Ruth Johnson Colvin is 99 years young. She became a member of Kappa Delta while attending Northwestern University. She left Northwestern before graduation and she married Robert Colvin in 1940. After raising two children, she earned an undergraduate degree from Syracuse University in 1959. Three years later, in 1962, she started Literacy Volunteers of America because she was aghast when she found out that more than 11,000 Syracuse residents were at the lowest level of literacy.
She spent the next 50 years trying to tackle the problem, first at home and then globally. Today, the non-profit organization that she founded is known as ProLiteracy Worldwide.
The book Ruth Colvin wrote about her travels (Photo courtesy of Syracuse University Press)
She has been awarded nine honorary doctorates. Among the awards she has recieved are the President’s Volunteer Action Award (1987), induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame (1991), and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2006). The last award she was given on her 90th birthday.
This wonderful video (https://vimeo.com/158403652), produced by Kristen Archer, Kappa Delta’s Senior Multimedia & Technology Manager, was sent to me by a Kappa Delta friend, Shirley Gee. It is worth your time to view it. Ruth Colvin is an #amazingsororitywoman!
Ruth and Robert Colvin (courtesy of Syracuse University Press). Robert Colvin died in 2014 at the age of 99.
© Fran Becque, www.fraternityhistory.com, 2016. All Rights Reserved. If you enjoyed this post, please sign up for updates. Also follow me on twitter @GLOHistory and Pinterest www.pinterest.com/glohistory.
