Kappa Delta sorority members continued their advocacy for the prevention of child abuse and neglect with an awareness event April 26. Children’s Trust is home to the South Carolina affiliate of Prevent Child Abuse America, the national philanthropy for Kappa Delta collegiate and alumnae chapters across the country.
Kappa Delta members who planted a pinwheel garden are: front row (L-R), Hannah-Gray Bailey, Claire Wallace, Olivia Shuster, and Emilyn Ropp; back row (L-R), Kate Valaoras, Mary Preston Singletary, Margaret Walker, and Anna Brice Cox.
Emilyn Ropp surveyed the newly planted pinwheel garden at Davis Field on the University of South Carolina campus and liked what she saw.
Eight Kappa Delta sorority members had just planted pinwheels in the shape of the letters KD as a way of showing their support for Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.
Emilyn Ropp (center) worked as the Lipscomb associate at Children’s Trust in the current school year.
Ropp, a junior from Jacksonville, Fla., who serves as the Lipscomb associate at Children’s Trust in the current school year, was excited to see the pinwheels – which are the national symbol of a better tomorrow for all children – displayed in the field next to the reflection pond and water fountains in front of Thomas Cooper Library.
“Being committed to prevention in multiple ways has allowed me to help ensure happy and healthy families across South Carolina,” Ropp said. “Today I saw my support come to life, raising awareness for child abuse and neglect prevention throughout campus. I am honored to have been a part of this year’s Child Abuse Prevention Month and will continue to strive to make an impact within my own community.”
Children’s Trust is home to the South Carolina affiliate of Prevent Child Abuse America, the national philanthropy for Kappa Delta collegiate and alumnae chapters across the country since 1984. The University of South Carolina’s Beta Zeta chapter of Kappa Delta began its partnership with Children’s Trust in 2008, and since that time, sorority members have raised over $500,000 for the prevention of child abuse and neglect in South Carolina.
As part of CAP Month this year, Children’s Trust coordinated a partnership of 116 organizations across the state to stand together as a strong, unified voice advocating for prevention.
Claire Wallace and Olivia Shuster line up the pinwheels.
Claire Wallace, a freshman from Atlanta who serves as the sorority’s assistant vice president of community service, credited Cassidy Martin, the vice president of community service, for organizing the fundraising activities, which included a fall letter-writing campaign, this school year that raised money and awareness for child abuse prevention.
“It’s special to me because, honestly, there’s not enough advocacy for children who are being abused in South Carolina,” Wallace said. “It definitely isn’t talked about enough. Doing things like planting pinwheels, holding fundraisers, and having Shamrock Week events, that really helps raise awareness about Prevent Child Abuse America.”
Wallace saluted the excitement that her colleagues have for prevention efforts, citing a recent Venmo fundraising competition on Instagram.
“A lot of people got really into that, texting everyone they knew, posting on Instagram and Snapchat,” she said. “It was a challenge to see who could raise the most money, and it was really cool.”
