Service, Scholarship, Sisterhood Phoenix Deltas To Turn 50 Years

By its members to historic Tanner Chapel AME Church, in celebration of the sorority’s Founders Day (Jan. 13) and the chapter’s 50th anniversary. As one of the numerous community service projects delivered by PMAC annually, the 100-plus pre packed bags containing items such as shampoo and conditioner, soaps, lotions, toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorants, razors, face masks, hand sanitizer and wipes, socks, and other essential hygiene items along with healthy snack foods, were presented to Manna A Ministry Of Hope.

Manna, a charitable nonprofit organization providing for the needs of the Phoenix Community, is a part of the historic church’s outreach ministries programs.

Pastor Benjamin Thomas, Sr. and Dr. Toni Rodriguez were presented with the bags from PMAC.

Historic Tanner Chapel AME Church is significant in the story of PMAC. Not only do many current PMAC members call Tanner their “home church,” but on May 23, 1937, the day after their induction, eight new members of the Beta Theta Chapter, the first Delta Sigma Theta chapter in Arizona, were presented to the community at the church. Mrs. Vivian Osborne Marsh, the sorority’s seventh national president (1935-1939), was the guest speaker on that day.

Beta Theta Chapter, a mixed chapter of both collegiate and graduate members, later became the Phoenix Metropolitan Alumnae and Iota Kappa (Arizona State University) Chapters in 1972.

With more than 300,000 members worldwide, Delta Sigma Theta is an organization of college educated women committed to the constructive development of its members, and to public service with a primary focus on the Black community. Fifty years after it was chartered, PMAC still delivers its legacy service programs in Phoenix and the surrounding communities through the commitment of its dedicated membership.