Week of Service Spotlight: Ella Shaw PC '23

"The girls in this chapter selflessly give their time, energy, and love–not only to one another, but also to the communities we service–showing that sisterhood and service truly go hand in hand."

My name is Ella and I’m a rising third year majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG for short!). I currently serve as Alpha Delta Pi’s Director of Philanthropy, which has been such an incredible privilege. Almost three years ago I remember going to Impact Round at ADPi, and after learning about the service the chapter performed for their national philanthropy, Ronald McDonald House Charities, I knew there was no other place I could call home. While I didn’t have a personal connection to the philanthropy itself, I knew what it was like to have to commute just to visit a loved one in the hospital. Knowing that hardship made me determined to help alleviate these pressures and to be a part of something bigger than itself.

RMHC provides a “home away from home” for families with chronically and terminally ill children while they receive treatment at nearby hospitals. Their mission is to provide essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need health care, which are values our chapter firmly uphold and believe in. Ways ADPi supports this organization are by providing “Meals for Love” where we go to the RMHC house and cook a fresh meal for the families, making care packages, volunteering at annual fundraisers and events like “Walk for Kids” or “Trunk or Treat”, and much more. Our largest annual philo event that we host in Winter Quarter is a soccer tournament that we like to call “Lion’s Cup”! It’s such an amazing event that Greek life, school organizations and clubs, cultural fraternities, and even neighboring schools are invited to play for a cause. Being able to just enjoy the day with your sisters, root for your

favorite team, and then at the end of the day come back to the house for Soiree, our little

backyard concert where all participants are invited to attend! Thanks to every participant and girl in our chapter, this year we were able to raise over $10,000 for our local RMHC which is insane!!

This new year has been very exciting for us in a multitude of ways. Previously, our closest RMHC was located in Pasadena, which limited the in person services we could offer them. But as of February 2025, we now have a chapter that is located on Hilgard and only a five minute walk from the HOP (“House of Pi”, our nickname for the ADPi house!). We have been able to extend our services to them, and that was done this Spring Quarter through our first annual Week of Service. Throughout the week, our girls were able to attend a bunch of different events such as a tie blanket sisterhood, boba fundraiser, bikini pop up, and more! Also during the week, our chapter partnered with Alpha Chi Omega to create sanitary care packages for the women of the Sojourn in Santa Monica, a shelter for victims and survivors of domestic violence. I have to give a special shout out for this event; one of our girls was telling her little sister, Michelle Z., who’s currently a high school student at A.G.B.U. Manoogian Demirdijan School about this specific event with the shelter and immediately felt inspired to help our chapter out through her club Empowering Women Club (ig: agbuempoweringwomenclub). Her club made over 50 baskets for the shelter, which included feminine products, hair ties, socks, and more! She wrote, “At the Empowering Women Club, we believe that empowered women empower women, every donation is a reminder of the impact we can create together.” And I believe that’s a motto that the women at ADPi hold close to their heart.

Our motto here at Alpha Delta Pi is “We Live for Each Other”, and I’ve gotten to see this saying come to life through the way the girls in this chapter selflessly give their time, energy, and love–not only to one another, but also to the communities we service–showing that sisterhood and service truly go hand in hand.

Loyally,

Ella S.