Upsilon Centennial Campaign

April 2024 Update

What an incredible weekend celebrating 100 consecutive years of Upsilon of Chi Omega! Our hearts are full!!!!

THANK YOU to everyone who made Phase 1 of the Upsilon Centennial Campaign happen! Your generous gifts have raised $48,130 so, allowing us to renovate the Chi O House after the Christmas ‘22 disaster. Hopefully you enjoyed touring our beautiful nest when you were here. If not, please stop by when you're on campus to see how much "the lodge" has changed since you were an active.

But we are not finished yet! Phase 2 of our $100,000 Campaign is honestly the most critical. Our dedicated House Corp Board has responsibly managed the increasing costs of maintenance on an almost 50 year old facility that's literally faced a tornado, multiple burst pipes, and even a fire! And they've done this without overburdening our college members with large House Corp fees.

But to move forward is going to be expensive. The House will get a new roof in June 2024, and the HVAC is on it’s last days. Insurance costs keep rising, and this year’s increase requires a $10,000 deductible per incident, demanding House Corp maintain a hefty contingency fund at all times. To keep costs down for our actives, debt has been restructured over the years, but there is still a mortgage from the House expansion in the early 2000s that must be retired. And while these aren't the "fun" things, we all know they are fundamental for the long term preservation of our Chi Omega nest.

Without a doubt, our experiences as Chi Omegas were made possible partly by those who came before us. No single generation of sisters would be able to afford the many benefits of sisterhood without those who have gone before, and now is one of those times we as alumnae can give back to ensure the sisters of today and tomorrow will have an experience equal to or better than our own.

Would you consider investing in future generations of Chi Omegas by giving to Phase 2 of the Upsilon Centennial Campaign?

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April 2023

Upsilon Chapter needs your help, and you may have heard why:

A pre-Christmas arctic blast. Freezing temps dropping over 40 degrees in 24 hours. Wind chills between -35 and -60 degrees. Busted water pipes. And severe damage to our beloved House.

The arctic blast that made national headlines and damaged properties and homes across our region didn’t spare the Chi Omega house at Union University. The water damage was significant and required a great deal of clean up and demolition within the structure.

With the House currently under (re)construction, you're invited to invest in the chapter's future and facility. As new sisters join, we want them to experience the same thrill we did upon entering the house for the first time as well as graduate with fond memories made in each room.

So in recognition of Upsilon's 100 consecutive years at Union and to continue our legacy of excellence on campus, the Upsilon Centennial Campaign to raise $100,000 was kicked off at this year's Eleusinia.

Highlights for Upsilon's new and improved nest:

• kitchen and bath renovations featuring beautiful, modern aesthetics

• enhanced educational areas with dedicated study space, projection and audio, and updated technical capabilities

• installation of a new roof in the next 3-5 years

• paying off debt to ensure financial stability for the next generations of Chi Omega

Your gift allows Upsilon to create an environment that is simultaneously elegant and modern, while providing thoughtful and enduring social and meeting space.

We are very excited to report that with just a handful of generous donors we already have commitments of more than $34,000!

And we are equally thrilled to announce the active chapter voted to lead the way with each member making a one time gift of $19.24 this spring.

With your help, we are confident we can achieve our goal!

Would you consider investing in your sisters?

Gifts of all sizes are welcome, but to recognize our founding date, the following giving levels have been established:

$19.24 and up - Collegiate/Young Professional League

$100 and up - Helping Hand Society

$500 and up - Carnation Club

$1000 and up - Skull & Crossbones Society

$2500 and up - Pomegranate Society

$5000 and up - Cardinal & Straw Society

$10,000 and up - Legacy League

Without a doubt, our experiences as Chi Omegas were made possible partly by those who came before us. No single generation of sisters would be able to afford the many benefits of sisterhood without those who have gone before, and now is one of those times we as alumnae can give back to ensure the sisters of today and tomorrow will have an experience equal to or better than our own.

Thank you for your ongoing investment in Upsilon and for always keeping Chi Omega ever at heart!

Loyally,

Katherine "Buffy" Carter Pope '87, Centennial Campaign Chair

Jane Matthews Alderson '65

Emily Garrett Dunn '86

Ali Butler Estes '18

Misty Sellers Kirkland '98

Sara Hudson '02

Andrea Mitchell '00

Ann Haltom Singleton '72

Tracey Pearce King '86

Judy Barefoot Thomas '70

Polly Wilson Brasher '90, House Corporation President

While gifts are not tax deductible under IRS regulations, all donations will be acknowledged and are sincerely appreciated.