Alpha Phi

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Alpha Phi
ΑΦ
Founded	October 10, 1872; 144 years ago (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
Publication	Quarterly
Philanthropy	Alpha Phi Foundation in support of Women's Heart Health
Chapters	164 active
Members	200,000+ lifetime
Mascot	Phi Bear
Headquarters	1930 Sherman Avenue Evanston, Illinois, USA
Homepage	alphaphi.org

Alpha Phi International Women's Fraternity (ΑΦ) is a sorority with over 164 active chapters and over 200,000 initiated members. Founded at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York on September 18, 1872,^[1][2] It is the fourth Greek-letter organization founded for women, and the first "sorority" founded for women in the northeast.

History[edit]

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.

Symbols[edit]

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

• The Ivy Leaf is the primary symbol of Alpha Phi.
• Bordeaux and silver are the colors of Alpha Phi. The colors were originally blue and gold; however, these colors were similar to those of a fraternity so they were changed.
• The Lily of the Valley and the Forget-me-not are the flowers of Alpha Phi.
• Alpha Phi Badge – Each organization has their own individual emblem that sets them apart from each other. Every organization created a symbol that they felt was meaningful to the organization, however "Alpha Phi was the first women's organization to use Greek letters as an emblem. Originally there was no standard badge. Until 1906 when the current badge was adopted, each member went to the jeweler of her choice to have her pin designed.".^[3] Today each and every member receives an emblem when they are initiated.
• Honor Badge – These pins are worn by international officers, and presidents of college chapters while they are serving their reign as president.
• New member Badge – "In 1898 the Fraternity adopted a special badge to honor her newest members. The badge they selected is in the shape of an ivy leaf, set in silver pewter. An ever-growing vine, the ivy symbolizes the growth of the Alpha Phi sisterhood."^[3]
• Fifty-Year Pin – "The first fifty-year pins, silver circles with red stones, were presented at the 42nd Convention in 1958 to several alumnae who had given significant service to the fraternity for 50 years or more. These pins are replicas of the pins presented to the six living founders at the Fraternity's Fiftieth Anniversary Convention in 1922."^[3]
• Values - Sisterhood, Scholarship, Service, Leadership, Loyalty, Character Development

Motto[edit]

Alpha Phi's public motto is "union hand in hand". According to Alexandra Robbins it also has a "secret" motto, "A.O.E""^[4]

Founders[edit]

Alpha Phi's founding members were:^[5][6]

• Martha Emily Foote Crow

Martha "Mattie" Foote Crow (1854 - January 1, 1924) was an educator and writer. Born in Sackets Harbor, New York,^[7] she played an important role in the development of higher education for women in the United States.^[8]

• Rena A. Michaels Atchison

She served as a professor at several universities. She then served as Dean of Women's College, Northwestern University from 1886–1891.

• Clara Bradley Baker Wheeler Burdette
• Jane Sara Higham
• Florence Chidester Lukens
• Ida Arabella Gilbert DeLamanter Houghton
• Kate Elizabeth Hogoboom Gilbert
• Louise Viola Shepard Hancock
• Elizabeth Grace Hubbell Shults

Notable alumnae[edit]

Business[edit]

• Nancy Austin (Beta Delta – UCLA) – Management consultant and author of The Assertive Woman^[9]
• Susan Bayh (Lambda – UC Berkeley) – attorney and professional director^[10]
• Deborah Lippmann (Gamma Pi – Arizona State) – singer and celebrity manicurist with her own line, the Lippmann Collection^[9]
• Janet Murguía (Gamma Delta – Kansas) – First female president/CEO of National Council of La Raza^[9]
• Julee Rosso (Beta Beta – Michigan State) – Founder of The Silver Palate gourmet food shop and Co-author of Silver Palate Cookbook^[9]
• Alice Waters (Gamma Beta – UC Santa Barbara) – author, chef, founder of Chez Panisse, the original "California Cuisine" restaurant^[9]
• Beverly Willis (Beta Upsilon – Oregon State) – Architect, artist, author, and activist^[9]
• Andrea Wong (Zeta Phi – MIT) – American television executive, former President and chief executive officer of Lifetime Television^[9]

Entertainment[edit]

• Olivia Jordan (Eta – Boston) – Miss USA 2015, 2nd runner up in Miss Universe 2015
• Katelynne Cox (Omicron - Missouri) - Musician, model, congressional aide, news anchor
• Rosemarie DeWitt (Theta Mu – Hofstra) – Actress, (Standoff, Mad Men, Rachel Getting Married, United States of Tara)^[11]
• Mildred Dunnock (Zeta – Goucher) – Academy Award nominated film and stage actress^[9]
• Jeannette Paulson Hereniko (Tau – Oregon) – American film producer, television writer, film festival director and founder^[9]
• Regina Lasko (Beta – Northwestern) – writer and wife of David Letterman (Late Show with David Letterman)
• Maile Misajon (Beta Delta – UCLA) – Winner of the U.S. reality television series Popstars^[9]
• Eliza Orlins (Alpha – Syracuse) – Participant on Survivor: Vanuatu and Survivor: Micronesia^[9]
• Jeri Ryan (Beta – Northwestern) – Actress, (Boston Public, Star Trek: Voyager, Dark Skies, Shark, Leverage, Body of Proof)^[9]
• Inga Swenson (Beta – Northwestern) – Tony Award nominated actress (The Miracle Worker, Benson)^[9]
• Randi Mayem Singer (Lambda – UC Berkeley) – Writer and producer^[9]
• Jennifer Tisdale (Epsilon Upsilon – CSU/Northridge) – Actress, (The Hillside Strangler, Dark Ride, Undressed)^[9]
• Hannah Wagner (Gamma Xi – Wichita State) – Miss Kansas 2015
• Kimberly Williams-Paisley (Beta – Northwestern) – Actress, (Father of the Bride, According to Jim, We Are Marshall)^[9]
• Katie Chang (Beta – Northwestern) – Actress, ("The Bling Ring")

