Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation Announces Community Impact Fund

At Convention 2022, the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation announced the Community Impact Fund, providing Phi Sigma Sigma collegiate chapters the opportunity to support their partner school while also supporting the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation. The introduction of this fund coordinates efforts between the Foundation and collegiate chapters in support of Phi Sigma Sigma’s philanthropic cause of school and college readiness.

Collegiate chapters will identify a local Title I school as their official partner. When the chapter raises money through a fundraising event, the money will be deposited in the chapter’s Community Impact Fund through the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation. The chapter will be able to designate the proceeds to support their partner school by funding backpack builds, direct financial grants to support programs or projects, or purchasing other equipment/supplies for the school.

“The introduction of the Community Impact Fund will enable our chapters to streamline fundraising efforts and further the direct impact within their own communities,” said Foundation President Vanessa Freeman Zerhusen. “Through their partnership with a local school, our chapters have a deeper understanding of the needs of their community and can identify thoughtful ways to support and advance our cause of school and college readiness.”

To kickstart this initiative, the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation invited Convention attendees to participate in a raffle with the proceeds benefitting the winning chapter’s partner school. Convention attendees generously gave over $4,500 which will directly benefit the local partner school of the winning chapter, the Epsilon Alpha Chapter at Illinois State University.

“By leveraging the Phi Sigma Sigma’s Community Impact Fund, chapters who would not otherwise have the funds can make a direct and substantial impact in their local community,” said Michelle Ardern, Executive Director of Phi Sigma Sigma. “Previously, chapters would host separate fundraisers for the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation and local causes. This fund allows chapters to consolidate their fundraising efforts to benefit one central cause and give back to their local community. We anticipate that by leveraging the fund and the support of the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation, chapters will see an increase in funds raised, and in turn be able to escalate the ways in which they support their partner school.”

The Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation is proud to fund leadership programming, offer scholarships and educational grants and provide resources for philanthropic and service-oriented events directly benefitting our collegiate and alumnae sisters, as well as the world around us.

ABOUT THE PHI SIGMA SIGMA FOUNDATION

The Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation is proud to fund leadership programming, offer scholarships and educational grants, and provide resources for philanthropic and service-oriented events directly benefitting our collegiate and alumnae sisters, as well as the world around us. The Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation’s philanthropic cause is School and College Readiness. Our members support their local Title I school partners through a variety of initiatives designed to meet the specific needs of each community. From equipping students with the necessary tools to succeed through school supply drives and backpack and pencil builds, to supporting enriching extracurricular activities as volunteers and planning innovative leader programming, our members continue to foster the next generation of leaders. Learn more at onephisigmasigma.org/foundation.