About ESA

What is ESA?

Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA) International is a powerful network that brings good people together to accomplish good things in the local, national, and global communities.


Since 1929, ESA has created a powerful network of nearly 1,000 chapters to excel in community education, service, and philanthropy. Hands-on philanthropic endeavors provide more than 650,000 hours of direct service to those in need. Each year, ESA's 12,000 members also help to raise $10 million in cash and pledges for charitable causes.




ESA's unique programs provide each member with the training, education, and support they need to promote successful public service, while developing personal and professional skills in management, public relations, and overall leadership.

The letters ESA stand for Education, Service, and Association.

Whether members join together in a chapter unit or maintain individual freestanding membership, they strive to create a positive difference for the communities in which they live. On an international level, their achievements set a high standard and serve as an excellent example of what can be accomplished through quality volunteer service.

ESA members will tell you that their only right is the right to be of service. This right of service is an important cornerstone that forms the spirit of ESA. Members serve each other, their communities, and the world at large.

As a result, ESA members are people who want to make a difference, who welcome challenges, and are gratified by personal involvement. They enjoy working with others, and are touched by the testimonials of others. They are particularly interested in causes that affect families, children in particular. They respond readily to individuals and are especially supportive of fellow members. Strong bonds of fellowship create positive, significant, and lasting friendships for of ESA members.

The words caring and sharing are important to ESA members as these words have come to characterize the basic spirit of the membership. ESA members are people who care enough to share. Membership success and satisfaction are measured by the degree to which individual members and chapters have been able to achieve positive ideals.

While the orientation of how to achieve these ideals has changed over the years, the basic spirit of ESA has remained constant over its more than 75 year history.

Quick Facts

• Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA) was founded in 1929.
• ESA is comprised of three governing and administrative entities:
o ESA Headquarters provides administrative, business, leadership training, publication, and membership services that cannot be accomplished on a volunteer basis. Those who conduct the business of ESA Headquarters are paid staff.
o The International Council of ESA is the volunteer advisory board for the organization that organizes and conducts the annual ESA convention. The IC also provides advice and counsel in the conduct of general ESA business for state and local officers. This volunteer board is comprised of both elected and appointed officers.
o The ESA Foundation is a public foundation that was established to enhance ESA's philanthropic endeavors and interests. The ESA Foundation is governed by a board of volunteer directors who administer educational, scholarship, and grant programs that benefit the general public. This board also works to ensure that the ESA Foundation remains in complete compliance with all government requirements pertaining to non-profit, tax-exempt organization.
• Most chapters raise money for local, national, and global charities including, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Hats for Hope homeless project, and National Easter Seal.
• In 1972, ESA responded to Danny Thomas's request for support for the kids by adopting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, as its major philanthropic project. Since that time, ESA has helped to raise $120 million in cash and pledges for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
• Opportunities to chair events, hold officer roles, and handle special projects provide members with important hands-on experience.
• An extensive awards program that includes quality merchandise rewards, honors, and employment credit for training and accomplishments is available.
• Traditional chapters are open to persons 18 years of age and older, regardless of race, color, creed, or national origin. ESA also features active youth chapters for young women not yet 18 years of age; Collegiate Chapters to accommodate members within academic settings; and men's chapters. In addition, an Associate Membership is also available, where individuals and companies can support ESA without belonging to an established chapter.

History of ESA

EPSILON SIGMA ALPHA (ESA)
Over 75 Years of Service and Achievement
The View from ESA Headquarters

The following chronology has been compiled using archival materials that are housed at ESA Headquarters.

In 1929, Adelia Prichard founded Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA) in response to World War I and women's new involvement in business and professional careers.
Prichard convinced nine women to become members. The Founders hoped to increase educational opportunities to an organization of like-minded individuals.

1930s

Epsilon Sigma Alpha Headquarters was organized to contain three departments: registration, membership, and accounting. At this time, chapters actively combined their educational programs with social activities and philanthropic projects.

ESA Headquarters held the first national convention in Kansas City, MO. The convention brought the first national election of officers to what was called the National Advisory Council of ESA. In addition, May 1 was set aside as the official national Founders' Day of ESA.

1940s

During World War II, Epsilon Sigma Alpha Headquarters sponsored its first nationally organized activity. ESA also formed an emergency committee to determine what local projects could assist the war effort.

ESA Headquarters sponsored a national beauty contest that has become an important part of the annual program of ESA. The organization also started supporting charitable organizations such as the March of Dimes and the Red Cross.