Literature[edit]

• Barbara Brooks Wallace (Beta Delta – UCLA) – Award-winning children's author^[9]
• Janice Woods Windle (Omega – Texas) – Author of True Women^[9]

Medicine[edit]

• Edris Rice-Wray Carson (Delta – Cornell) – Public health doctor^[9]

News media and journalism[edit]

• Lisa Colagrossi (Beta Iota – West Virginia) – Emmy winning television anchor with WABC-TV in New York^[9]
• Jennifer Gilbert (Beta – Northwestern) – Emmy winning television anchor with FOX45 in Baltimore^[9]
• Ann Martin (Sigma – Washington) – Primetime news anchor and co-host of Woman 2 Woman, KCBS-TV, Los Angeles^[9]
• Nan C. Robertson (Beta – Northwestern) – Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and feature writer for the New York Times^[9]

Politics and government[edit]

• Elaine Baxter (Beta Alpha – Illinois) – Former Iowa secretary of state and former member of the Iowa House of Representatives^[9]
• Becky Cain (Beta Iota – West Virginia) – Past president of the League of Women Voters^[9]
• Liz Carpenter (Omega – Texas) – Author, political humorist, former press secretary for Lady Bird Johnson^[9]
• Georgia Neese Clark Gray (Upsilon – Washburn) – First woman Treasurer of the United States^[9]
• Joy Flowers Conti (Epsilon Iota – Duquesne) – district judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania^[10]
• Margaret McNamara (Lambda – UC Berkeley) – Founder of Reading is Fundamental^[9]
• Mary H. Murguia (Gamma Delta – Kansas) – United States federal judge^[9]
• Dorothy Wright Nelson (Beta Delta – UCLA) – United States federal judge^[9]
• Polly Rosenbaum (Beta Gamma – Colorado) – Arizona's longest-serving state legislator^[9]
• Frances Willard (Alpha Lambda – Alumna Initiate) – American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist^[9]
• Lynn Woolsey (Sigma – Washington) – Member of the United States House of Representatives^[9]

Sports[edit]

• Susie Berning (Delta Delta – Oklahoma City) – American professional golfer^[9]
• Julie Clark (Gamma Beta – UC Santa Barbara) – American airline pilot and aerobatic performer^[9]
• Claire Waters Ferguson (Beta Beta – Michigan State) – First woman president of the United States Figure Skating Association^[9]
• Jennifer Joines (Iota Gamma – University of the Pacific) – Silver medal winning American indoor volleyball player in the 2008 Beijing Olympics^[9]
• Janis Klecker (Epsilon – Minnesota) – American long-distance runner, two-time United States national champion in the marathon^[12]
• Marion Roper (Beta Delta – UCLA) – Bronze medal winning American diver in the 1932 Summer Olympics^[9]

Religion[edit]

• Ruth Stafford Peale (Alpha – Syracuse) – Religious leader, public speaker and author^[9]
• Catherine Maples Waynick (Epsilon Zeta – Central Michigan) – One of only eight women to be bishops in the U.S. Episcopal Church^[9]

Chapters[edit]

Philanthropy[edit]

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.^[13]

Alpha Phi officially adopted Cardiac Care as a priority in 1946, which became Alpha Phi Foundation's^[14] 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

• 1993 – Program in Women's Cardiovascular Health – University Hospitals of Cleveland – sponsored by the Cleveland East Alumnae chapter
• 1994 – Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cardiovascular Division – sponsored by the Zeta Phi Chapter, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• 1995 – Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, formerly the Deaconess Hospital, Institute for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease – sponsored by the Zeta Phi Chapter, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• 1997 – Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation's "Women's Heart Night Out" – sponsored by the Albuquerque Alumnae Chapter
• 1998 – Egleston Children's Hospital's Sibley Heart Center – sponsored by the Atlanta Alumnae Chapter and Theta Pi Chapter, Emory University
• 1999 – California Pacific Medical Center/Transitional Cardiac Care Unit – sponsored by the San Francisco Alumnae Chapter
• 2000 – University of Cincinnati Women's Health Program – sponsored by the Cincinnati Alumnae Chapter
• 2001 – Allen Memorial Hospital – sponsored by the Epsilon Theta Chapter, University of Northern Iowa
• 2002 and 2003 – Mercy Medical Center of Northern Iowa – sponsored by Kaitlin Maguire (Gamma Omicron, Drake University)
• 2004 – Mainline Health Heart Center
• 2005 – Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• 2006 – American Heart Association of La Jolla, CA
• 2007 – University of Colorado Hospital (and) American Heart Association of La Jolla, CA
• 2008 – Events of the Heart of New York, NY^[15]
• 2009 – Women's Heart Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill^[16]
• 2010 – Oregon Health and Science University Foundation (and) Greater Boston Division of the American Heart Association
• 2011 – St. Luke's Hospital Foundation in Kansas City, MO

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[edit]

• List of social fraternities and sororities

References[edit]

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External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alpha Phi.

• Alpha Phi Homepage
• Alpha Phi Foundation