Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Announces $1 Million Donation to Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated announced a $1 million donation to the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation this week.

The Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation is the organization behind the Women’s Suffrage National Monument, which will honor pioneers of the early American movement for women’s equality. The monument is set to be unveiled in Washington, D.C., in 2027.

The sorority also revealed that its International President and Chair of the Board of Directors, Elsie Cooke-Holmes, along with the 16th National President, Dr. Thelma T. Daley, have been appointed as Ambassadors of the foundation. Furthermore, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority has been designated as a National Partner to the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation.

“Delta’s imprint in making the Women’s Suffrage National Monument a reality is a tribute to all Black women whose names may not have made the pages in the history books, nor recognized from a podium,” said Dr. Thelma T. Daley the 16th National President of the sorority.

The sorority is known by many for its early involvement in the Womans Suffrage Movement. In 1913, the sorority’s 22 founders marched with Mary Church Terrell in the Woman Suffrage Parade.

“On that day, the women of Delta cemented their legacy as pioneers whose bravery would come to define Black social activism of the twentieth century and it is our honor to welcome Delta Sigma Theta as a National Partner and to work together to continue that legacy by uplifting all women’s stories out of the footnotes of history and into our collective memory,” said Anna Laymon, the President and CEO of the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation.

In a statement, the sorority highlighted the significance of their monetary contribution. “This gift and our role as Ambassadors are a testament to our ongoing commitment to advocacy and education, ensuring the valor and stories of our 22 Founders and other courageous women continue to inspire generations,” read a post on Delta Sigma Theta’s social media.

Dr. Daley underscored the historical importance of Black women in the suffrage movement, stating, “Black women from all walks of life played a pivotal role in the passing and ratification of the 19th Amendment, and as Delta rises, they, too, will rise.”

The donation and partnership reflect Delta Sigma Theta’s dedication to preserving and promoting the legacy of women’s suffrage.