The Bow of Pi Beta Phi Foundation - Spring 2026

SPRING

Message from Leadership

Dear sisters and friends of Pi Phi,

Pi Phi taught me the power of saying "yes," and staying connected to our sisterhood has empowered me to grow in confidence as a leader. Through my volunteer roles, including my current role as the Fraternity Housing Corporation Board President, I’ve gained invaluable experience that both complements and extends beyond my professional career.

I've also had the opportunity to build meaningful friendships and connections with sisters across North America—both as a collegian and now an alumna. Through these relationships, I’ve strengthened my ability to listen and collaborate with a diverse group of women working toward a shared purpose. Our collective vision to create a lasting impact on the lives of our sisters is deeply fulfilling, and being a part of this work that is bigger than any one individual inspires me to give back as a sister, leader and Pi Beta Phi Foundation donor.

The tangible support the Foundation provides for our members inspires my involvement. Hearing the stories

of those directly impacted by Foundation giving—like the ones you’ll read in this issue—reminds me why I give. Together, we are changing lives in meaningful and lasting ways. Through scholarships, grants, literacy initiatives and more, Pi Phi helps women focus on academics, navigate unexpected financial challenges and invest in their own personal growth. For collegians specifically, I’m proud of the wide range of leadership opportunities Pi Phi offers that prepare them for

life after college, reinforcing the value and relevance of alumnae engagement.

Staying engaged after graduation, both through giving back financially and volunteering one’s time and wisdom, is critical to our sisterhood and the Foundation’s future success. The level of participation directly determines how much we can do for our members and the communities we serve. Though our individual passions and purpose may call us to different avenues of giving, financial support in any capacity empowers every sister to make a difference. When alumnae invite and encourage one another to join in giving back, the collective impact grows significantly, allowing us to invest more in our members, their futures and the communities they serve.

It’s this shared support that has shaped my own growth and will continue to shape the future of Pi Phi.

My volunteer journey has been deeply fulfilling, and I’m incredibly grateful for every opportunity I’ve had to learn and grow from the women alongside me. As we look forward to the year ahead, I encourage you to invest in the future of Pi Beta Phi in a way that feels meaningful to you. Whether that calls you to pay your alumnae dues or give back to the Foundation—and maybe deepen your impact through volunteer service—I hope you feel inspired by the connections you will build and the collective power you become a part of. When we say “yes,” to our sisterhood and to one another, we create exponential opportunities together.

In Pi Phi,

Together, we are changing lives in meaningful and lasting ways.

Alisa Brooks Rudlang, Minnesota Alpha Fraternity Housing Corporation Board President

Members from the Phoenix, Arizona, Alumnae Club attend the Convention 2025 kickoff event at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. From left: Ohio Zeta KIM OBRIEN , South Dakota Alpha RENEE RICHARDSON BENNETT , New Mexico Beta HEATHER WILSON MILLER , Kentucky Gamma MORGAN RILEY SEXTON , Martha, Georgia Alpha WENDY PUTMAN BROOKS and Nebraska Beta GINA GARRISON JONES

Investment Leads to Impact

For many Pi Phis, service and sisterhood go hand-in-hand and giving back to an organization that means so much to them comes as a natural choice. For Kansas Alpha

MARTHA WILLIAMS NIELSEN , Pi Beta Phi values were an inherent part of her upbringing. With three generations of Pi Phis in her family—and three generations of Alumnae Club Presidents to learn

from—Martha grew up seeing firsthand how involvement fuels impact. Now, as the president of the Phoenix, Arizona, Alumnae Club, Martha carries that legacy forward with a deeply committed group of women, whose passion for Pi Phi’s philanthropy is matched only by their enthusiasm for friendship and fun.

Martha’s first introduction to the Phoenix, Arizona, Alumnae Club was through its special interest group, Lunch Bunch, and the Birthday Books program— which provides two new books to each student at a local school during their birthday month. That experience ignited her involvement, leading her to be deeply engaged in the club’s Champions are Readers ® and Fraternity Day of Service programs. “The excitement around literacy—and the genuine commitment to helping children

succeed—was contagious,” Martha shares. “I was instantly hooked!”

