Arlington Heights Alumnae Club fraternity wins prestigious award

The Arlington Heights Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women recently received the fraternity's highest and most prestigious honor, the Premier Club of Excellence Award.

Pi Beta Phi alumnae clubs promote and support fraternity philanthropic endeavors, assist collegiate chapters and offer friendship to new graduates and alumnae. One large club and one small club, among nearly 300, are chosen each year as representatives of performance that is exemplary above all others.

The Arlington Heights Alumnae Club increased its membership with more active communication efforts and more varied programming offerings. More philanthropic opportunities were provided, in addition to networking opportunities, and meetings were held at different days of the week and at different times to accommodate members' busy schedules.

The club also restructured its leadership model to best meet the needs of its members, creating additional leadership positions to allow more club members to serve.

The club's annual fundraiser is a spring flower sale. Proceeds from the sale are donated to Pi Beta Phi Foundation and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts.

Essential fraternity initiatives, like leadership development and literacy programs, are supported through the stewardship of the foundation. The funds are also used to cover the cost of hosting Pi Beta Phi's Champions are Readers® reading enrichment program at a local elementary school, as well as local Panhellenic scholarship efforts.

The club's other philanthropic efforts include collecting school supplies and books for a local underserved elementary school and installing a Little Free Library at a preschool and kindergarten child care center.

Club members participate in a monthly book chat at a local senior living center, volunteer at Bernie's books to distribute new and used children's books throughout the Chicago area, and create handmade blankets and mittens for children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need through Project Linus.

"Pi Beta Phi sisterhood is all about caring for one another and the communities in which we live," said Pi Beta Phi President Paula Shepherd. "We are proud of our dedicated alumnae who worked so hard to serve their club this past year, and especially grateful for the work they did to promote reading and make a difference in the lives of children across Arlington Heights."

Founded in 1867 at Monmouth College in Illinois, Pi Beta Phi has installed 204 collegiate chapters and nearly 300 alumnae clubs worldwide. Pi Beta Phi promotes friendship, develops women of intellect and integrity, cultivates leadership potential and enriches the lives of members and their communities.

The fraternity believes in the power of reading and through its philanthropy, Read > Lead > Achieve, promotes a lifelong love of reading that can unlock true potential.

For information, visit www.pibetaphi.org or follow Pi Phi on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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