[Literacy]

Pi Beta Phi takes great pride in our philanthropic achievements throughout the year. We are dedicated to providing service to the community in the area of literacy. Pi Phi has many different programs, both nationally and internationally, that help the fraternity maintain a number of versatile approaches toward this cause. Through a program called Links to Literacy, chapters help local agencies or schools with book distribution or one-on-one interaction as they learn to read. We have a major emphasis on philanthropy, and work hard all year round to promote literacy.

[Arrowmont and Settlement School]

Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts began in 1912 as Settlement School and brought education, economic development and health care to rural Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Pi Phis were instrumental in promoting the academic and industrial enrichment of area children, and the Jennie Nicol Health Center was a model for other mountain health facilities until 1965.

In conjunction with the University of Tennessee, Settlement School began giving summer craft workshops that were highly successful. These workshops developed into a year-round program of arts education. Today Arrowmont is an internationally known visual arts complex, boasting a renowned faculty and international student body.

[Arrow in the Arctic]

Pi Phi's Canadian philanthropy provides support for the many branches of the library systems in Whitehorse, Yukon, and Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

At the 1967 Convention, the Canadian delegates voted unanimously to adopt the Northern Libraries Project to commemorate the dual centennial of Canada and of the Fraternity. The name "Arrow in the Arctic" was officially adopted in 1969.

While the Canadian government supplies an adequate budget for the purchase of basic books, there is little available for extras. Philanthropy funds are used to purchase "talking" books and videos in English and Inuit, the native language of the Northwest Territories. Reference books, tapes and other audiovisual equipment have also provided for educational programming. Items purchased by the Arrow in the Arctic funds are often circulated among branch and community libraries.

[Champions Are Readers (CAR)]

The CAR Literacy Program was adapted by the Literacy Committee in 2003 using the creative concept originated by the Houston, Texas  Alumnae Club. The program is designed to serve as a national/international literacy program that all Pi Beta Phi alumnae clubs and collegiate chapters can conduct easily. Targeting children in the 3rd grade who are at a critical juncture in developing both good reading skills and a life-long love of reading, CAR supplements reading activities already being provided in the schools and provides an easy-to-administer program for teachers.

The CAR Program enables alumnae clubs and collegiate chapters to offer a turnkey reading enrichment program to their own schools and communities during a designated month of the school year and to provide incentives, including a recognition ceremony at the completion of the program. The program options are numerous.

[How OH Iota Helps]

Our most notable fundraiser for Links to Literacy is Arrowspike, our annual volleyball tournament. For $5 a head, teams of men from UD fraternities are coached by Pi Phi sisters in our biggest event of the year. All profits go toward Links to Literacy and the Arrowmont School.

We also held our third annual Pi Day in September. Sisters baked and brought lots of sweet treats and sold them to the UD community. We also had a 50/50 raffle, with all profits going to Links to Literacy. We raised over $500 this year!

Ohio Iota also participates in many other activities to directly benefit the Dayton community. We believe that local philanthropy is just as important as national philanthropy, and are dedicated to improve the community around us. We collect books for local elementary schools, engage in tutoring programs, deliver handmade goody bags to local children, and many other events. Our philanthropy is always growing and changing!