Pie a Phi

Pie a Phi is our local philanthropy here at the University of Idaho that benefits the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Events include a Pie Eating Contest, Pie Toss, Pie Twister, and all culminated into a 50 foot Pie Slide covered with whipped cream, pudding, Jell-O, and pie filling. This event is always a messy, fun filled time.

Links to Literacy

Links to Literacy is Pi Beta Phi’s national service project in which all Pi Phi chapters and alumnae clubs can participate. Chapters can assist local agencies or schools with book distribution or one-on-one interaction with pupils who need extra attention as they learn to read. Links to Literacy Week is scheduled annually.

Keeping with the Pi Beta Phi’s original educational mission at Settlement School, each college chapter is helping to identify and fill the literacy needs within their local communities. In 1990, Links to Literacy was established to provide a service opportunity to the Fraternity’s philanthropy emphasis.

Links to Literacy is the locally run philanthropy for Pi Beta Phi. Chapter members and local alumni work together collect books of all sorts as well as donations to contribute to various literacy programs. Chapter members, also, work one on one with children who need extra attention in improving their reading skills.

Arrowmont National Philanthropy

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 Phi’s 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.

Programs
Courses offered at Arrowmont include beginning, intermediate and advanced ceramics, fiber, fabric, metal, enamel, wood, polymer clay, stone sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, paper and book arts. One-week adult classes in March and one- to two-week summer classes are available.

Elderhostel Workshops, national and regional conferences and night classes for community residents enrich the lives of many adults in addition to regular classes. Children benefit from special workshops to augment public school art programs.

Special assistantships and Artists-In-Residence opportunities are offered for talented artists wanting to enrich their skills under world renowned professionals.

Pi Beta Phi officers use the facilities for meetings and workshops, and many alumnae take advantage of Pi Phi Arts Weekend in the spring.

The Pi Beta Phi Foundation offers scholarships to attend Arrowmont spring and summer courses to both members and non-members.

Arrow in the Arctic National Philanthropy

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.

Holt House

Holt House is where I.C. Sorosis and Pi Beta Phi came into being. The Holt House is used today by surrounding collegiate chapters for pledging and initiation. Local alumnae clubs and community organizations also use the Holt House for meetings. A full-time hostess greets daily visitors, including Pi Phis who visit to see the Fraternity’s place of founding.