Literacy Events

Below is a listing of great literacy events in 2008 developed by our Pi Phi clubs, chapters and members! Use these ideas to inspire you to create your own literacy events. Feel free to contact the individual clubs and chapters for additional information.

If you would like to have your literacy event listed, please follow the instructions listed at the bottom of this page.

The Seattle Alumnae Club organized the third annual Literacy Walk on April 5. Clifford the Big Red Dog^TM joined the participants who included Washington Alphas, Washington Gammas, friends and families. Every walker brought a donation of one new children's book for Page Ahead, a statewide literacy program that gives new books to Washington's most needy children.

Arizona Alphas completed their CAR project on March 11. The chapter partnered with Richey Elementary School in Tucson, where they held a doughnut party for the third-graders as the final event for their CAR month. The Tucson Alumnae Club also helped by reading to the classes and decorating bookplates.

The Broward County, Florida Alumnae Club celebrated literacy on March 10 with a Read Across America event and a First Book Speed Read. They worked with Hope Outreach Center, Inc., an after-school program for underprivileged children.

The Hill Country, Texas Alumnae Club had their 2008 Make Your Mark for Literacy event hosted and sponsored by Hastings Entertainment in Kerrville, Texas, on March 7. A local hospital supported Pi Beta Phi’s local work by hosting the Pi Beta Phi Bookshelf in the hospital waiting room.

The Naperville Area, Illinois Alumnae Club celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday with a cake and stories at an in-home daycare center on March 4. Members also colored and decorated bookplates.

The South Bay Alumnae Club decorated bookplates at the home of their incoming president on March 4. Women sat at tables of two and decorated bookplates with crayons and markers.

The Honolulu Alumnae Club held a bookplate signing at Hale Kula Elementary School in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, on March 3. The bookplate signing was held after school in conjunction with the visit of award-winning illustrator Kathleen Wong Bishop, who illustrates books with paintings of Hawaii’s scenery. The children decorated 82 bookplates and were thrilled to meet Wong Bishop.

The Columbia, South Carolina Alumnae Club sponsored a Dr. Seuss birthday party at Logan Elementary School. Incoming president Ellen Cooper wore the Cat in the Hat suit and read three books to three different grade levels of children. A total of 200 students attended, and they are given juice and cookies by other alumnae volunteers. The club gave the school’s principal a check form the group to sponsor T-shirts for the school’s “I Read 100 Books” program.

Illinois Zeta and the Champaign-Urbana Alumnae Club spent their literacy event at the University's student union, asking faculty and students to decorate bookplates on March 3. On March 7, Pi Phis and students of local elementary schools decorated bookplates together during their Champions Are Readers^® program. In total, 500 bookplates were decorated!

Alberta Alpha celebrated literacy on March 3 with a Pi Phi Battle of the Imitation Air Bands. Seven teams from other fraternities and sororities competed. The chapter collected 450 children’s books to donate to a local school’s library that recently burned down.

The Louisiana Northshore Alumnae Club celebrated Fraternity Day of Service at Barnes & Noble on March 2. Members set up a bookplate decorating table in the children’s book section, and adorned the table with Pi Phi balloons and signs. The Club also held a Speed read event on February 22. A "Beaux and Arrows" cooking event was held in conjunction with the Speed Read, collecting $431 for First Book. Husbands of Club memebers joined their wives in cooking class.

Pennsylvania Gamma held a book drive and read Dr. Seuss books to children at the local library on March 2. The books will be donated to a local women’s shelter.

The Ohio Beta Chapter and the Columbus, Ohio Alumnae Club set up bookplate-decorating stations at three locations on Ohio State’s campus. Out of 600 bookplates, 450 were decorated by Ohio State students and the remaining 150 were decorated by children and patients at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

The Kansas City, MO-Shawnee Mission, KS Alumnae Club held a two-part Make Your Mark for Literacy event, one on February 28, and one on March 2. The Club made the events open houses to encourage more participation. Fifth-graders at Pembroke Hill School decorate bookplates while learning about the lack of books for beginning readers in some families across America.

The Casper Alumnae Club finished their CAR program with Paradise Valley Elementary School at the end of February. After the third-graders received their awards, they shared their success with their first-grade buddies.

The Katy-West Houston, Texas Alumnae Club helped the kindergartners at William Elementary with their Dr. Seuss celebration on February 28. Members wore the famous red and white striped pipe hats as they read Dr. Seuss books. The children made Dr. Seuss hats of their own!

The Dallas Alumnae Club held their Make Your Mark for Literacy event in conjunction with their annual Pi Phi Tasting Party on February 28. The event, which featured dishes of the southern flavors of Louisiana, raised money for the Children's Hospital of New Orleans and The West Dallas Community School. Alumnae members from all age groups participated in the group's favorite event!

The California Epsilon Chapter raised $260 dollars with a Speed Read on their February 25, 2008, Parents Night. On March 3, 25 of their chapter members volunteered in all five of the third grade classrooms to kick-off their CAR program.

The Valley of the Moon, California Alumnae Club asked students at Steele Lane School in Santa Rosa, California, to decorate bookplates as a part of their CAR program on February 22. The students completed the bookplates as a rainy day project, and were happy to hear their bookplates would be place in books for other children.

The McKinney Area Texas Alumnae Club spent February celebrating literacy with Caldwell Elementary School. They kicked off the month by distributing CAR folders and a free book to all 71 third-graders. On February 21 the club held its first annual Speed Read. They ended their month on February 29 with a popcorn party where students received their CAR medals and certificates. Dr. Seuss even made an appearance! The winning class and teacher received gift baskets.

The Northern Virginia Alumnae Club completed their bookplates, and on February 20, held a speed read. Kyle Zimmer, president of First Book, spoke at the event. 

The Columbia, Missouri Alumnae Club brought their bookplates to a French immersion preschool where older students spent time decorating the bookplates.

Jacksonville Alumnae Club member Alicia Dayhuff Dorsie-Frank has spent two hours each Thursday for the last 12 years at Justina Elementary School. She reads, tutors and mentors inner city students. She has spent four years with fourth-graders, four years with fifth-graders, one year with emotionally handicapped children, two years with third-graders and one year with second-graders.

List Your Event

Please send an e-mail to Juliette Losapio (juliette@pibetaphi.org) if you would like your event listed. Please include the following information - the more, the better! We'd also love to see your photos!

• Chapter/Club/Member
• City/State
• Date of your event
• Event Description