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Putting Our Values Into Practice
Pi Phis have worked for the betterment of society for as long as we’ve been a fraternity. Our Founders felt they had a responsibility to serve others in their communities, writing of their determination to “dispel the gloom from the lives of all around them.” Our philanthropic efforts serve as a tangible way for our members to live Pi Beta Phi values, visibly demonstrating what we believe. In a partnership spanning decades, members of the Richmond, Virginia, Alumnae Club have advocated for the importance of literacy and education through their work with incarcerated women at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women (VCCW) in Goochland, Virginia. Pennsylvania Beta ELIZABETH KATES was chosen to be the first warden of VCCW when the prison opened in 1931. Understanding both the value of education and the challenges the offenders would face upon their release, Elizabeth felt she could improve the lives of the women at the prison by investing in their futures. “Elizabeth was strongly committed to rehabilitating the women she oversaw,” said New York Delta VICKEY VERWEY, a member of the Richmond club and board member of the Elizabeth Kates Foundation. “For support of educational programming and materials beyond the basics provided by the Commonwealth of Virginia, she
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Members of the Richmond, Virginia, Alumnae Club who participate in Kates Readers share some of the books they've read with women enrolled in the program. From left: Georgia Alpha CAROL PAYNE MARTIN; Texas Beta PATTY THOMASON SCHAUMBURG, Club President; Indiana Epsilon MARY PETTICREW SMALLING; Ohio Beta SONIA PHIPPS BROKAW; Tennessee Beta RANDIE SEARS ROSENBERG; and New York Delta VICKEY VERWEY.
turned to her Pi Phi sisters for help.” One of these sisters was past Grand President MAY LANSFIELD KELLER, Maryland Alpha, who was among the founding members (and the first president) when the Elizabeth Kates Foundation was chartered in 1942. The Richmond club has supported the Kates Foundation’s efforts since its beginning; in that time, Richmond Pi Phis have served thousands of incarcerated women. Today, VCCW houses a population of approximately 525 inmates. The all-volunteer Kates Foundation is the club’s local philanthropy, and club members serve on the organization’s board and volunteer in its programs at VCCW. Club members help prepare the offenders for successful reentry into society by strengthening their reading and critical thinking skills.
