the bow - winter/spring 2015

Raising Readers in Story County (RRSC) helps children grow up with books and inspires a love for reading. What began as a grassroots collaboration in Ames, Iowa, has now evolved into a 501(c)3 organization with board members, staff and more than 100 volunteers. In 2014, the young organization gave more than 15,000 books to children, recorded more than 7,000 hours of volunteer service, created a Raising Readers Room at Ames Community Preschool Center and hired a part-time staff member to help with program outreach.

As a family literacy program, Thrive by Five empowers parents to be their children’s first teachers. The program provides books and information about child development, and supports parents as they practice literacy-promoting behaviors.

“RRSC is so incredibly grateful for this grant,” Executive Director Mary Harken said. “Now, we will be able to reach even more families in poverty with tools to advance parent-child learning processes.”

According to Harken, RRSC has a reputation in Ames for effective programs and has partnered with a number of businesses, health and human service providers and schools to help dispel the barrier of

illiteracy. From 2008 to 2013, despite growing poverty, the Ames School District reported an 18 percent increase in the number of children entering kindergarten demonstrating early literacy skills. While these results are promising, RRSC wants to do more. Through programs such as Thrive by Five, RRSC wants all area children to enter kindergarten ready to read by 2020.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

A Love of Reading

$54,000 for Literacy

25th Anniversary

Investing in Scholarships

haloheaven.org Returns

News & Notes

An official publication of Pi Beta Phi Foundation for donors and special friends

The BowWINTER 2015

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Inspiring a Lifelong Love of ReadingThanks to your generous gifts to The Literacy Fund, Pi Beta Phi Foundation recently awarded its Special Impact Grants to support nonprofit organizations’ literacy programs. Raising Readers in Story County was one of nine recipients to receive a grant, and with these funds, the organization plans to expand its reading and school readiness program called Thrive by Five.

Inspiring a Lifelong Love of Reading continued on Page 2

At Raising Readers of Story County, parents are encouraged to make reading a daily habit with

their children.

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Iowa Gamma Jennifer Plagman-Galvin has sat on the board of RRSC and sponsored the organization’s Special Impact Grant application. She believes RRSC’s mission aligns with Pi Phi’s philanthropic focus.

“Literacy is key to lifelong learning,” Plagman-Galvin said. “As a parent, educator and community volunteer, I am personally excited about Thrive by Five’s ability to bring so many important partners to the table. Utilizing local alumnae, the Iowa Gamma Chapter, RRSC staff, faculty at Iowa State University, and now this $10,000 grant from the Foundation, RRSC will not only be able to evaluate the program but make it even better.”

Inspiring a Lifelong Love of Reading continued from Page 1

Raising Readers of Story County Mission

Improve language and literacy development in children from birth to age 8 and nurture healthy parent-child relationships.

How RRSC Will Use the $10,000 Special Impact Grant

EVALUATE• RRSC will partner with Iowa State University’s (ISU) School of Education and Human and Development Studies faculty to study the impact of the Thrive by Five classes on families.

EXPAND• RRSC will use technology to engage hard-to-reach families by adding texting to Thrive by Five classes as well as upgrading the RRSC website, where parents go to register, download materials and use screening tools to monitor their children’s development.

• RRSC will address barriers preventing family participation and ask area pediatricians to recommend Thrive by Five activities. Currently, RRSC gives books to doctors, who then give them to children at appointments, encouraging parents to make reading a daily habit.

DISSEMINATE• RRSC will develop standardized intervention procedures to help increase child language outcomes. Through partners at ISU, RRSC will publish its study results in a research journal and create a Community Literacy Toolkit to promote Thrive by Five.

The Iowa Gamma Chapter works closely with RRSC in the community. Pictured above: Iowa Gammas with RRSC Board Members. Pictured below: RRSC President Sue Seaton and Volunteer Coordinator Judy Dahlke with Iowa Gammas at

the chapter house.


$54,000 for Literacy!

