Alpha Phi

Alpha Phi
ΑΦ
Founded October 10, 1872 (1872-10-10)
Syracuse University, (Syracuse, New York)
Type Social
Scope International
Mission statement Alpha Phi is a sisterhood of women supporting one another in lifelong achievement.
Motto Union hand in hand
Colors Bordeaux, silver
Symbol Ivy
Flower Lily of the Valley, Forget-me-not
Mascot Phi Bear
Publication Quarterly
Philanthropy Alpha Phi Foundation in support of Women's Heart Health
Chapters 170 [1]
Members 200,000+ lifetime
Values sisterhood, scholarship, service, character development, loyalty, leadership
Headquarters 1930 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, Illinois
USA
Homepage alphaphi.org

Alpha Phi International Women's Fraternity (ΑΦ) is a sorority with 170 active chapters and over 200,000 initiated members. Founded at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York on September 18, 1872,[2][3] It is the fourth Greek-letter organization founded for women, and the first "sorority" founded for women in the northeast.

History

At the time of the founding there were only twenty women attending Syracuse; ten of them eventually joined in the formation of Alpha Phi. The organization was founded on the principles of the promotion of growth in character; unity of feeling, sisterly affection, and social communion among the members. The actual founding date is September 18, 1872; however, Founder's Day is celebrated on October 10. This is because the first Founder's Day was celebrated on October 10, 1902, when the fraternity was 30 years old because many colleges and universities were not open for classes in mid-September at that time. Alpha Phi is considered a Women's Fraternity because it was founded in 1872 before the word sorority was coined.

Symbols

There are multiple types of symbols a member of Alpha Phi Fraternity represents and receives proudly:

Motto

Alpha Phi's public motto is "union hand in hand". According to Alexandra Robbins it also has a "secret" motto, "A.O.E""[5]

Founders

Alpha Phi's founding members were:[6][7]

Martha "Mattie" Foote Crow (1854 - January 1, 1924) was an educator and writer. Born in Sackets Harbor, New York,[8] she played an important role in the development of higher education for women in the United States.[9]
She served as a professor at several universities. She then served as Dean of Women's College, Northwestern University from 1886–1891.

Notable alumnae

Business

Entertainment

Literature

Medicine

News media and journalism

Politics and government

Sports

Religion

Chapters

Philanthropy

The Alpha Phi Foundation has a mission to empower women to be generous givers by raising and awarding funds for programs that advance leadership development, encourage academic excellence, improve women's heart health, support sisters in need, preserve heritage and educate about the value of philanthropy.[14]

Alpha Phi officially adopted Cardiac Care as a priority in 1946, which became Alpha Phi Foundation's[15] philanthropic priority upon its founding in 1956. The Foundation supports programs and research that study heart disease in women – specifically its symptoms, its treatment and its prevention.

Through its annual Heart to Heart Cardiac Care Grant, the Foundation helps fund research and educational programs that support the improvement of women's heart health. The $50,000 award enables the medical profession to better understand gender differences in heart health and help countless health care professionals increase their expertise in heart disease prevention and treatment in women. Through the support of these initiatives, Alpha Phi Foundation is helping millions of people live longer, richer lives.

The first Friday of February is Red Dress Pin Day and the month of February is February's Cardiac Care Month where individual Alpha Phi chapters are encouraged to develop a relationship with a local cardiac care project in their community, as well as to promote awareness of women's heart disease.

One of Alpha Phi's biggest philanthropy events, within all chapters is known as The Red Dress Gala. At Red Dress, there is a silent auction, guest speakers, and a full dinner for sisters, alumni, and family to come and have loads of fun for a great and very important cause. It is a tradition that every sister wears a red dress to represent our support for Women's Heart Health. Every dollar raised is donated to the Alpha Phi Foundation for women's cardiac awareness and research.

Collegiate chapters, alumnae chapters and individual members can nominate a local heart project for the Heart to Heart Cardiac Care Grant. Self-nominations are also accepted. The recipient is selected by a team of medical professionals and the Foundation board of directors.

Alpha Phi chapters all over will raise up to a million dollars annually.

Past recipients of the Heart to Heart Grant

The Red Dress Gala (also called "Red Dress Ball" or "Aphiasco" by some chapters) is one of the philanthropic events held by the women of the Alpha Phi International Fraternity to raise funds and awareness for Alpha Phi Foundation's vital programs, including the Heart to Heart Grant.

See also

References

  1. http://www.alphaphi.org/aboutus/whoweare
  2. Greek Info Pages: NPC Sororities
  3. Alpha Phi International Blog
  4. 1 2 3 AlphaPhi.org
  5. Robbins, Alexandra (2015). The Secret Life of Sororities. Hachette. p. 285. ISBN 978-0786888597. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  6. AlphaPhi.org, About us: Founders.
  7. [The Ivy Leaf, Introduction to Alpha Phi: An Official Publication of Alpha Phi Fraternity, Inc.]
  8. KM. "Martha Foote Crow Papers: an inventory of her papers at Syracuse University". Syracuse University, May 1990. http://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/print/crow_mf_prt.htm.
  9. Rossiter, Margaret W. "Doctorates for American Women, 1868-1907." History of Education Quarterly 22, no. 2 (Summer): 159-183.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 "Alpha Phi Fraternity – Famous Phis". Alpha Phi Fraternity. Archived from the original on March 18, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-25.
  11. 1 2 "Not Available" (PDF). Alphaphi.org. Retrieved 2014-08-19.
  12. "Alpha Phi Fraternity Quarterly" (PDF). Alpha Phi Fraternity. 2006. Retrieved 2007-03-25.
  13. Archived February 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  14. "Mission/ Vision". Alpha Phi Foundation. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
  15. Alpha Phi Foundation
  16. Eventsoftheheart.org
  17. Womenheart.org
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