One woman determined to do good can make an impact. Thousands of them can change the world.

That, in a nutshell, is the mission behind the Delta Gamma Fraternity, widely known as the “Do Good Sisterhood.” 

Here in Central Florida, The Villages Area Delta Gamma Alumnae Association is dedicated to helping their community—and having fun at the same time. 

Even though all the members are female, Delta Gamma is referred to as a fraternity. The term “sorority” simply wasn’t used for such groups when the organization was founded. But make no mistake, the Do Good Sisterhood is about powerfully motivated women making a difference.

The Delta Gamma Fraternity was founded by Anna Boyd Ellington, Eva Webb Dodd and Mary Comfort Leonard on Christmas Day in 1873 in Oxford, Mississippi at the Lewis School for Girls. 

The three students wanted “to empower women to act with intention so that they become an unstoppable force for good.” 

What began on a campus 153 years ago has blossomed into one of the largest international women’s organizations. Today there are more than 280,000 initiated members, 150 collegiate chapters and over 200 alumnae groups across the U.S. and Canada.

Since the 1930s, the organization’s efforts have centered on sight preservation and conservation. “Aid to the Blind” officially became Delta Gamma’s philanthropic mission in response to a petition of Ruth Billow, a blind member. 

“The essence of Delta Gamma is giving back to our community through doing good for others,” says June Shively, “founding mother” of The Villages Area Delta Gamma Alumnae Association.

“To become a Delta Gamma, you need to join and pledge during your collegiate year, but now we have alumnae membership,” says June, who pledged Delta Gamma at Purdue University.

“One of the reasons I pledged was because Delta Gamma means ‘do good,’” says June, who graduated in 1965, pursued a career in speech and hearing therapy and moved to The Villages in 2012.

“I was asked to be on the national council and did that in the mid-1980s and then became part of the advisory board for Delta Gamma,” June says.

As a retiree, June had more time for doing good and set about finding other Delta Gamma sisters to join that mission. She held a tea and 15 Delta Gamma members showed up.  

“We started as a local group here in The Villages and then became an official Delta Gamma Group in 2022,” says June. “As of December 2025, we have 45 dues paying members, the oldest of whom is 93. We love each other; it’s a sisterhood.” 

Not all members live in The Villages, although most do. Any Delta Gamma can join. Members meet once a month for social activities. In addition to fundraising, these sisters know how to have a good time. 

“We have two dining out groups, a Samba group, a golf club and a book club,” June says. 

In addition to donating to the national Delta Gamma organization each year, The Villages Area Delta Gamma Alumnae Association focuses on local charities.

“The last two years, our big fundraisers have been for the Foundation for Fighting Blindness, New Vision for Independence and Dogs Inc., which trains seeing eye dogs,” June says. “We also give to the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine.” 

The group collects clothing and other items for The Haven in Leesburg during Do Good week in October. They’ve also donated socks and supplies to SoZo Kids, a program of the Help Agency of the Forest, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the Ocala National Forest.

“I was very involved in Delta Gamma at my college, Kent State and served in several officer positions, but once I started working full time and raising a family, I just didn’t have time,” says Joy Klemencic, current president of the local alumnae group.  

As vice president and then general manager of Colgate Palmolive in Japan, Joy lived in Tokyo until retiring in 2013. She and her husband Primoz moved to The Villages directly from Japan. When June reached out about the local Delta Gamma group, Joy was on board immediately.

“It’s a wonderful sisterhood, and even though we’re all from different schools, we have so much in common,” Joy says. “We’ve really stepped up our ‘do good’ fundraising efforts since we became an official alumnae association of Delta Gamma in 2022.”

“My hope is that we get more involved with the local sight-related organizations we’ve donated to.” 

Photos: Provided