7 minute read
Educational Foundation
From the Chairman
Brothers and Friends, The Sigma Pi Educational Foundation provides scholarships, grants, and financial support for educational programming to members of the Fraternity through the generous support of our membership. When asked why they give, brothers have responded that they desire to pay back for the benefits they have received in their fraternal experience, strive to develop undergraduates and their pursuit of knowledge or life skills, or because they want to memorialize members of their Chapter. But one response is universal, all give because they believe in Sigma Pi. As a donor today, you can be an active partner in the development of the Sigma Pi leaders of tomorrow by creating the financial support they need to continue their educational pursuits and reach their goals. Please find below a summary of recent Foundation activity, in cooperation with the Executive Office:
• Changed mail campaign support provider from Gabriel to OmegaFi • Adopted Classy.org platform to create a fresh new look to the website donation landing page • Launched the reimagined Delta Society and new Owl Society • Launched the 10 Stars Campaign to support a new Founders’ Month of Giving • Digitized CEF Disbursement Request process • Changed donor recognition from ribbons at convo to lapel pins for any event • Launched CEF semi-annual fund updates • Evaluating freewill.com as a platform for planned giving • Developing Virtual Leadership Series with the support of Paul Hansen (Valparaiso ’80) • Executing the first Chapter Housing Fund (CHF) with Rho Chapter at North Carolina
State – designed to receive tax-deductible donations for the support of a chapter’s housing needs through grants for the educational percentage of the purchase, construction, or renovation of the chapter house, the furnishing and equipping of the designated educational areas, and the educational percentage of ongoing operating expenses We encourage you to reflect on how Sigma Pi has enhanced your life and consider a taxdeductible gift to the Educational Foundation. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, and all the men of Sigma Pi who have benefited from your generous contributions, we thank you for your continued commitment and ongoing support of the Educational Foundation. Because we all believe in Sigma Pi…. Fraternally,
Jeff Cline (North Carolina State '85)
Chairman, Sigma Pi Educational Foundation
CHAIRMAN
Jeff Cline North Carolina State '85
BOARD MEMBERS
CHAIRMAN
Jeff Cline North Carolina State ’85
VC INVESTMENTS
David Presson Murray State ’77
VC LEGAL Mike Long Oakland ’03
TREASURER
Daniel Daugherty Morehead State ’88
SECRETARY Taylor Lapsys UC Irvine ’04
TRUSTEE
Robert Pankau Oakland ’02
TRUSTEE
Jason Walker Georgia ’92
TRUSTEE
Paul Gorman Seton Hall ’93
TRUSTEE
Patrick Reimer Morehead State ’94
TRUSTEE
Diogo Tavares Seton Hall ‘96
HONORARY LIFE TRUSTEE
PGS Frank C. Fryburg Penn State ’44
DEVELOPMENT CHAIR
Paul Hansen Valparaiso ’80
Ways to Give
Online
Giving with your debit or credit card online at sigmapi.org/donate is a quick and secure way to make a contribution, which accepts Visa, American Express, MasterCard, and Discover.
Mobile On your mobile device, you can quickly and easily visit sigmapiedfund.org/gift
Mail You can mail a check or credit card gift to the SPEF at the address below: Sigma Pi Educational Foundation 1101 Kermit Drive, Suite 730 Nashville, TN 37217
Phone To make a donation over the phone, or for more assistance, please give us a call at 615-921-2300.
Corporate Matching Numerous companies match an employee’s personal donation to a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. Ask your employer for details.
SPEF Announcements
We are proud to announce two changes to the recognition levels of the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation: the redeveloped Delta Society for undergraduate giving recognition, and the brand new Owl Society for young alumni giving.
Delta Society
The Delta Society is an honorary membership society recognizing those who have begun a tradition of financial support for the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation during their collegiate experience. Their generosity helps the Fraternity in continued development of educational and leadership initiatives, including the Bayard Membership Experience and Mid-Year Leadership Conference, among other programs that ensure the continued growth and development of our members.