$10,000 Special Impact Grant Recipients

$1,000 Honorable Mention Special Impact Grant Recipients

Library for All Helps Education Fund

The Afterschool Program

Hawaiian Avenue Elementary School

Education FoundationNew York, New York

libraryforall.org Raleigh, North Carolina helpseducationfund.org

Nashville, Tennessee tapnashville.org Wilmington, California

hawaiian-lausd-ca.schoolloop.com

Mission: Provide tools for individuals to learn, dream and aspire to lift themselves out of poverty. How the funds will be used: License and translate 200 books into Haitian Creole, as well as source content from publishers to increase the variety of books available.

Mission: Strive to connect research with practice, support teachers and improve students’ learning. How the funds will be used: Support a Coordinator who will train 20 Pi Beta Phi members to work with parents across numerous schools and help strengthen students’ reading skills.

Mission: Close the achievement gap and break the cycle of poverty by providing academic, social and emotional enrichment all year round. How the funds will be used: Purchase flashcards, alphabet puzzles, etc. for 3–5 years old; Purchase iPads and ACT/SAT prep books for middle and high schoolers.

Mission: Foster and encourage academic, emotional and social development so that children may achieve their full potential and have equal access to higher education. How the funds will be used: Purchase guided reading books for third graders; build take-home libraries for kindergarten through third grade.

In addition to Raising Readers in Story County, eight organizations received a total of $54,000 for their literacy programs. Here’s a look at their missions and how they will use the grant dollars.

Reading Connections

Reach Out and Read Kansas City

Elizabeth Kates Foundation

South Bay Literacy Council, Inc.

Greensboro, North Carolina readingconnections.org

Kansas City, Kansasreachoutandreadkc.org

Goochland, Virginia Torrance, California southbayliteracy.wordpress.com

Mission: Provide and advocate for free, individualized adult literacy services to promote life changes for Guilford County residents and surrounding communities. How the funds will be used: Purchase instructional materials and supplies for the Family Literacy Program.

Mission: Prepare America’s youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. How the funds will be used: Support KC children through the Kindergarten Book Bag Program, specifically, to purchase books for the book bags.

Mission: Help incarcerated women in Virginia state prisons by providing educational, vocational and restorative programs to reduce recidivism. How the funds will be used: Purchase educational materials for GED tests; provide children of incarcerated mothers with recordings of their mothers reading a book.

Mission: Teach people to speak, read and write English effectively in order to better function in today’s complex society. How the funds will be used: Launch Literacy on the Go Program to allow tutors to more effectively deliver literacy programs in the community.

Celebrating 25 Years!


Pi Beta Phi Foundation was founded on February 21, 1990. Of the founding members of the National Panhellenic Conference, Pi Beta Phi’s Foundation is by far the youngest. And yet, a mere 25 years since our founding, our organization now invests more than $1.5 million in programs and services and is currently ranked 8th in overall asset size. This would not be possible without the generous support of Pi Phis and friends like you. For the past 25 years, you have made scholarships a reality, helped Pi Phis in need, taught children how to read and provided a brighter future for our sisterhood. Here’s to the next 25 years and beyond! We recently interviewed some of the Foundation’s trailblazing leaders. Below are a few excerpts from those interviews. To read more from Texas Alpha Ann Dudgeon Phy, Pennsylvania Beta Jean Wirths Scott, California Kappa Beth Seidelhuber Sordi and others, visit www.pibetaphifoundation.org/celebrate.

Foundation President Emerita Ann Dudgeon Phy, Texas AlphaQ: Tell us why Pi Phi leadership decided to establish a Foundation.Ann: Some of the groups had had foundations for nearly 50 years before ours was incorporated. For a couple of years, I had the benefit of attending meetings with representatives from their foundations when ours was in the planning stages. This was extremely beneficial to the process. We needed a Foundation to enable us to raise funds through tax-deductible donations, thus enhancing our ability to benefit our members through additional scholarships, programming and historic preservation. And certainly we needed to be competitive with the other women’s groups in what they were providing for their members.

