READ > LEAD > ACHIEVE
Supporting Literacy Initiatives at the Local Level Pi Beta Phi’s philanthropic effort — Read > Lead > Achieve® — inspires a lifelong love of reading that can unlock true potential, creating a more literate and productive society. For many Pi Phis, the opportunity to participate in literacy service is most rewarding. Across North America, chapters and alumnae clubs partner with nonprofits and organizations in their local communities to support literacy efforts. During Convention 2021, the Arrowhead-West Phoenix, Arizona, Alumnae Club was presented with the 2020 Award for Excellence in Literacy Initiatives for Small Clubs. Over the last several years, the club’s impact within the local community has grown exponentially. More than 10 years ago, the Arizona club partnered with a second-grade classroom at Thompson Ranch Elementary School. When the partnership began, club members volunteered in the classroom and gave each child a book of their own. “Over the years, it has been so fulfilling and worthwhile to see the joy and delight on each student’s face,” says KATHIE ERICKSON BRIDGES, Utah Alpha. Not too much later the club was providing a book to each second-grade student and soon thereafter, with support from Pi Beta Phi Foundation’s FDS500 grant, every student at Thompson Ranch Elementary.
In addition to their work with Thompson Ranch Elementary, the club found new ways to support literacy efforts in local communities. After partnering with a local high school’s SkillsUSA, club members installed Little Free Libraries outside several YMCA locations, providing books to both children and adults. “YMCA Directors have asked our club for a Little Free Library at each of their locations,” says Literacy Committee Chair DEBBIE SEELEY FANNING, Wyoming Alpha. “We donate the physical library container as well as books to the library and extra books for back stock.” Club members are already hard at work on their fourth library which will include several bilingual and multicultural books to support a primarily Spanishspeaking community. While literacy efforts remain a priority for all alumnae clubs and chapters, members of the Arrowhead-West Phoenix club know the importance firsthand. “More than 30% of our members were teachers or principals,” says Arrowhead-West Phoenix Co-President BARB ALLBEE SAUNDERS, Oklahoma Alpha. “As a former librarian, I – along with the rest of our membership – truly believe literacy and education are the foundation of our society.”
Members of the Arrowhead-West Phoenix Alumnae Club dedicated a Little Free Library in their community.
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