40-Year Partnership Between Alpha Delta Pi and Atlanta RMHC

In the history of the House That Love Built, the sisters of Alpha Delta Pi stand as primary contractors.

The national sorority chose Ronald McDonald House Charities as its official philanthropy in 1979, which has translated over the years to a particularly robust relationship between metro-area chapters and the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House.

Today, six of Georgia’s 10 ADPi chapters contribute directly to the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House by way of time and funds. Additionally, alumnae who’ve made Atlanta home have ensured the Gatewood and Peachtree Dunwoody Houses continue to thrive.

“When we talk with other local RMHCs about the Alpha Delta Pi partnership, we often point to Atlanta as one of our models for how they interact and recognize our members for all they do,” says Sarah Davis-Candeto, international vice president of Alpha Delta Pi’s Grand Council and former Alpha Delta Pi Foundation trustee.

Georgia Tech’s Maddie Beatty says her time volunteering with ADPi’s Zeta Omicron chapter has been a standout part of her college experience. The senior says she’s been humbled by her time at the House over the last four years, from serving food to entertaining children by dressing up as Disney princesses Belle and Moana.

“Whether I am serving at the House or raising money at our chapter’s philanthropy events, I am reminded of the good work that it does, and that my impact matters,” Beatty says. “Everyone who serves dinner or goes to an activity night comes back renewed by the experience of giving back to the community alongside fellow ADPis.”

In the 2018-19 school year, Georgia Tech’s ADPi sisters volunteered 255 hours and raised more than $30,000 for Atlanta RMHC. Together with contributions from the University of Georgia, Emory University, Brenau University and Shorter University chapters, the House received just shy of $44,000 last year.

Since the relationship began, the sorority has raised and given more than $15 million to Ronald McDonald Houses internationally.

Davis-Candeto has personally worked to keep ADPi collegians involved with the House after graduation. A member of the Epsilon Psi chapter at Tennessee Tech University, Davis-Candeto pledged the same year that ADPi partnered with RMHC and credits her chapter’s support for sparking her own love of the charity. She and her husband have continued their personal support over the years, including co-chairing a local golf tournament that raised more than $800,000 between 2010-2017 for Atlanta RMC.

“Those eight years exposed many collegians and alumnae to Atlatna RMHC and many continue to support it today,” she says, adding that continuing service is fundamental to the sorority. “Our members are passionate about this and value the opportunity to have hands-on service, and not just raise money.”

As for Georgia Tech’s Beatty, her service experience has underscored how much Atlanta Ronald McDonald Houses offer families and how important donations of time and funds are to that mission.

“Atlanta RMHC is a savior for families with children being treated at Atlanta’s hospitals,” she says. “I have seen firsthand how transformational the House can be to the kind of care available to a child.”