Contact: Paige Watson

STARKVILLE, Miss.—The campus governing body for eight Greek-letter sororities at Mississippi State is naming the university’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic as its primary philanthropy, with a $25,000 commitment over five years.

Senior biological sciences major Kodi D. Long of Jackson, the MSU Panhellenic Council’s community service director, said members feel the clinic’s availability and mission seem a perfect fit for the group to support on a continuing basis, along with other causes.

At MSU, the Panhellenic Council is responsible for Alpha Delta Pi, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Kappa Delta, Phi Mu, Pi Beta Phi and Zeta Tau Alpha.

“Each sorority has their individual philanthropy, but we’re excited to have the clinic as a place to offer hands-on philanthropic work, as well as unite all our sororities in supporting one organization,” Long explained.

Panhellenic president Shelby T. Williams echoed Long’s remarks. “We’re hoping to really place a lot of emphasis on the value of philanthropy and our partnership with the clinic through the recruitment process this August,” the Brandon senior secondary education major said.

The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic was created several years ago as an expansion of MSU’s School Psychology Services Center. Both are units of the College of Education and its counseling and educational psychology department. 

Dan Gadke, ADDC director, said the council’s support will be of great benefit to the clinic’s operation.

“We’re so excited to begin working with the Panhellenic Council,” Gadke said, adding that the relationship will enable the center “to raise funds and support a sustainable future here on campus.”

Williams and Long said sorority membership recruitment week at the start of the fall semester will feature an entire day devoted to philanthropy and the importance of service dedication throughout the Panhellenic community.

For more information about the Autism and Disabilities Clinic, visit www.addc.msstate.edu.

To learn more about the Panhellenic Council or for more information on the partnership, see www.panhellenicmsstate.com.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.