F O U N D AT I O N
Caring for our Members: Pi Beta Phi Foundation Celebrates 30 Years Over the past thirty years, Pi Beta Phi Foundation has helped the Fraternity fulfill its mission and vision through gifts from sisters and friends. The Fraternity and our Foundation have worked in tandem to provide a membership experience Pi Phis can be proud of — both as collegians and alumnae. Whether we are preparing our chapter officers at College Weekend, financially supporting sisters in crisis through Emma Harper Turner Fund grants or providing scholarships and fellowships for sisters continuing their education, caring for our members is at the center of what we do. Pi Beta Phi Foundation secures the resources the Fraternity needs to ensure this work continues. As our Foundation celebrates 30 years of supporting our members, we share the importance, impact and inspiration behind our work. In 1990, Fraternity leadership established our Foundation to fund scholarships and member programming, preserve our heritage and further our philanthropic work. What began as endowed scholarships and preserving Fraternity heritage evolved to include programs supporting leadership development and chapter housing. As our Fraternity has grown, so too has our Foundation. “When I joined the Pi Beta Phi Foundation Board of Trustees, it was still in its infancy. We worked at length to make our Foundation an arm of the Fraternity,” said Indiana Gamma BETTY BLADES LOFTON. “And, my, how our Foundation has grown and become championed by our alumnae clubs, chapters and members. Through their support, we’ve provided scholarships, Emma Harper Turner Fund grants, leadership training and more.” For the past 30 years, Pi Beta Phi Foundation has worked in partnership with sisters across North America to support the Fraternity. Thanks to thousands of Pi Phis and friends, our Foundation has continued to care for our members and ensure future generations of women benefit from that same support. Betty continued, “It has been rewarding to watch our Foundation thrive — to see growth in contributions, support and awards over the years.” Charter member of the Pi Beta Phi Foundation Board of Trustees CAROL INGE WARREN, North Carolina Beta, reflected on all the Foundation has accomplished over the
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The charter members of Pi Beta Phi Foundation's Board of Trustees. Front, from left: Past Grand President CAROLYN HELMAN LICHTENBERG, Ohio Alpha; Foundation President Emerita ANN DUDGEON PHY, Texas Alpha; and Kansas Alpha ADRIENNE HISCOX MITCHELL. Back, from left: North Carolina Beta CAROL INGE WARREN and Nebraska Beta MARY ANN BEHLEN HRUSKA.
last 30 years, “I am in awe of the incredible growth of our Foundation and the programs and support provided to the Fraternity and its members. The work of our Foundation has inspired sisters and friends around the world and promoted philanthropists within our sisterhood.” This tremendous growth wouldn’t have been possible without those, like Carol, who envisioned the possibilities. As we consider the future of our Foundation, there is much to look forward to. “Our Foundation evolves with our members. I am encouraged by our strong leadership and know our Foundation will continue to meet the needs of our members in these ever-changing times,” Carol shared. What started as a small group of women hoping to make an impact on our sisterhood has become an integral part of our Fraternity. Since 1990, members and friends have invested millions of dollars in scholarships, leadership, emergency grants, literacy, heritage and housing. Just this year, Pi Phi awarded $272,900 in scholarships to members continuing their education and $64,692 to members in financial crisis due to COVID-19.
