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The Herstory of

Cultured Pearls of Service, Inc.

Cultured Pearls of Service, Incorporated is the charitable arm of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Rho Xi Omega Chapter. It is a Maryland nonprofit recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization.

 

Cultured Pearls of Service, Incorporated was established under the name of Rho Xi Omega Charities, Incorporated, in August 1990. Our incorporators, Bonita Dancy, Bobbie Daniel, C. Yvonne Holt-Stone, Delores Kelley, Donna Price, and Patricia Roberts, were all members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Rho Xi Omega Chapter. They recognized that the chapter could make an even greater contribution to residents by raising funds through a tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Thus, Cultured Pearls of Service (CPS), Inc. was organized exclusively for the educational and charitable service initiatives of Rho Xi Omega Chapter.

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CPS distributes monetary support to individuals and other non-profit organizations. More specifically, we have provided comprehensive programs and services that will improve the educational, health, cultural, and socioeconomic growth of youth and families who reside in Baltimore.

 

These services, which started in 1990, are still very much in demand today. We have provided much-needed services to the residents of Baltimore by filling educational and social gaps created by a changing social, cultural, and economic environment.

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Cultured Pearls of Service, Inc. (CPS) follows Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Cultured Pearls of Service annually complies with all state and federal agencies, including:

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  • Annual 990 Federal Tax Form

  • Annual State Update of Registration

  • Annual Maryland Personal Property Return

  • Tax Exempt Certificate

  • Licensing of Camp Font-Tastic by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (MDHMH)

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Meet Our CPS President

Tracey Barbour Gillett

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On behalf of the officers and directors of Cultured Pearls of Service, Inc., I thank you for visiting our webpage. Since we were incorporated in 1990, Cultured Pearls of Service receives funds through grants as well as public fundraisers. All proceeds are used the many and varied service programs of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Rho Xi Omega Chapter.

 

Some of our signature programs include Ascension, Camp Font-tastic, and our scholarship program scholarship program. 

Please view the Rho Xi Omega Calendar & Events to learn about our service opportunities. Many of our service initiatives are open to the public, which means that community members can work along side us as we donate to those in need around our city and county. 

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Please consider donating to Cultured Pearls of Service, Inc. for Giving Tuesday (Tuesday after Thanksgiving) and throughout the year. Simply click on the "Donate to CPS" circle of ivy and pearls to the right. 

 

​Thank you for your generous support, and welcome to our page. 

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In Service,

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Tracey Barbour-Gillett

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Former

Presidents

Scheherezade Forman

Allison Riddle Fletcher

Juanita Tynes Tillery

Lydia McCargo-Redd

Helen Griffin Anderson

Bonita Dancey

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