That passion led Martha to leadership within the club, where she served as Vice President Philanthropy and now serves as president, gaining a deeper appreciation for how intentionally the club supports literacy; both through volunteer service and meaningful contributions to The Literacy Fund at Pi Beta Phi Foundation. “The club’s dedication to literacy is both heartfelt and hands-on and is strengthened

Four members received the Phoenix, Arizona, Alumnae Club’s monthly halo award for those who have gone above and beyond with a philanthropy initiative or event. From left: Iowa Zeta MARIANNE HAGAR MALLIA , New Mexico Alpha MURISA WESTGATE STENKE , Minnesota Alpha TRISH LARSON and Louisiana Beta DEBRA WARNER

by intentional financial giving,” she says. The Phoenix, Arizona, Alumnae Club’s largest fundraising initiative is 28 Days of Giving, where members work toward a goal of raising $10,000 each year for The Literacy Fund. “This annual campaign reflects our belief that while volunteer hours are critical, sustained financial support creates lasting change.”

That financial investment directly complements the time the club

spends in schools and with students. The club continuously partners with Kids Need to Read, a Phoenix-based literacy nonprofit, to supply books for their Birthday Books program and has nominated the organization for both a Pi Beta Phi Literacy Grant and a Local Impact Grant—ensuring children in the community have access to new, high-quality reading material. The club has also partnered with Arizona Beta collegians to volunteer

Members from the Phoenix, Arizona, Alumnae Club and Arizona Beta Chapter gather at Brunson Lee Elementary in preparation for their Champions are Readers® partnership.

at Brunson Lee Elementary, where they helped create a pen pal program to engage new readers, reorganized the media center to ensure students can check out books and hosted a Storybook Adventure read aloud event.

A testament to the club’s success is the unique way the women of all ages work together in service and support. Golden Arrows—members celebrating 50 years since their initiation—make up nearly 35% of the membership and play a vital role in leadership and participation. Many members have been involved since their collegiate years and continue to serve in leadership roles today.

The club’s support of Pi Beta Phi Foundation and literacy initiatives is more than checking a box—it's an example of how engagement leads to investment, and investment leads to impact. “Through campaigns, volunteer service in classrooms

and sustained partnerships in our community, we are investing in children, education and the future,” says Martha. “I feel incredibly blessed to serve as president of a club where generosity, friendship and purpose come together so beautifully. Being a Pi Phi isn’t something we were—it's something we live, every day, through service and sisterhood.”

No matter how you stay engaged with Pi Phi, getting involved creates opportunities to serve, give back to the community and make a lasting difference through Pi Beta Phi Foundation. When Pi Phis join together, their collective impact reaches farther than any one of us could alone. Consider joining or reconnecting with an alumnae club by visiting pibetaphi.org/club-locator and see how your engagement can make a difference for literacy, sisterhood and the future of Pi Beta Phi.

The Literacy Fund at Pi Beta Phi Foundation powers the Fraternity’s Read > Lead > Achieve ® initiatives, funding programs like Champions are Readers ® , Fraternity Day of Service Signature Events and Local Impact Grants. Your gift helps continue these efforts and strengthens our collective commitment to literacy. Scan the QR code to give now and visit pibetaphi.org/literacy to learn more.

Hope in the World

When Michigan Beta BETHANY

BEATTY opened an email from Pi Beta Phi Foundation during her senior year of college, the weight she’d been carrying for weeks finally lifted. “Learning I received an Emma Harper Turner (EHT) Fund grant bathed me in relief,” Bethany says.

That moment meant far more than financial assistance. It preserved Bethany’s place in a sisterhood that shaped her undergraduate years and ensured she could remain enrolled and graduate as a member of Pi Phi at a time when uncertainty touched nearly every part of her life.

Bethany grew up in the South Bay of Los Angeles, raised by parents who owned a small business in the restaurant industry. A love of learning led her to pursue bachelor’s degrees in biological sciences, healthcare sciences, and later, a master’s degree in integrative anatomical sciences. Today, she works as a senior project data manager for a clinical research organization.

Bethany was drawn to Pi Phi during recruitment at the University of Michigan by the warmth she felt the moment she stepped into the chapter facility. “The genuine friendships among the members were tangible from the first moment I walked in,” she says.

Bethany at her graduation from the University of Southern California.

The philanthropy round of recruitment further deepened that connection, as learning about the literacy crisis in North America challenged her perspective. “With my upbringing in a privileged community, I had no idea there was such a large percentage of people unable to read,” Bethany says. “Reading has always been a favorite past time of mine, but it is also such an important everyday skill.”

