Congratulations to the 2023 FDS500 Recipients
At Pi Beta Phi, we believe reading is a powerful step toward a life of enduring impact. Through our Read > Lead > Achieve® initiatives, Pi Phis are dedicating their time and resources to make a difference in communities across North America and establish a lifelong love of reading.
The FDS500 grant program is a way for chapters and clubs to nominate organizations within their communities and make an impact at the local level. Recipients are awarded $2,000 to purchase books and school supplies from First Book®, which are then distributed to children in need. In 2023, FDS500 grants were awarded to 50 recipient groups—for a total of $100,000.
Recipients use the grant in varying ways depending on the unique support their organization needs. Whether it be tailored resources, representation or better access to learning materials, FDS500 grants provide assistance where it’s needed most.
2023 FDS500 Grant Recipients
Arizona Helping Hands
Nominated by the Phoenix, Arizona, Alumnae Club
Book Drive for Kids Austin
Nominated by the Texas Alpha Chapter
Book'em
Nominated by the Nashville, Tennessee, Alumnae Club
Books for Keeps
Nominated by the Georgia Alpha Chapter
Books for STL Kids
Nominated by the Saint Louis, Missouri, Alumnae Club
Bret Harte Elementary School
Nominated by the Illinois Kappa Chapter
Brevard Schools Foundation Supply Zone
Nominated by the Brevard County, Florida, Alumnae Club
Carrillo Elementary School
Nominated by the California Omicron Chapter
Chapelwood Elementary
Nominated by the Indianapolis, Indiana, Alumnae Club
Chappell Elementary School
Nominated by the Wisconsin Epsilon Chapter
Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother Program (CCHCM)
Nominated by the Richmond, Virginia, Alumnae Club
Children's Guardian Fund
Nominated by the Sarasota-Manatee, Florida, Alumnae Club
Cleveland Kids' Book Bank
Nominated by the Cleveland East, Ohio, Alumnae Club
Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida
Nominated by the Fort Myers Area, Florida, Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi
Eiland Elementary School
Nominated by the Cypress Creek-Northwest Houston, Texas, Alumnae Club
Emerson Elementary School
Nominated by the Albuquerque, New Mexico, Alumnae Club
Everybody Wins DC
Nominated by the Nations Captial - District of Columbia Alumnae Club
Family Advocacy Services
Nominated by the Southern Illinois Alumnae Club
Forman Elementary School
Nominated by the Richardson-Plano, Texas, Alumnae Club
GRACE (Giving and Receiving our Community's Essential)
Nominated by the Northern New Jersey Alumnae Club
Hawaiian Avenue Elementary and Magnet School
Nominated by the South Bay, California, Alumnae Club
Head Start - Community Action Agency
Nominated by the Michigan Alpha Chapter
Hollis Academy
Nominated by the Greenville, South Carolina, Alumnae Club
Johnson Elementary School
Nominated by the Virginia Epsilon Chapter
Kids Need to Read
Nominated by the Arizona Beta Chapter
Literacy Council of Southwestern Pennsylvania
Nominated by the Pennsylvania Zeta Chapter
Look It's My Book
Nominated by the Peoria, Illinois Area Alumnae Club
Lucy S. Herring Elementary
Nominated by the Western North Carolina Alumnae Club
Manor Heights Elementary
Nominated by the Casper, Wyoming Alumnae Club
Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary School
Nominated by the South Orange County, California, Alumnae Club
Maxfield Elementary School, St. Paul, Minnesota
Nominated by the St.Paul, Minnesota, Alumnae Club
Mission Bell Elementary School
Nominated by the Inland Empire, California, Alumnae Club
Muwekma Ohlone Middle School
Nominated by the San Jose, California, Alumnae Club
New Heights Community Resource Center
Nominated by the Alabama Beta Chapter
North Elementary School
Nominated by the Michigan Gamma Chapter
Old Mill Center for Children and Families
Nominated by the Corvallis, Oregon, Alumnae Club
Sequoyah Elementary School
Nominated by the D.C. Alpha Chapter
Sherwood Forest Elementary School
Nominated by the Tidewater of Virginia Alumnae Club
Sipsey Valley Middle School ASPIRE Class
Nominated by the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Alumnae Club
Southside YMCA
Nominated by the Chicago Windy City, Illinois, Alumnae Club
Tates Creek Elementary School
Nominated by the Lexington, Kentucky, Alumnae Club
The Children's Book Bank at Smart Reading
Nominated by the Lake Oswego-Dunthorpe, Oregon, Alumnae Club
Tree House Books
Nominated by the Philadelphia-Main Line, Pennsylvania, Alumnae Club
Tulsa Public School - Whitman Elementary
Nominated by the Tulsa, Okalahoma, Alumnae Club
Vista Hill Foundation
Nominated by the North San Diego, California, Alumnae Club
Walnut Elementary School
Nominated by the Conejo Valley, California, Alumnae Club
West Park Place Elementary School
Nominated by the Delaware Alpha Chapter
Wilshire Park Elementary School
Nominated by the Minneapolis, Minnesota, Alumnae Club
Winbourne Elementary School
Nominated by the Louisiana Beta Chapter
Women's Storybook Project
Nominated by the Austin, Texas, Alumnae Club
Thank you to the Pi Beta Phi alumnae clubs and chapters that nominated organizations to receive FDS500 grants. All FDS500 grants are funded by Pi Beta Phi Foundation. Learn more about the ways our Foundation supports Pi Phi’s commitment to literacy here.
Published September 27, 2023