By Brittney Bruner
“You can see that you are actually making a difference,” said Jenna Steltenpohl Kappa Delta Sorority member on what inspired her to participate in her sorority’s Annual ShamRock and Run.
This year’s ShamRock and Run, a 5K race which took place in Iroquois Park this past Saturday with 535 participants, is Kappa Delta’s main philanthropy project throughout the year; the U of L chapter raised over $10,000.
Prevent Child Abuse America has been Kappa Delta’s primary philanthropy nationwide since 1981. The late Donna Stone, a Kappa Delta herself, founded the organization. To this day the national sorority has donated $7.1 million to the cause.
The ShamRock and Run is the Louisville chapter’s chief means of raising money for this cause. Eighty percent of their proceeds are distributed locally, and 20 percent are donated nationally.
Steltenpohl, a sophomore English major, along with her Kappa Delta sisters devoted hours hours of their time to prepare for this event.
They are just “honest-to-God passionate” for this event and this cause, said Steltenpohl.
This passion is also apparent in Co-Chairs Katie O’Daniel, senior communication major, and Michelle Hornung, junior nursing student. O’Daniel said her primary goal with the event was to get more people aware that child abuse is going on.
“I told our girls we need to step up and take on this philanthropy,” said O’Daniel, who works at a local foster care company. “Abuse is something that is not talked about and put on the back burner.”
Kappa Delta was very pleased with the success of the ShamRock and Run. They reached their goal of 500 runners, outweighing the past years participation by a considerable amount.
“It is great to know that 535 other people out there want to help our cause,” said O’Daniel.
While some people literally “ran for the cause,” others contributed with monetary donations by registering online just as a means to show their support. With their registration, which was $10 online and $15 the day of the event, participants received not only a Shamrock and Run t-shirt but also a sense of knowing they were making a difference.
In addition to these and donations coming in from sources such as O’Shea’s, Brendan’s, and Flanagan’s, the U of L Chapter of Kappa Delta was able to practically double their proceeds from the 2008 5K event.
Guest speaker from Child Abuse America Janna Jordan said she was proud of Kappa Delta U of L and appreciated them supporting their cause. Since 1997 the Louisville Chapter has raised $28,984, in addition to the proceeds from this year’s event.
“Thanks to everyone that supported and contributed to make this event possible,” said O’Daniel. “It can only grow from here.”
