10 Ways to Virtually Celebrate Read > Lead > Achieve Month
Every September, Pi Beta Phi celebrates Read > Lead > Achieve Month®. We charge every Pi Phi to participate, donate and advocate for literacy through our reading initiatives, both during Read > Lead > Achieve Month and all year long. Although this year looks different, we’re highlighting 10 ways you can virtually celebrate your love of literacy — and continue to make an impact for children in a time when it’s needed most.
1. Apply for an FDS500 grant
Each year, Pi Phi awards grants to 100 recipient groups nominated by chapters and clubs through our FDS500 program. The grants are used to purchase $1,000 worth of books from First Book®, which are then given to children in need. Applications are open from September 1, 2020 through September 15, 2020.
2. Make a gift to The Literacy Fund at Pi Beta Phi Foundation
Gifts to The Literacy Fund support all Read > Lead > Achieve reading initiatives, including Champions are Readers®, Fraternity Day of Service Signature Events, FDS500 grants and more. These gifts also prepare Pi Phi to act when major needs arise — such as our tripled financial commitment to First Book earlier this year, helping to distribute seven million books to children in need as schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Join the Pi Phi Pages virtual book club
Pi Phi Pages encourages participants to read a selected book each month, engage in discussion questions and “meet” other Pi Phis. Our September book is Educated by Tara Westover.
4. Host a virtual book drive
If you can’t gather with your sisters to host a traditional book drive, make an online wish list then send the books you receive to a local library, school or organization in your community.
5. Become a literacy advocate in your own community
Attend virtual school board and parent/teacher association meetings and use the time at home to research volunteer opportunities with local schools and libraries. Work in partnership with your community leaders to provide more support for libraries, schools and reading programs.
6. Make a gift to our Foundation in support of Arrow in the Arctic
Arrow in the Arctic is Pi Phi’s Canadian philanthropy, which helps to fund literacy programs and supplies books for Canada’s Northern library system.
7. Create bookmarks for your community
Create and design bookmarks with a special message that inspires a lifelong love of reading, then share your creations with your local library or school.
8. Apply for a Local Impact Grant
As chapters and clubs fundraise for The Literacy Fund, they're able to nominate 25% of their gifts to a local nonprofit organization with a mission or special program focused on literacy. Our Foundation then matches that 25%, dollar for dollar.
9. Inspire your friends to join you
Share literacy statistics, stories, photos and quotes with your family, coworkers and friends – we’ll be sharing this content on our social media channels throughout September. Invite them to join as we celebrate Read > Lead > Achieve month!
10. Share your experiences on social media using #ReadLeadAchieve
Every Pi Phi is one who can make a difference in someone else’s life. Use #ReadLeadAchieve to share your passion for literacy and the impact you’re making for children in your community.
To learn more about these opportunities and find other helpful literacy resources for members, chapters and clubs, visit pibetaphi.org/literacy.
Published September 1, 2020