Philanthropy

Get Your Wings on…Connect with Pi Phi through Philanthropy

 

Pi Beta Phi has a long history rich with tradition and values.  One of our most cherished traditions is that of philanthropy and community service. We promote the mindset that it is our obligation to support our communities and enrich the lives of others.  By giving of time, resources and self, Pi Phis reveal themselves as true angels. Pi Beta Phi Fraternity has been committed to education and literacy since the founding of the Settlement School in 1910.  In 1990, Links to Literacy was established.  This tradition has continued to grow and we now can boast a multifaceted literacy outreach to the communities we serve.  As a local club, we have been doing our part to enhance our community as well as promote and support Pi Phi’s international programs.
 

 

Pi Beta Phi International Donations HoltHouse
A portion of each member’s local dues is donated to Pi Beta Phi’s international philanthropic activities

including Holt House, Friendship Foundation, and the Foundation for Undergraduate Scholarships.

 

                                                                     First Book Corporate Partnership PBPLogoBW

In 2007, Pi Beta Phi Fraternity established a corporate partnership with First Book, a nonprofit organization with a single mission: to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. Together, through innovative programs such as Speed Read and the Virtual Book Drive, First Book and Pi Beta Phi are committed to bringing new books to children from low-income families in communities across the United States and Canada. For more information about First Book, go to www.firstbook.org. Pi Beta Phi is also featured on their informational Web site, www.theliteracysite.com.

 

Champions Are Readers Program (CAR)

Help Kids Become Reading Champions!
Pi Phi’s own program, CAR, is a creative reading enrichment program that originated with the Houston, Texas Alumnae Club. The month-long program is designed to improve literacy skills by helping to develop the habit of reading on a daily basis. Students at Creighton School are challenged to read 15 minutes at home each day with a family member or friend. Third grade students are targeted as they are at a critical juncture in developing both good reading skills and a lifelong love of reading. Each student receives an interactive CAR Literacy Workbook to track reading progress on a reading race track. At the end of the program, each participant receives a certificate of recognition, a new book and a CAR medal.

 

Creighton School

Creighton School has approximately 1,100 students, which includes children from 3 years old (the Headstart Program) to 15 years old (8th graders).  Dual language, Language Support and Immersion English classes are offered beginning with the 3-year olds and continuing through 6th grade.  The middle schoolers ( ages 7-8) are offered Language Support and Immersion English classes in addition to electives such as Band, Physical Education and Industrial Arts.

 

Fraternity Day of Service

Make Your Mark for LiteracyMake Your Mark for Literacy

The National Education Association, through their Read Across America program, has identified March 2 (Dr. Seuss’ birthday) as a day to celebrate literacy and the love of reading.  Pi Phi has selected this well-known day of reading celebration as its own Fraternity Day of Service.  In 2009, the Phoenix Alumnae Club, along with other clubs and chapters in Arizona, united to implement the project on a Saturday in February at Barnes and Noble Bookstore locations throughout the state.  At each site Pi Phis promoted literacy awareness by inviting the public to personalize a special Pi Beta Phi/First Book bookplate.  The event was designed to raise awareness about the Fraternities literacy efforts and every signed bookplate resulted in a new book being given to a child in need.

 

Assistance League of Phoenix

Assistance League of Phoenix is an all-volunteer, philanthropic organization serving children in need within the Greater Phoenix community.  Members of the Pi Beta Phi Phoenix Alumnae Club help in several ways:

Phoenix

Volunteering Time

You can volunteer for Operation School Bell mentioned above from September-March every Wednesday and Thursday (and some Tuesdays) from 9:00-11:30am.  Time is spent helping children get all their clothing items or assisting in the Literacy Center where children wait to "go shopping." 

You can also volunteer for Operation Clothes Closet.  This program begins in April and runs through the summer.  Volunteers are needed every Wednesday from 9:00-12:00pm to help bag clothing and hygiene items for delivery at Valley schools, inventory the shelves, and add bookplates to donated dictionaries.  Whether on a regular or a drop-in basis, they appreciate the help.  Assistance League is located at 9224 N. 5th Street in Phoenix.

Donating Books

Pi Phi collects new or gently used children’s books for distribution during the Assistance League’s Operation School Bell Program, which outfits needy children with new school clothing to enhance self-esteem and improve school performance.  Each child in the program also receives a book they can keep.  New and gently used adult books are also collected for sale at the thrift shop.  Each $60 sale through Assistance League's Thrift Shop clothes one child. 

New books are also collected for use in Operation Birthday Book.  This program involves principals at a couple of schools inviting children celebrating a birthday that month to a special library celebration where each can choose a book to take home and keep.  Books for this program are especially needed for 4th-6th grade boys. 

Pajama Program

Also a First Book participant, the Pajama Program provides new pajamas and new books to children in need, many who are waiting and hoping to be adopted.  Thousands of the children benefiting from the program live in group homes and shelters and are shuffled often between temporary living facilities.  A new endeavor for 2009/2010, Pi Phi alums will be collecting books and pajamas at various events.