Q: Where do you hope to take the Foundation? Why did you say “yes” to this role?Beth: I’m interested in growing the Foundation in a few different ways. First, we continue to foster our relationships among staff and volunteers within the broader Pi Phi organization in order to best help the Fraternity realize its mission. Secondly, we continue to adopt governance best practices into our board operations to help the Foundation run more efficiently and become even more successful. Next, I want to make sure our volunteers and staff feel fulfilled in the work they do for Pi Phi. Finally, our potential is inspiring. If I can play just a small role in helping all of us remain collaborative, coordinated and aligned, think of how much we can achieve together for the organization we all love!

Foundation President Beth Seidelhuber Sordi, California Kappa

Fraternity Grand President Emeritus and Past Foundation President Jean Wirths Scott, Pennsylvania BetaQ: Why do you think Pi Phi needs a Foundation?Jean: Pi Beta Phi always has been a basis of support for its membership and the broader community. As the Fraternity grows in size and times change, it becomes more costly to develop new programming, provide scholarships, prepare members for leadership opportunities, support philanthropic efforts, maintain adequate facilities, support staff and adequately fund all that is needed to fulfill our goals. Our 501(c)3 Foundation makes it possible for Pi Beta Phi to maintain our principles.


#FoundationFlashbackIn February, we posted 25 #FoundationFlashback photos on our Facebook page to celebrate our 25th anniversary. We’ve shared some of the photos below. To see all 25, please visit www.facebook.com/pibetaphifoundation.

Foundation President Beth Seidelhuber Sordi, California Kappa

1.The Foundation’s first Board of Trustees: North Carolina Beta Carol Inge Warren, Texas Alpha Ann Dudgeon Phy, Kansas Alpha Adrienne Hiscox Mitchell, Ohio Alpha Carolyn Helman Lichtenberg and Nebraska Beta Mary Ann Behlen Hruska. 2. Indiana Gamma Betty Blades Lofton presents a check for literacy at the 2005 Tampa Convention 3. South Carolina Alpha Sarah ‘Sis’ Ruth Mullis at the 1997 Atlanta Convention 4. A collage of Foundation convention mascots from over the years. 5. Iowa Alpha Elizabeth Davenport Garrels, Former Foundation Executive Director Lynn Raney, Texas Beta Ann Warmack Brookshire, Ohio Alpha Carolyn Helman Lichtenberg, Texas Gamma Beth van Maanen Beatty, Indiana Gamma Betty Blades Lofton and Indiana Delta Lois Huston Ross. 6. Oklahoma Alpha Mallory Wightman Rogers, Pennsylvania Beta Jean Wirths Scott and Oklahoma Alpha Sally Sewell Wightman at Pi Beta Phi Headquarters 7. Arkansas Beta Nancy Fogle Pollard and Illinois Alpha Evelyn Peters Kyle

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Thank You for Investing in Me


Dear Foundation Donors and Friends,

My name is Abigael Weller, and I am a junior at Drury University and a member of the Missouri Gamma Chapter of Pi Beta Phi. Last year, I was a recipient of a Founders’ Day Scholarship, and I am writing to say thank you for investing in me.

Currently, I am a student at the Hammons School of Architecture at Drury, and I also am a member of the American Institute of Architecture Students. Architecture and community service are two of my passions. After graduation, I hope to work building community centers, educational facilities and low-income housing in urban and rural areas of need. Right now I am working with a group of students and local architecture firms to raise $30,000 to build a primary school in Burkina Faso where 78 percent of the population is illiterate. In the evening, the building will also provide adult education classes for women.

This is probably more detail than you are looking for, but I share all of this with you because I want to emphasize that without your scholarship, I would not have been able to pursue my passions. Since you’ve helped ease my student loan burden, my dreams will become a reality much sooner.

There are truly hundreds of worthy Pi Phis who apply for scholarships, and it means the world to me that I’ve been selected as a recipient. Thank you SO very much.

Pi Phi Love,

Abigael Weller

Missouri Gamma Abigael Weller is a recipient of a 2014 Founders’ Day Scholarship. In addition to

architecture and volunteer service, Abigael loves spending time with her Pi Phi sisters.

