Ashley Perschall
Kentucky Beta
When Kentucky Beta Ashley Perschall decided to make her first P3 gift this year, she had a special motivation. Ashley, a third generation legacy, was a student at the University of Kentucky when Hurricane Katrina hit her hometown of New Orleans. “Our house flooded,” Ashley shared. “My parents lost so much.”
Ashley learned her home in Louisiana had taken in five feet of water, destroying much of the house and her family’s belongings. “When I heard about Katrina,” she recalled, “it was a surreal moment. I was one of five students at Kentucky from New Orleans. People didn’t know how to react to what we were going through.”
The costs to clean and up, repair and replace were high, leaving Ashley’s parents with little money left to keep their daughter in school. “I applied to the Emma Harper Turner Fund for help,” she explained. “The grant I received helped me stay in school and in Pi Phi.”
Ashley continued, “When I received that [EHT Fund] gift, I vowed to give back to the Foundation as soon as possible.” She made a generous P3 gift to the Friendship Fund so other Pi Phis receive help when they need it most. “I remember when I was in college learning about the Foundation and hearing a story about a family whose house burned down.” she said. “From my experience, I learned you don’t want to wait until it happens to you. I give because I want to make sure someone has that back-up, that support when you need it the most.”
For more information about the Emma Harper Turner Fund, click here.
To make your P3 gift to help your sisters, click here.
All EHT Fund applications remain confidential. Names are used only when the recipient identifies herself to the Foundation. If you are an EHT Fund recipient and would like to share your story, contact Stacy Conway , Foundation Marketing & Communications Manager.
Barrett Nixon
Virginia Theta
As Deputy Prosecutor in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Virginia Theta Barrett Nixon stays busy with a heavy workload that includes overseeing a group of attorneys in district court, managing 60 - 70 cases in felony court and handling all cases in juvenile court. Still, Barrett finds time to take a break from work and enjoy a little personal time. Outside the prosecutor’s office, Barrett might be reading, shopping or hiking and camping around Arkansas.
She also makes time to donate to the Foundation. As a Pi Phi Partner, Barrett knows how important her gift is to her Pi Phi sisters. “Pi Phi was a defining part of my college experience,” she said. “Being a member made such an impact on my life, and I want the same for other young women.”
Barrett knows what it is like to watch your sisters leave school because of financial troubles. “In-between my sophomore and junior years, my family went through financial problems when my dad changed jobs,” she explained. “For me, leaving Washington & Lee and Pi Phi was not an option. But I know some sisters that didn’t have that choice.”
One particular incident is still fresh in Barrett’s memory. “I had a close friend who had to leave school because of financial reasons. She gained alumna status, but it just wasn’t the same. She wasn’t there for chapter dinner, and she wasn’t there at our meetings. I really missed her.”
Motivated by her experiences as a collegian, Barrett donates to the Foundation’s Friendship Fund to help current and future Pi Phis in need. “I don’t want anyone to miss out on the Pi Phi experience because of financial troubles,” she said. “I give what I can because I know it helps.”
Thanks to Barrett’s generosity, more young women are benefitting from the Pi Phi sisterhood.
Julie Carney
Texas Beta
For Texas Beta Julie Carney, moving to a new city is an adventure. She’s lived in Tennessee, Texas and Washington, D.C., with many visits to other cities in between! And with each destination, Julie has gained new experiences from Fraternity programs supported by the Foundation.
Julie’s first adventure began when she searched for a college. “My mom said I put the compass on the map with my hometown of Clarksville, Tennessee, in the middle and drew a big arc around all the possibilities,” she said.
After a long road trip visiting schools, Julie settled on Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where she began her adventure as a Pi Phi. Julie held leadership roles within her chapter, including Panhellenic Delegate and Vice President Moral Advancement (today's VP of Member Development), and she even traveled to Denver for convention as a collegiate representative for the Nominating Committee. While in Denver, Julie learned about the Leadership Development Consultant (LDC) program and applied.
As an LDC during the 2002-03 academic year, Julie traveled across the country visiting chapters and
introducing a brand new leadership program called Leading with Values®. “The chapters had been hungering for something like this for a long time," she said. "Traveling gave me an in-depth look at the chapters and what the type of support they needed.”