ESA also began supporting the Auricular Foundation. This became the first philanthropic organization to gain the national attention of ESA. The foundation dealt with hearing impairment and initiated hearing and eyesight testing programs for schoolchildren across the country.
In 1948, Epsilon Sigma Alpha officially became Epsilon Sigma Alpha International, and the National Advisory Council became the International Advisory Council.

1950s

The volunteer leadership of Epsilon Sigma Alpha began to take on a greater role as international council presidents became more active. To encourage leadership development, the first state president's workshop was held in conjunction with the International Council Convention in Atlanta, GA.

ESA Headquarters also refocused the educational program of ESA to concentrate on chapter discussion groups that were oriented around contemporary themes. At this time, the March of Dimes became the unofficial philanthropic project of ESA.

In 1953, the word advisory was eliminated from the International Advisory Council, and the International Council introduced qualifications for candidates and election rules for members of the International Council Board.

1960s

Leadership training for state officers became a focal point as the State President's Leadership Conference developed.

The mid-1960s saw the introduction of individual awards programs. First Pearl and Pallas Athene were introduced to guide member participation and to recognize outstanding membership achievements. The Certified Volunteer of America recognition was established for those who reach the highest levels of excellence.

1970s

Epsilon Sigma Alpha's philanthropic endeavors increased with the designation of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as ESA's first international project. The Circle of Life Office was established to specifically facilitate and enhance ESA's fundraising efforts on behalf of St. Jude.
In 1972, the ESA Foundation was established, making it the third unit of the organizational structure. The three units had their first joint meetings for the purposes of long range planning and coordination for the organization.

ESA's 50th Anniversary Celebration marked ESA's first $1 million year for St. Jude and introduced a commemorative book of ESA history to mark the occasion.

1980s

The Sixth Degree Program was added to allow those who attained Certified Volunteer of America status to share their program ideas and guidelines with those who seek to reach high levels of achievement as part of their Epsilon Sigma Alpha experience.

In 1982, the International Council adopted Easter Seals as its second international philanthropic project.

In 1984, Mike Burns became the international director of Epsilon Sigma Alpha and B.J. Clark became the executive director. Clark also started to serve as the ESA Headquarters representative to the International Council.

The Founder's Program was initiated to increase new chapter development for ESA. In October 1987, the first collegiate chapter of ESA was chartered at Ball State University in Muncie, IN.
In July of 1988, ESA completed a bike ride from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, to the convention city of Little Rock, AR. The purpose of the ride was to reaffirm ESA's commitment to St. Jude. This was the first International Council Challenge event, which has become an annual event since that time.

In 1989, Associate Membership was introduced to promote ESA within the business community and among those who could not participate as active chapter members.

1990s

The 1990s saw the introduction of the Vision Award. Danny Thomas became the first recipient after his death, and his daughter Terre accepted the award on behalf of the Thomas family.
Hats for Hope was introduced as a hands-on service project for the membership.
In 1996, the international council president challenged members to raise $5 million to give an additional floor at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. In following years, Epsilon Sigma Alpha's fundraising efforts dramatically rose to meet the challenge. By 2000, when ESA reported raising a total of over $7.6 million in a single year, the challenge was met.

2000s

The millennium took Epsilon Sigma Alpha back to Memphis, TN, for The Angel Walk. This International Council Challenge, raised well over $110,000. Completion of ESA's $5 million donation was announced and the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Bone Marrow Transplant area in the Hospital's Patient Care Center and the fourth floor of the ALSAC Tower was dedicated to ESA.

ESA continues to support St. Jude, Easter Seals, and countless local community projects. Service hours continue to be recorded in the hundreds of thousands and the total number raised for St. Jude is $120 million in cash and pledges. The ESA Foundation celebrates a record number of scholarships awarded to a growing number of deserving students.

2004 brought ESA's 75th anniversary celebration in Little Rock, AR, and a quite remarkable accomplishment. ESA celebrated raising more than $10 million for the kids of St. Jude in a single year. In 2007, ESA was named St. Jude's Organization of the Year.

Today, ESA Headquarters, the International Council, and the ESA Foundation continue to work together to optimize the experience and opportunities for every member of ESA.

History of ESA - Lambda Pi



Lisa Modrow, our first president, was a member of ESA in Pratt, KS before moving back to Salina in 2008. Upon moving to Salina she realized that she was missing a big part of her life that was ESA. She quickly started communicating with Verneene about this gap in her life and, after little prompting, Lisa quickly decided that creating her own chapter in Salina was the right thing to do. Lambda pi was born in May 2009.

What is ESA?, Quick Facts, and History was taken from: ESA International