As an undergraduate member of Sigma Pi, you have the opportunity to help build the future of our Fraternity. The selfless giving back by a Delta Society member further serves as an invaluable example for his chapter brothers. “The Brother who becomes fully involved with Sigma Pi will continue to enjoy and benefit from it throughout his lifetime.” – Sigma Pi Manual
Owl Society
The Owl Society has been created for our young alumni (age 35 and under), who can start an unrestricted monthly gift of $18.97. Once giving has been established, the donor will receive a special lapel pin recognizing their membership in the Owl Society. After one year of annual payments, the donor will also receive a special gift from the Fraternity. Not long ago, you made the important decision to join an organization that has developed leaders for almost 125 years. You are one of these many future leaders that will change the world and build upon our great Fraternity. Becoming an Owl Society member allows you to give back to your Brotherhood so that more emerging leaders that will come after you have the resources and tools they need to succeed.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE RECOGNITION LEVELS, PLEASE VISIT
sigmapiedfund.org
Addressing Modern Day Challenges
How Sigma Pi Is Addressing COVID-19, the Abolish Greek Life Movement, and Other Challenges
In many parts of the country, Sigma Pi undergraduates returned to campuses this fall to an environment that was completely different from what they had left in the spring. Social distancing, mask wearing, and Zoom classes and meetings are just a few of the new normals that students have adjusted to. Even in these tumultuous times, it is comforting to know that our undergraduate brothers have remained committed to promoting fellowship, developing character and leadership, advancing heightened moral awareness, enabling academic achievement, and inspiring service. The Sigma Pi Educational Foundation has never been more dedicated to supporting the young men in our active chapters. As we push forward together through the pandemic, it’s imperative that we also live by our core values and advance our brotherhood’s impactful ideals. During this season of giving, Sigma Pi alumni can rest assured that gifts of all sizes to the educational foundation will make a tremendous difference in the lives of our undergraduate brothers. Along with the pandemic, there has been another unwelcome movement related to Greek life that some of you may have heard about in recent months. The Abolish Greek Life movement has popped up on several college campuses. Driven largely by former sorority members who have posted various negative claims on social media, the Abolish Greek Life movement has primarily targeted fraternity men with sexual assault accusations and Greek chapters about not being inclusive when it comes to diversity and equity during recruitment. As Sigma Pi alumni, we can attest that Greek life is a crucial component to the college experience and life after graduation. What the Abolish Greek Life movement proponents fail to realize is that fraternities like Sigma Pi were founded on the ideals of empowering young men to fight issues such as sexual assault and inequalities. We at Sigma Pi Fraternity and the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation will forever be devoted to inspiring, promoting, and supporting the lifelong development of our brothers.
While there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel of the pandemic with vaccine options on the way, the health and safety of our undergraduate brothers are still paramount. One of the challenges COVID-19 created for Sigma Pi chapters nationwide was how to handle recruitment this fall. Many chapters conducted recruitment via Zoom or other virtual platforms, which obviously is more challenging than trying to recruit potential new members in person. Nevertheless, our undergraduate brothers did a tremendous job of showcasing what the Sigma Pi experience is all about to potential new members. They have learned so much about our brotherhood from the educational programs and leadership conferences of Sigma Pi, and it’s important that future members benefit from those same opportunities. The Educational Foundation is a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, so all gifts are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. A donation to the Educational Foundation will go a long way toward securing our fraternity’s future. Whether it be financial struggles because of the suffering economy, having a personal experience with or knowing someone who has contracted COVID-19, or having the typical college experience taken away, the mental health of Sigma Pi’s collegians has been put to the test like never before. We’ve all been fortunate to have Sigma Pi brothers by our side during our highest of highs and lowest of lows. Now is the time to join the educational foundation and the fraternity in advocating for the Sigma Pi experience so our Sigma Pi brothers can thrive in all their endeavors.
