Buying blue to raise green

Diane Carter understands why the Delta Gamma's Charity Denim fundraiser helping those who are blind or visually impaired is important.

Carter, junior journalism major, has suffered for 15 years from retinoblastoma, a form of eye cancer. The disease has left her visually impaired in one eye, forcing her to use a glass eye.

"I am visually impaired, so any contributions to help the visually impaired is a great cause worth supporting," she said.

Carter was encouraged by a friend to visit the fundraiser, which was held at The University of Memphis' Baptist Student Center on Tuesday.

Charity Denim is a philanthropy event the women's fraternity is sponsoring as part of its annual Anchor Splash Week, a week to generate interest in Greek organizations. The proceeds of the event go to Delta Gamma's national foundation, Service for Sight, which raises awareness about blindness and eye safety.

The foundation also provides funds to different charities supporting the blind and visually impaired and their education through scholarships, grants and work-study.

A poster hung in the front of the window of the center that read, "Charity Denim, Come Inside, Jeans for Sale!" attracted Jamaal Anderson, graduate student in cultural geography.

"I saw the sign outside and thought 'I do need some new blue jeans,' so I figured I would take a look," he said.

Anderson, a musician, said he was inspired by Stevie Wonder, the world-renowned musician who has been blind since infancy.

Anderson said Wonder motivated him to support the blind and visually impaired.

"I think it's excellent for the people that we call disabled or challenged to receive funding for education, since one of my favorite musicians is Stevie Wonder," he said. "Without him going to school, he wouldn't have had that musical training, and without him I wouldn't be a musician."

People roamed through the center looking at various brands of jeans provided by Charity Denim, a non-profit organization that has offered men and women's designer denim at discount prices for charity events since 2004.

Among the featured brands were Seven, Rock and Republic, Red Engine and Chip & Pepper.

Kaithlin Murray, assistant event coordinator for the South East region of Charity Denim, said the organization purchases designer jeans and sells them for a cheaper price.

"We buy jeans directly from the manufacturers, so they're legit," Murray said. "We sell them 40 to 60 percent off their wholesale value. Ten percent of what the organizations sell goes back to their charity."

Cathy Gianella, vice president of foundations for the Delta Zeta chapter of Delta Gamma, said the event is the first of its kind at The U of M.

Gianella suffered blindness in one eye for a week after scratching her eye during an exam.

"I couldn't go out in the sun, and I had to wear sunglasses all the time, even in the dark," said the junior public relations and Spanish double major. "I wear glasses now, and I understand what it feels like to be blind, so it's great to work with such organizations as Charity Denim."

Ruth Billow, a Delta Gamma in the 1930s who has been blind since childhood, asked the organization to help blind children, adults and their families as its international philanthropy project.

Brittany Jones, co-chair of the event, said she thinks the fundraiser will help bring attention to Delta Gamma's Anchor Splash Week and the Service for Sight foundation.

"I think it's going to raise more awareness about the week," the sophomore hospitality and resort management major said. "It's a fun way to bring more awareness to Service for Sight. What's better than to go shopping for a cause?"