Chapters Building Excellence

Gamma Phi Beta sisters in Chicago gathered to celebrate the Kentucky Derby and were inspired to support a worthy cause when learning about the Gamma Phi Beta Foundation. Challenged by Development Trustee Paula Dean (Memphis), sisters combined their resources to fund a $1,000 leadership award for a Gamma Phi Beta student to attend The LeaderShape® Institute this summer. Jennifer Moeller (Missouri-Columbia), Public Relations Sub-Committee Chair, Sally Lewis (Bradley), and Tish Sheats (Lake Forest) were winners in the Derby Pool, donating their winnings to the Foundation. Jen and Magnes Welsh (Memphis), Public Relations & Marketing Trustee, hosted the gathering and Bonnie Payne, Executive Director, was the guest speaker. Corinne Martinez,

Young alumnae, Alisa Wisor and Meghan Riley enjoy the gift of sisterhood in Chicago

Marketing Sub-Committee Chair, came in from California to support the event.

Congratulations to Delta Mu Chapter (Rutgers) who raised $2,700 to begin funding a leadership endowment that will provide training opportunities for their members including The LeaderShape® Institute. Participants in Sigma Chi Derby Days on their campus, these collegians received acclaim from the university for their fundraising success.

Delta Psi Chapter (California-Santa Barbara) became a 'Gold Leader' in the Gamma Phi Beta Foundation by making a $1,000 chapter gift. Fundraising Chair, Valerie Zekas, wrote, "We have been aware of the benefits of your program throughout the years, and it is a program that our chapter takes great pride in supporting." The collegians augmented their support for leadership with a $200 gift to the Laurel Clark endowment and will be recognized in the Galaxy of Stars display at Convention 2006. Gamma Gamma Chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is busy collecting recipes for its cookbook to raise funds for the Laurel Clark Endowment. Cookbooks will be for sale at Convention or by contacting the chapter directly at allisonsavannah@gmail.com. "We are so excited to see just how successful this cookbook will be!" said Allison S. Weiss, Chapter President. The estimated cost will be between $7-10 and is a perfect gift for any Gamma Phi Beta or housemother.

In addition to building excellence for leadership, all of these chapters also raised monies to support Camp Fire USA. We applaud them for their efforts and extend a grateful thank-you for making dreams come true for others.

Thanks to every chapter and sister who supported a leadership grant, the Foundation is able to support 22 applicants this summer! That means more lives will be positively influenced by premiere leadership education and more chapters strengthened!