The Bow of Pi Beta Phi - Spring 2023

A Message from Leadership

Dear Sisters and friends,

When I think of Pi Phi, I think of home—a home filled with my sisters, friends, supporters and cheerleaders who have provided Sincere Friendship to me through every phase of life. I’m keenly aware of the role Pi Phi plays in providing a home for our members through my service with the Fraternity Housing Corporation (FHC) Board of Directors. Housing for our collegians is not just a place to live, but a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Pi Phis to build bonds and foster friendships they’ll carry far beyond the walls of a Pi Phi chapter facility.

Through my service to FHC, I’ve also had the opportunity to become involved with Pi Beta Phi Foundation and serve as an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees. Coming into this position, I knew the value our Foundation has in supporting our sisterhood, but I didn’t fully understand the true power of Pi Phi until I participated in this work. Our Foundation was still in its early years when I was a collegian, so I’ve witnessed exponential growth over the course of my own Pi Phi journey.

Many of the programs made possible by our Foundation today were either newly created or didn’t exist when I was a collegian. Now, I look at the wealth of leadership development opportunities, scholarships, grants and other essential programs supported by our Foundation and am proud of the role we can all play in encouraging and empowering future generations of Pi Phis.

No matter where your priorities and passions lie—whether you share my interest in housing or find inspiration in another programmatic area—there are simple yet impactful ways to sustain our sisterhood and provide opportunities for future members to find the same sense of home we’ve all found in Pi Phi.

One of the most fulfilling ways to do so is by making a gift to celebrate our sisterhood on Pi Phi Giving Day. Pi Phi Giving Day is my favorite day of the year! We not only get to celebrate Founders’ Day and the history of our sisterhood, but also live our Lifelong Commitment by ensuring Pi Phi thrives for generations to come and provides a home for sisters long after our college days are over.

I’ll tell you what I tell my closest Pi Phi friends: Pi Phi gave us a home when we needed one—and we have the power to ensure the same can be done for future sisters. Every gift and every sister make a difference in the lives of current and future Pi Phis. Join me in ensuring our home in Pi Phi endures.

In Pi Phi,

Brenda Balkunas Wirth, Wisconsin Alpha President, Fraternity Housing Corporation Board of Directors Ex-officio, Pi Beta Phi Foundation Board of Trustees