Both the LDC program and Leading with Values are made possible through grants from the Foundation. Knowing first-hand the benefit of these leadership programs and so many others made possible through the Foundation’s support, Julie became a P3 and continues to donate to the Foundation. She said, “I know so many young alumnae who were helped by the Foundation or know someone who was and think they have nothing to give back. Right now I’m not in a position to give a big gift, but I give what I can. What’s $25? A few less lattes? I know my gift, no matter the size, is making a difference.”
Now living in Washington, D.C., Julie is helping her collegiate sisters discover their own adventures as Collegiate Regional Director for Region Four. She’s also on the committee to update Leading with Values, and she continues to support the Foundation. She said, “Especially in this economy, my gift really matters. So much is possible when we all give what we can.”
Michelle Drouse
California Eta
Developing Tomorrow's Leaders
Many words describe California Eta Michelle Drouse – successful, intelligent, creative – but the one word that fits best stems from her collegiate days in Pi Phi: leader.
“Joining Pi Phi was the best decision I’ve ever made – hands down,” Michelle said. “My current leadership style is based on Pi Phi’s servant leadership principles to support, volunteer, listen, guide and mentor in a team environment.” (to read more, click here)
Thanks to the Foundation’s funding of leadership development programs for collegians, Michelle learned important skills that attributed to her successful post-college career. Formerly, she was Executive Assistant to the City of Irvine Mayor Pro Tempore and an award-winning city planner for Irvine, California. Michelle now resides in London, where she is developing her own consulting company, SKA Consulting.
Whether she was working on a redevelopment project for the city of Irvine or is revitalizing the London Pocket of Pi Beta Phi, Michelle remains grateful for the leadership training she received. “People don’t often realize joining a fraternity or sorority presents an opportunity to learn how to manage and operate a non-profit in extremely unique context. Not only did I learn how to manage elements such as operations, membership recruitment and development, administration, finance and event planning, I was challenged to do it in a family context living under the same roof.”
Michelle is a P3 because she knows her gifts to the Foundation are helping future Pi Phis find success. She said, “I’m passionate about developing the next generation of women leaders, and I recognize the Foundation can facilitate empowering Pi Phi collegians and alumnae through monetary support of programs.”
Through her support of the Foundation, Michelle is empowering her sisters to become leaders, both in college and after.
Tina Rivard
Pennsylvania Theta
An Unexpected Journey to Life-long Leadership
Becoming a member of Pi Beta Phi was not something Pennsylvania Theta Tina Rivard had planned. “During recruitment at Villanova I was positive about one thing,” she recalled. “I did not see myself in Pi Phi!”
Within a few months, Tina would completely change her way of thinking, thanks to an important Fraternity leadership program funded by Pi Beta Phi Foundation. Through the Foundation’s support of the Fraternity and its members, Tina began her journey to life-long leadership.
It started with a visit to Villanova University’s Greek Life Advisor, who told Tina Pi Beta Phi was looking for future leaders who could help strengthen the current sisterhood. Two resident graduate consultants (now called leadership development consultants or LDCs) were going to help revitalize membership.
The advisor encouraged Tina to attend an informational meeting about the chapter’s development. During the meeting, Tina became excited and hopeful for the future. “I could see myself in a leadership role there,” she said. That spring, Tina became a member of Pi Beta Phi.
With guidance from the consultants, Tina became a leader within her chapter, including chapter president. Now, as alumna, Tina will continue to act as a leader as director membership.
Tina credits Pi Beta Phi Foundation for helping her grow and achieve. “I look back and see how much my success comes from the leadership programs the Foundation supports.”
Tina is a Pi Phi Partner (P3). Designed exclusively for young Foundation donors, P3s receive quarterly e-newsletters filled with fun and informational articles for twenty- and thirty-somethings. “I look forward to the P3 e-newsletters every quarter. I am energized by the number of young alumnae who see the value of the Foundation and support them financially. Giving back annually is the least we can do!” Tina said.
Tina’s story demonstrates the opportunities for personal growth made possible through the Foundation’s support of Fraternity leadership programs. In gratitude for what she’s gained, Tina donates to the Foundation so other Pi Phis may benefit, too.