA THETA 3 Financing the Littleton and Russell Street Chapter Houses A lpha Chi Thetas have always been committed and creative in their efforts to secure the necessary financing for their beloved chapter houses. The Littleton Street house was purchased in 1920 for $25,000. Right away, alumnae and actives started raising money to cover the interest payments by selling everything from popcorn poppers to card table covers. To reduce the mortgage, (the first one was for $15,000 in 1920), each member was asked to purchase four shares of stock in the Kappa Alpha Theta Home Corporation. A share was $25. In a letter dated November 21, 1924, Juliet Matthews Snyder '17, secretary of the Lafayette Theta Alumnae Club, urged "each and every Alpha Chi Theta to buy her four shares at the earliest possible moment." Several of the girls actually borrowed the money in order to buy their shares. An addition to the Littleton Street house was built in 1929 and that required another mortgage. In 1935 their bank failed. The Alpha Chi Chapter could have gone down right along with the bank if wasn't for Juliet's husband, Ken Snyder, a Purdue Phi Delta Theta and future mayor of Lafayette. He devised an insurance plan that enabled the Lafayette Life Insurance Company to hold the $22,000 mortgage backed by $1,000 life insurance policies written on 22 girls in the chapter, which would mature in 1950. The premiums on these policies plus the interest on the mortgage were paid annually by the Theta Home Association. Fast forward 80 years and our chapter is in the second year of a very successful $1.25 million capital campaign to reduce the mortgage and renovate the first floor of the chapter house. The co-chairs are two talented and dedicated Alpha Chi Thetas, Kay Murphy Yeomans '64 and Ann Fawcett Murphy '72, Juliet Snyder's granddaughter and a third-generation Theta (with her daughter, a University of Arizona Theta, making four generations). Another granddaughter, Peggy Fawcett Edwards '69, is heading up the campaign's pledge class leaders. And Juliet's first granddaughter, Judy McConnell Henderson '65, is song leader for the gala celebration. Written by Marilynn Dammon '66 Ken and Juliet Snyder in the 1920s. A number of actives and alumnae attended the Theta Grand Convention in Orlando, Florida. Alpha Chi was one of 20 recipients of the Golden Kite Award and was also one of nine finalists for the Founders Award. New this year is the Alpha Chi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta Educational Foundation and, amazingly, they won three awards: runner-up in Giving to a Named Endowment Fund, first in Giving by District, and third in the top ten in Overall Giving. Alpha Chi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta Educational Foundation Inc., was organized in 2012 with the long-term goal of providing funds for the enhancement of educational facilities within the chapter house and to provide scholarships and awards to chapter members who excel in scholarship, leadership, and service. In the spring of 2014 the Educational Foundation was granted 501(c)(3) status, allowing it to accept tax-deductible donations from alumnae members and friends of Kappa Alpha Theta at Purdue University. Trustees for the foundation are: President Linda Markins Sorensen '60, Vice President Jane Baur Merrill '61, Treasurer Jennifer Myer Brunette '87, Secretary Ann Cummins Daniel '60, and Beverly Beck McCollough '55. The foundation held its first meeting on Saturday, September 27. For more information, contact Linda at sorensenwl@comcast.net. Alpha Chi Theta actives and alumnae at Grand Convention in Orlando, Fla. From left: Kristen Ackerman '12, Linda Markins Sorensen '60, Liz Bitzer '12, Noraleen DuVall Young '08, Lorie Larson Land '76, Cindy Shaffer Thoennes '79, Katie O'Connor '11, Kellie Applegate Prusiecki '79, Lauren Schmidt '11, Caroline Baldwin '12, and Meagan Schneider '11. New Alpha Chi Educational Foundation Wins Awards A lpha Chi Chapter initiates of 2003 held a reunion in Lake Monroe, Indiana, orga- nized by the amazing Chelsea Ferrie Young '03. The women enjoyed hiking, wine tasting, and generally catching up with each other. Those in attendance were Julia Andert '03, Emily King Conner '03, Stacy Brown '03, Sarah Walter '03, Lindsay Anderson '03, Chelsea Ferrie Young '03, Yvonne Laaper Hinds '03, Ellen Wayman '03, Beth Maher Swainson '03, Sarah Smith Scranton '03, Chanda Metzger Johnson '03, and Beth Heis Sammons '03. Beth Sammons is now helping organize the class reunions for our centennial gala in 2015. She can be reached at beth.heis@gmail.com 2003 initiAtes reunite

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