That awareness, paired with the ease she felt being herself among members, made joining Pi Phi feel like a natural next step. During

her final year of college, however, circumstances beyond her control would put her ability to remain an active member—and even to remain in school—at risk.

When the COVID-19 pandemic upended daily life, Bethany’s family experienced sudden financial hardship. Her parents’ business lost nearly all income, and the support they had been able to offer throughout her undergraduate education quickly became impossible. With tuition payments looming and limited personal resources, Bethany began

to question whether she’d be able to finish her degree. Facing mounting uncertainty, she also believed her time in Pi Phi was coming to an end. “I went to our chapter meeting for what I thought was the last time,” Bethany says.

Then she learned about the EHT Fund. EHT Fund grants support collegians by helping cover educational expenses billed by their host institution—providing critical relief during times of financial distress. Bethany applied, feeling hopeful for the first time in weeks.

When she learned she’d been awarded the grant, the relief was immediate. Because the grant helped cover tuition, it eased the most pressing financial burden threatening her enrollment. The support made it possible for her to remain enrolled and finish her final semester strong. By alleviating those educational expenses, the grant freed up her limited personal funds—allowing her to meet other financial responsibilities and remain active with Pi Phi during the last chapter of her collegiate experience. That continuity mattered more than she realized at the time.

“Being able to remain a collegiate member during that time was incredibly meaningful because Pi Phi had been a constant during my undergraduate career,” Bethany says. “I don’t think I’d be as involved as an alumna today without that final semester. It cemented my connection to the organization.”

From left: Pi Beta Phi Foundation Director of Development Amy Riesinger and Bethany at a South Bay, California, Alumnae Club Foundation engagement event.

That connection continues to shape her life. As an alumna, Bethany found her way to the South Bay, California, Alumnae Club, seeking community while working remotely and living far from college friends. By joining the club, she found camaraderie across generations. “I truly feel the meaning of Sincere Friendship when I’m at club meetings and spending time with sisters in between,” Bethany says.

In Fall 2025, Bethany attended her first Foundation engagement event and gained a deeper appreciation for the impact of generosity within our sisterhood. Hearing about grants awarded to sisters affected by the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires and the Foundation’s continued commitment to literacy resonated

deeply with her. “Learning about the work the Foundation has done to give back to members in need was very meaningful,” Bethany says. “This event inspired me to give back to Pi Phi.”

Looking back, Bethany sees the EHT Fund grant as a turning point with an impact that extended far beyond one semester. Knowing she had the financial support—made possible by Foundation donors—needed to finish her senior year strong, she applied to graduate school, which helped her secure the job she has today. “That generosity gave me hope in the world,” Bethany says. “Receiving this grant reminded me I belong to a community of amazing women, even when the world feels upside down.”

Bethany’s story shows what is possible when support is available at the right moment. For every sister whose path was changed by an EHT Fund grant or scholarship, there are others who may still be wondering how they will continue. Imagine the impact future gifts could have on members facing unexpected hardship, uncertainty or transition. By making a gift to our Foundation, you can help ensure more sisters experience the same life-changing support Bethany did.

When you give to Pi Beta Phi Foundation, you help turn moments of unease into moments of hope. Make your gift at giving.pibetaphi.org or scan the QR code.

Points of Interest

$270,018.67 RAISED ON PI PHI GIVING DAY!

On March 14, more than 1,200 Pi Phis and friends celebrated Pi Phi Giving Day by raising $270,018.67 for The Friendship Fund—our biggest giving day yet! These gifts help prepare members to lead, award scholarships, provide care for sisters in crisis and meet additional needs not covered by designated funds along.

Thank you to everyone whose gifts, encouragement and enthusiasm helped make Pi Phi Giving Day a success, and a special thank you to our milestone and challenge donors who helped us surpass our goal!

1,013 ALUMNAE DONORS

348 NEW DONORS

153 FRIENDS OF PI PHI

249 WITH A GIFT OF $186.70 OR MORE

THANK YOU, FOUNDATION DONORS!

Pi Beta Phi thanks our sisters and friends who have made gifts of $1,000 or more between July 1, 2025, and March 15, 2026. Donors who make annual gifts of $1,000 or more model the way through loyalty, leadership and Lifelong Commitment—and provide pivotal support to Pi Phi each year. View the list at pibetaphi.org/donors

If you're not on the list, consider making a gift before the fiscal year ends on June 30, 2026. Scan the QR code or visit pibetaphi.org/bowgiving .

