By Elsa Harvey
The contributions made by sororities are recognized for their impact. Many have philanthropies or a mission to help the surrounding community. At UWBG, there are four sororities and two fraternities. Greek Life at UWGB looks a lot different than it does at other campuses. At UWGB, many Greek Life members focus more on community service and how they can help the community.
UWGB’s chapter of Pi Beta Phi focuses on kids’ literacy. Founded in 2021, the sorority has done significant work to give back to its community. They organize fundraisers to support the community and help children access proper reading resources and material.
This year, UWGB’s chapter submitted a nomination to their headquarters for Howe Elementary to receive a $2,000 check to go toward their school’s reading fund. The money will be used to buy new books and help get proper reading resources. Many Pi Beta Phi chapters from across the country submitted nominations to receive different grants.
Many Pi Beta Phi chapters from across the country submitted nominations to receive different grants. Headquarters ultimately decided that Pi Beta Phi was a good fit for the scholarship and awarded UWGB their grant. Sororities often receive negative publicity from peers on campus. Many people assume they are just merely a social environment. Sororities, including Pi Beta Phi, contribute significantly to their community while helping others.
The grant program is part of the organization’s national philanthropic effort, Read > Lead > Achieve, which empowers members to establish a lifelong love of reading among children in their communities. Through Read > Lead > Achieve, Pi Beta Phi has donated more than $4.5 million to literacy causes and given more than 1 million books to children in need since the program’s launch in 2011
Maddy Hartmann, UWGB Pi Beta Phi’s Chapter president, stated in a press release that members of Pi Beta Phi have been working closely with the Green Bay Area School District since the chapter’s establishment in 2021, providing reading enrichment for district students and volunteering for literacy-related activities in the community.
Hartmann continued, ““ur chapter was very excited that a school in the Green Bay area was selected for this grant, especially since we were also able to receive another grant in 2023 for Chappell Elementary School. It feels so rewarding to be able to make an impact on our community.”
Howe Elementary School is to receive the grant this year. Howe Elementary is one of 75 schools and literacy-focused organizations across North America selected to receive a Literacy grant from Pi Beta Phi this year.
Kristin Zemke, community relations specialist for Pi Beta Phi, said, ““i Beta Phi believes in the power of reading. WWe’reproud to provide books to Howe Elementary as part of our commitment to ensuring children have the opportunity to read, learn, and reach their full potential.”
Sororities do so much more than just socialize and throw fun events. They are all actively giving back to their community to make an impact on those around them. Pi Beta Phi focuses on children’s literacy, while other sororities on campus focus on different issues.
The sororities on campus will have a designated rush week during the first couple of weeks of the spring semester. More information is available on Phoenix Connect.
