Tri-Sigma's philanthropy is Sigma Serves Children. All the funds that are raised are donated to the Robbie Page Memorial Fund. This fund was established after Robbie Page, our second National President’s son, succumbed to bulbar polio at Boston's Children's Hospital. He died on September 15, 1951. He was the son of Robertson and Mary Hastings Holloway Page and was an eager little boy. He often expressed the wish to help out other children. When he was little he would tell people, "I want to have all my birthdays right now so I can grow up and help people." The money raised for the Robbie Page fund supports research on childhood diseases, the maintenance of play therapy rooms, and also funds graduate study in the field of recreational therapy. Currently, Tri-Sigma has play therapy rooms at the University of North Carolina Memorial Hospital at Chapel Hill, and at the Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.
His tragic death, at a time when there was no cure or prevention for polio, prompted Robertson and Mary to establish a memorial fund for polio research. While plans were being formulated for such a fund, the Tri-Sigma’s who knew Mary because of her status at National President asked what they could do. The result was a spontaneous movement, shared jointly by many people, gradually coming into shape over the next few weeks. Thus, the Robbie Page Memorial was launched in 1951.
Long-range programming to develop and support play therapy for hospitalized children began at North Carolina Memorial Hospital. By focusing on the emotional and developmental needs of hospitalized children, funds raised by collegiate and alumnae chapters were used not only to establish playrooms, but to create a specialized field of study for professionals in child development and associated healthcare professions.
We take satisfaction in knowing that the leadership of our funded projects for children have helped people realize the value of recreational therapy for hospitalized children. Current efforts are centered on supporting the play therapy programs at the University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.
Robbie Page Memorial grants to these institutions have focused not only on funding the renovations and materials for hospital playrooms, but also funded graduate assistantships at the University of North Carolina in Recreational Therapy and fellowships at Children's Medical Center.
For outstanding support of child life and play center programs, Sigma Sigma Sigma has been recognized by the National Therapeutic Recreation Society, since contributions from the sorority have benefited thousands of children.
The two main philanthropy fundraisers that are held each year by our chapter are Teeter-Totter and Mr. Spartan. Our chapter teeter-totters for a straight 24 hours in the Fall and a straight 48 hours in the Spring to raise money for Robbie Page Memorial. The ladies take one hour shifts teeter-tottering, no matter what the weather. The annual Mr. Spartan Pageant held on the UNCG campus each Spring is sponsored by our chapter and the Tri-City Alumni chapter. The Mr. Spartan Pageant is a male pageant where the participants are UNCG students. It is a judged event and the money is raised from ticket sales. In past academic years, our chapter has raised over $4,000 for Robbie Page Memorial.
In the future we look forward to the money that we will raise to help out these hospitalized children. The Robbie Page Memorial is a wonderful thing that Sigma Sigma Sigma is privileged to be a part of.