THANK YOU, CHAPTERS AND ALUMNAE CLUBS

Each year, Pi Phi chapters and alumnae clubs demonstrate Philanthropic Service to Others by giving back to Pi Beta Phi Foundation and making a difference in their communities. Through their contributions, they invest in every sister and ensure Pi Phi remains a constant for future generations.

Chapters and clubs raised $1,098,282.97 for Pi Beta Phi Foundation between January 1 and December 31, 2025. We are immensely grateful for their continued support and proud to recognize the top 10 chapters and clubs for Foundation giving in alphabetical order below:

TOP 10 CHAPTERS

• Alabama Beta

• California Eta

• California Theta

• California Zeta

• Florida Beta

TOP 10 ALUMNAE CLUBS

• Boca Raton, Florida, Alumnae Club

• Fort Worth, Texas, Alumnae Club

• Greater Kansas City Alumnae Club

• Nashville, Tennessee, Alumnae Club

• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Alumnae Club

• Mississippi Beta

• Missouri Gamma

• Nevada Alpha

• Ontario Alpha

• Texas Eta

• Philadelphia-Main Line, Pennsylvania, Alumnae Club

• Phoenix, Arizona, Alumnae Club

• Richardson-Plano, Texas, Alumnae Club

• South Bay, California, Alumnae Club

• St. Louis, Missouri, Alumnae Club

EXCLUSIVE DONOR RESOURCE

Our investment partner, AMG National Trust, has created a collection of insightful reports tailored to various life stages. As an exclusive digital resource for our donors, these reports provide valuable guidance—whether you’re launching your career, getting married or planning for retirement.

“Leaving a Legacy” provides expert financial insights on legacy building across life phases and making a lasting difference with donor advised funds.

Make a gift that lasts with FreeWill

Pi Beta Phi Foundation has partnered with FreeWill to offer members a free, secure way to create or update a will or revocable trust—providing a meaningful and practical way for you to shape Pi Phi’s future for years to come by considering an estate gift to Pi Beta Phi Foundation. By removing common barriers to estate planning, FreeWill empowers individuals to take an important step in planning for their future. Through this partnership, our donors will have a simpler pathway for legacy giving.

Scan the QR code to learn more and create your free will today.

10,000 NEW BOOKS FOR PORTLAND DURING FRATERNITY DAY OF SERVICE

In early March, Pi Phis across North America celebrated Fraternity Day of Service (FDS) by engaging in literacy-related service events within their communities. As part of our commitment to inspire a lifelong love of reading, the Fraternity hosted a book distribution on March 14 in Portland, Oregon, for our FDS Signature Event. In partnership with First Book ®, Pi Phi volunteers distributed 10,000 new, culturally responsive books to Portland youth-serving organizations and schools.

Our Signature Events are a tangible demonstration of Pi Beta Phi’s ongoing support for children, teachers and communities—especially in places where budgets often cannot stretch to provide new, diverse books.

Gifts to The Literacy Fund at Pi Beta Phi Foundation are essential to the success of Pi Phi’s literacy initiatives—providing full financial support for all Read > Lead > Achieve ® programs, including FDS Signature Events. When you give to The Literacy Fund, you expand children’s access to diverse books and create opportunities for them to read, learn and reach their full potential. Scan the QR code to make a difference today.

Town & Country Commons Drive

1154

Town & Country, Missouri 63017

Board of Trustees

President Wendy Labreche Pratt, Massachusetts Beta

Vice President Finance

Donna Butterworth, Virginia Eta

Vice President Development

Kathleen Meriano, New York Eta

Secretary

Michael Bettin, Utah Alpha

Trustees

Connell Sullivan Branan, California Gamma

Kim Barger Durand, Oregon Alpha

Alison Veit Heafitz, Illinois Zeta

Kathy Pizzetta Springer, Mississippi Alpha

Ex-Officio

Beth Torres, Illinois Zeta

Alisa Brooks Rudlang, Minnesota Alpha

See Foundation staff at pibetaphi.org/staff

The Bow is available to download in a fully accessible digital format, compatible with screen readers, to ensure everyone can enjoy our content.

Download The Bow at pibetaphi.org/bow .

You can ensure an even brighter future for our sisterhood. Your gifts to the Friendship Fund help Pi Phi prepare members to lead, award scholarships, fund our literacy work, care for our sisters—and so much more. Make a gift today at pibetaphi.org/bowgiving or scan the QR code.