Berenice Miller Denton and Barbara White Fridrich, co-chairs of the 1961 Christmas Village set the precedent for success. The one day event raised $1,020.
Christmas Village donated more than $427,000 in 2008 to various philanthropic projects. The event is currently recognized as a premier consumer show that attracts more than 25,000 shoppers.
Washington – Nov. 5, 2009
Pi Beta Phi and First Book® were honored for their philanthropic efforts to promote reading and eliminate the barrier of illiteracy at the PR News’ Nonprofit PR Awards luncheon on Tuesday, November 3, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Pi Beta Phi was selected as a finalist in early October for the Nonprofit Partner of the Year in the Social Responsibility Campaign category.
The Fraternity, in conjunction with Pi Beta Phi Foundation, was nominated along with six other nominees including: The Allstate Foundation, Bank of America, the U.S. Postal Service, Delta Dental of Missouri, CVS Caremark/Weber Shandwick, and Katz & Associates. The Allstate Foundation & Zeno Group won the Nonprofit PR Partner of the Year for its “Tell a Gal P.A.L.,” a 2008 domestic violence awareness campaign, and Pi Beta Phi and First Book earned honorable mention for their partnership and campaign to fight illiteracy.
“Pi Beta Phi was elated to be nominated alongside so many nonprofit organizations and their well-deserving awareness campaigns,” said Grand Vice President Programming Linda Noel Ibsen. “Our dedication to education and literacy began nearly 100 years ago, and over the last two years our partnership with First Book has put us closer to reaching our literacy vision, which is to eliminate the barrier of illiteracy.”
In the U.S., there are an estimated 200,000–300,000 community literacy programs serving children in need. Yet, 80 percent of these programs do not have a single book for the children they serve. Together, First Book and Pi Beta Phi’s extensive member network have helped connect programs serving children in need offering them permanent access to new books and resources, creating systemic change in the educational levels for children in need. This year alone, Pi Beta Phi has sponsored the distribution of more than 500,000 new books to children in need through the partnership, more than doubling their commitment to provide 250,000 books. Pi Beta Phi’s seamless integration of First Book in the culture of their organization has delivered more than 1.2 million books to children in need in the last two years.
“First Book is proud of our ongoing work with Pi Beta Phi and is thrilled with this honor,” said Kyle Zimmer, First Book co-founder and president. “Pi Beta Phi members have whole-heartedly embraced First Book’s mission and have worked tirelessly to raise funds and awareness to positively impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of children across North America. We are grateful for the Fraternity’s ongoing support and applaud their commitment to reading and literacy.”
About Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women: Founded at Monmouth College in Illinois in 1867, Pi Beta Phi has 133 active chapters and more than 330 alumnae groups in the United States and Canada. The Fraternity and Foundation’s partnership with First Book, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to giving children from low-income homes the opportunity to read and own books, solidifies Pi Beta Phi’s commitment to literacy. The Fraternity promotes friendship, develops women of intellect and integrity, cultivates leadership potential and enriches the lives of members and their communities.
About Pi Beta Phi Foundation: Pi Beta Phi Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. It acts as the fundraising arm for Pi Beta Phi Fraternity, providing grants and supporting programs to benefit the Fraternity, its members and its philanthropies, including First Book. For more information about Pi Beta Phi Foundation, please visit www.pibetaphifoundation.org.
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