                               Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
The club supports the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation by participating in the Phoenix Race for the Cure in October. The Komen Foundation began as a result of a promise between two sisters. We as Pi Beta Phi sisters will show our support for their pursuit of a cure for breast cancer, a disease that has affected so many of our lives in one way or another. Our team, “Wings of Pi Beta Phi” dons t-shirts and halos and walks as a group. If you can’t join us that day you can still be part of the team and “Sleep In for the Cure”.  More information will be provided on how to register as the race approaches.

 

Relay for Life
Relay for Life is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research and programs of the American Cancer Society. During the event, teams of people gather at schools, fairgrounds, or parks and take turns walking or running laps. Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times. The Arizona Beta collegians participate with a team and the Phoenix Alumnae Club supports their efforts with a donation to the cause.


FBR Open PGA Golf Tournament
The Phoenix Alumnae Club is responsible for recruiting more than 100 volunteers to work concession stand shifts at the FBR Open PGA golf tournament on behalf of the Phoenix Panhellenic Association. In exchange for our donation of time and labor at this event, over $40,000 is donated annually by the Thunderbirds organization for scholarships for worthy Greek women pursuing graduate and undergraduate degrees in Arizona. In sum, our involvement with the FBR Open has contributed to funding over $300,000 in scholarships over the last 13 years, with more than 24 Pi Phi scholarship recipients. All volunteers receive a free, transferable one-week pass to the Open. Friends and family may work along with you on behalf of Pi Phi.  For information on signing up, please email our Panhellenic Delegate, Christine Wilson.  For more information regarding the scholarship program, visit www.phoenixpanhellenic.org. To learn more about the FBR Open visit www.fbropen.com. For more information about volunteering, please contact our panhellenic delegate or alternate.

 

Be an Angel

Join Us in a Random Act of Kindness Effort

Perhaps you heard the story last December about the man who was in the drive-through line of a Starbucks in Florida, when a guy behind him got impatient because he hadn’t moved his car up sufficiently to free up space at the microphone.  The guy began yelling and honking. Instead of getting irritated, he told the barista, “Let me pay for the coffee of the guy behind me.” He paid the tab for the honker and this set off a spontaneous chain reaction of people paying for the next car’s coffee that lasted thorough out the day.  We’re not suggesting you begin paying for coffee, but one person’s good deed inspired dozens to pass it on.  That’s our challenge to you, to do something, a random act of kindness that in the end makes the world a better place.  We’ll send out encouragement throughout the year using some of the angel infrastructure that’s already in place, such as World Kindness Week November 9-15, World Kindness Day November 13, and Random Acts of Kindness Week February 15-21.  You’re already an angel…tell us about your experience of actively participating in the angel business.

 

Make the Literacy Site Your Home Page and Help Provide Free Books

You can contribute on an on-going basis to the Fraternities literacy efforts by making TheLiteracySite.com your home page.  By simply clicking on the "Click Here to Give-it's Free" button at TheLiteracySite.com once a day, you can help provide free books to children in need.


GoodSearch to support Pi Beta Phi Foundation
Support the Pi Beta Phi Foundation every time you search the internet at GoodSearch.com. Every search you conduct on GoodSearch.com generates money for the Foundation. All you do is go to www.goodsearch.com (Powered by Yahoo!) and designate Pi Beta Phi Foundation (Town and Country, MO) as the charity you support. Since GoodSearch shares its advertising revenue with charities, every time you search the Web at GoodSearch, you’ll be earning money for the Pi Beta Phi Foundation. Find out more at www.pibetaphifoundation.org


 

Fundraising Efforts to Support Philanthropic Efforts

Pi Phi Phi-nal Bags for Arizona Beta and Arizona Gamma collegians

Each semester during final exams week the club prepares and delivers finals week care packages to the collegians at ASU and NAU. Each package contains school supplies, toiletries, food and snack items and other goodies along with a special note from the parents who sponsor the program.

 

Holiday Greenery Program

The holiday greenery program was introduced last year with great success. Our provider, Sherwood Forest Farms has a beautiful selection of fundraising products including holiday wreaths, swags, centerpieces and garlands. All products are fresh and come direct from the grower in the Pacific Northwest. Comparable products sell for twice the cost, so they are a great value.

These items are perfect for holiday decorating and also make great gifts for business associates, friends and family who live anywhere across the country. Shipping and handling is included in the price for direct delivery (Alaska and Hawaii have additional charges). When you make a purchase, the club receives a portion of the proceeds which helps support our philanthropic efforts. Please share this information with your friends, family and neighbors!

For more information and to see a complete line of products or place an order visit, www.sherwoodforestfarms.com.

First Book Speed Read

A First Book Speed Read is a playful fundraising event with a tangible impact: every $2.50 generated places a brand new book into the hands of a child in need. Speed Readers are challenged to read as many words as they can out loud from a classic child's book in 15 seconds. Speed Readers get sponsors to support their participation with a donation. Speed Readers then face off and a First Book Speed Read Champion is crowned. Funds generated from the event help First Book and Pi Phi bring new books to kids in need.