The following was written by Missouri Gamma Abigael Weller

Watch Abigael’s short thank-you video by visiting pibetaphifoundation.org/FDSF2015


Building Leaders at UIFIEach year, thanks to your gifts, the Foundation is able to fund scholarships to the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute® (UIFI). UIFI is a five-day institute that brings together fraternity men and sorority women from across North America to create opportunities to explore, define and enhance their leadership skills, personal awareness, commitment to their fraternity or sorority and grow to expect values-based action from themselves and those they lead. Past attendee California Epsilon Lindsey Jones shares her appreciation in her thank you letter below.

Join us in Chicago for Convention!Pi Beta Phi Foundation is gearing up for convention and we hope to see you there! You won’t want to miss:

• Halo Heaven — Who’s on your halo list?• Silent Auction — Do you have an item you’d like to donate?• May Lansfield Keller Breakfast for Evelyn Peters Kyle Society and

Marianne Reid Wild Society donors• Angelica, the Foundation Angel Visit www.pibetaphi.org/convention for more information or to register.

haloheaven.org goes lives April 1!

Board of Trustees

PresidentBeth Seidelhuber Sordi, California Kappa Vice President FinanceVivian Long, New York Eta Vice President Development Jan Kincaid Clifford, Indiana Delta SecretaryMary Rakow Tanner, Maryland BetaTrusteesJanice Worthington Lisko, Oklahoma BetaKate Blatherwick Pickert, Kansas Alpha Karen Consalus Price, Missouri Alpha Rena Rodeman Thorsen, Maryland BetaBeth Torres, Illinois ZetaEx Officio Paula Pace Shepherd, Texas EpsilonLisa Gamel Scott, Colorado AlphaPresident EmeritaAnn Dudgeon Phy, Texas Alpha

Foundation Ambassadors Council

Alumnae Regions Candace Turner Dressler, Alberta Alpha Laurie Hoskins, Iowa AlphaRuth Walsh McIntyre, South Carolina AlphaKim J. OBrien, Ohio ZetaLeigh Mossman Pauling, Texas DeltaAmy Wasserman Tatro, Arizona Alpha

Collegiate RegionsDaphney Rose Bitanga, California EtaKathy Wager Ewing, Alabama GammaSherrie Pendley Liebsack, Idaho AlphaAudrey Miller Pennings, Arkansas Alpha Elizabeth Robbins Salata, Illinois IotaJacquelyn Tatro, Georgia AlphaJulie Wightman Taylor, Texas BetaMary Alice Classen Tinari, North Carolina Beta

Staff

Programs & Operations DirectorBetsy West McCune, Missouri AlphaDevelopment Director Jenny Miller Pratt, Indiana AlphaMarketing & Communications DirectorJill Pampel Finance DirectorRosemary BarczewskiDevelopment SpecialistAllie Jostrand Development Specialist IIJoanna SellFoundation Assistant Amber Moore

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSt. Louis, MOPermit No. 811154 Town & Country Commons Drive

Town & Country, Missouri 63017

Halo Happenings is traveling the country! If you will be in the Bay Area on March 21 or Houston on April 11, we hope you will join us at one of these events. Enjoy food, fun and fellowship with your sisters. Visit www.pibetaphifoundation.org/halohappenings for information.

Welcome Joanna SellThe Foundation recently welcomed Joanna Sell as Development Specialist II. Joanna comes to us from the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Foundation and will be concentrating on database strategies and infrastructure.

Executive Director Update Former Executive Director Teri Chadwick decided to leave the Foundation to make time for her family and focus on a nonprofit consulting practice. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees is currently searching for an Executive Director. To see the position description, visit www.pibetaphifoundation.org. If you have any recommendations, please email Foundation President Beth Seidelhuber Sordi, California Kappa, at [email protected].

News & Notes

Stay connected all year long! Visit our website at

www.pibetaphifoundation.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

/pibetaphifoundation

@pibetaphifndn

the bow - winter/spring 2015

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