Pi Beta Phi

Websites

UCB Chapter: www.pibetaphi.org/berkeley

Year Founded

UCB Chapter: 1900

Additional Information

Chapter Summary/Information: The mission of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for women is to promote friendship, develop women of intellect and integrity, cultivate leadership potential and enrich lives through community service. Cal Betas are a diverse and active group of 120 exceptional, energetic and well-rounded young women. Our members are participants in the Haas School of Business Undergraduate Program, the Order of Omega Greek Honor Society, Teach for America, the Engineering Society, the Food & Wine Project, The Cal Dance Team, Lacrosse Team, Crew Team and more. Cal Betas major in every field: humanities, foreign language, social and political science, technical and biological science, communications, economics, performing arts and more. Our members are highly involved in other campus wide activities including Invisible Children, we are active in our philanthropy, and engage in many sisterhood and Greek wide events. Our chapter of Pi Beta Phi is ranked in the top thirteen nationally, something we are all proud of. We actively support the diversity of our sisters' interests, all the while remaining united under the common goals and values of the fraternity.

Message from the President: When you join Pi Phi, you are a member for life. The irreplaceable friendships that you build during your experience at Cal Beta will continue long after you leave our house at 2325 Piedmont Avenue. As you navigate the excitement and challenges of university life, we provide a warm, familial and supportive atmosphere in which to grow and flourish. No matter what your personal or academic interests and goals, you will find yourself at home here. We also offer opportunities for leadership, the rewards of involvement in worthy causes and social experiences that are the basis for invaluable future networking opportunities. A Pi Phi graduates from Berkeley armed for the future with a degree from one of the nation's most highly ranked universities, a strong foundation for personal and professional success and the best friendships of her life.

Annual Events: Arrowbands- Our Annual Fundraiser which raises around $5000 dollars every year. CAR (Champions are Readers) – Members volunteer at a local elementary school weekly. Fraternity Day of Service.

Chapter Philanthropy: Pi Beta Phi participates in many philanthropy programs to support literacy and educations. We have partnerships with several organizations in order to support literacy, including First Book, a nonprofit that provides new books to underprivileged children in the U.S. Once a semester we have Speed Read competitions with alumni in order to raise money for First Book. Our chapter runs a weekly reading program called CAR (Champions are Readers) at Burkhalter Elementary School in Oakland in second and third grade classrooms to encourage children to read and reinforce programs already in place in the schools. We also hold an annual lip-synching competition, Arrowbands, for all fraternities and sororities on campus in order to raise money for our cause of literacy.

Chapter History: Pi Beta Phi Fraternity was founded at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois, on April 29, 1867, as "I. C. Sorosis" (later changed to Pi Beta Phi in 1888) and has the distinction of being the first national (multi-chapter) women's fraternity. It was also the first to organize a national philanthropic project and an alumnae advisory committee for each chapter. During a time when few women were admitted to colleges and universities, Pi Phi created a feeling of strength and unity among women. Today we have 132 chapters across the United States and Canada with over 236,280 current and alumni members. The California Beta Chapter of Pi Beta Phi was established on August 23, 1900. Our first chapter house was located at 2709 Channing Way. When that house sold in 1922, the members raised $11,000 to purchase our present home at 2325 Piedmont Avenue, a beautiful Tudor-style mansion and the private home of Mrs. Lafayette I. Fish, a member of the U.C. Berkeley Class of 1875. Located among other Greek houses in a five-block stretch of lively Piedmont Avenue, which was recently declared a state historical landmark, the house is within walking distance of the campus. We treasure our house for being a home, as opposed to feeling like dorms or apartments and we feel that it brings all of the members of the house closer together. It is this close-knit bond that allows for our house of 120 members to become lifelong friends and grow into well-balanced adults.

Contact Information: President: Holly Kate Heiserman hollykheiserman@berkeley.edu. VP Membership: Brie Votto brievotto@gmail.com. VP Membership Event Planner: Alex Thurmond alexthurmond@berkeley.edu

Address: 2325 Piedmont Ave, Berkeley CA 94704

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