From Recipient to Donor — The Cycle of Giving

Supporting the development of young women is a core tenet of Pi Beta Phi and, by extension, of our Foundation. Throughout the last year, Pi Beta Phi Foundation asked members to reflect on all they’ve gained from their sisterhood by asking, “What has Pi Phi given you?” Members recounted stories of meeting their lifelong friends, finding empowerment through a supportive sisterhood, gaining leadership skills and developing a love for philanthropic service.

For Colorado Alpha WHITNEY STANTON, Pi Phi has given her each of those things and more, which inspires her commitment to give back however she can to current and future members. “Pi Phi has given me a support system of women of all ages, lifelong friends and an organization I know I can always turn to,” she says.

Whitney was first inspired to give back to our sisterhood in 2019 as a recent graduate of the University of Colorado. Motivated by the support she received as a collegian, it was a priority for her to extend the same courtesy by giving of her time to her chapter and of her treasure to our Foundation. She joined the Colorado Alpha Alumnae Advisory Committee (AAC) as the Advisor to the Director New Member Experience to contribute to her local chapter.

“The women who mentored me when I was serving as Vice President Member Development (VPMD) in 2015 were now the same women I was working with to serve the current chapter members,” Whitney says. “This opportunity allowed me to give back to my chapter and create relationships with the collegians that grew throughout my time on the AAC.”

Whitney credits these women with her development as a leader and says their support is what inspires her to do the same for the next generation of Pi Phi leaders. “Through Pi Phi, I learned what it means to be a servant leader. From my work as VPMD developing personalized academic support and guiding the chapter through Leading with Values® seminars to attending Pi Beta Phi Leadership Institute, I learned how to successfully lead by serving the chapter and members.” As a collegian, Whitney learned firsthand that support from Pi Phi comes in many forms. She personally benefitted from the commitment of donors to our Foundation when she received multiple scholarships which enabled her to graduate college debt-free. Whitney remembers how crucial this support was for her own collegiate experience and now prioritizes giving to our Foundation as a way to support other members in their education.

“Giving to Pi Beta Phi Foundation is important to me because the scholarships I received allowed me to pursue an education without the burden of student loan debt. I believe in women supporting women, and giving to our Foundation has allowed me to do that,” Whitney says.

On Pi Phi Giving Day 2020 — only a few weeks into the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in North America — Whitney was inspired to give to our Foundation after she saw the economic impacts of the pandemic and the rising case numbers. As a professional research assistant for the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Whitney knew the severity of the situation and says it was the perfect time to give and support those personally affected by the pandemic.

From a scholarship recipient to a dedicated donor, Whitney shows the power of every gift and the strength of a cycle of giving. Like many sisters, she calls on Pi Phi’s core values as a source of motivation in life. The core value of Sincere Friendship is particularly poignant for Whitney and is a driving force behind her decision to support her sisters however she can. “Sincere friends listen to us, push us to be more accepting of ourselves, support our goals, always have our backs and give without expecting anything in return.”