Phi Sigma Sigma at Penn State
Sharing values, lifelong friendships and belonging to a
sisterhood truly defines the Phi Sigma Sigma
experience. Our six virtues — Friendship, Faith, Love,
Sincerity, Integrity, and Strength — distinguish Phi
Sigma Sigma, unite us in our activities and become
ingrained in the character of our aspiring women. We
embrace these values when we recruit new members,
as we help our women chart the course of their
college experience and, as they make decisions about
career, family and community involvement.
Our mission
To inspire the personal development of
each sister and perpetuate the
advancement of womanhood.
our vision
To be a dynamic sisterhood of powerful
women fostering uncompromising
principles, igniting positive change and
embracing individuality.
our motto
Diokete Hupsala
(Aim High)
about us
our creed
I believe a woman who serves is a woman who
leads.
I will devote myself at all times to upholding the
ideals of Phi Sigma Sigma.
I believe in faith, love, and sincerity.
I will find strength in the lifelong friendships I
share in the bonds of our sisterhood.
I believe in the advancement of womanhood.
I will make the most of educational opportunities
throughout my life
and will become a woman of substance, character
and influence.
I believe in the perpetuity of Phi Sigma Sigma.
I will build to the walls of our Pyramid.
Once a Phi Sigma Sigma, Always a Phi Sigma
Sigma
Our
Founding
Phi Sigma Sigma is a proud, strong member of the fraternity
and sorority community because our Founders were leaders of
their time. They believed that women of different faiths could
come together and work toward common goals and developed
a mission to perpetuate the advancement of womanhood. Our
Founders charted the course for milestones that have enabled
Phi Sigma Sigma to prosper and create lifelong, meaningful
bonds for women with like values.
In 1913, our Founders approached the Dean of Women at Hunter
College in New York City with a vision. They wanted to start a
sorority that would promote open membership to all women of
character regardless of background. These women wanted a
sorority that strived to achieve outstanding scholastic ideals
and maintain high social standards, while embracing diversity
in membership. Phi Sigma Sigma was founded on November 26,
1913, at Hunter College in New York City by 10 progressive young
women who shared a passion for excellence and envisioned an
inclusive sisterhood. The result was the first nonsectarian
sorority, meaning women of all backgrounds, faiths, beliefs and
cultures were welcome to join at a time when that was not the
norm.
Our Philanthropy
Pairing with local schools
The Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation is proud to fund leadership programming, offer scholarships and educational grants, and
provide resources for philanthropic and service-oriented events directly benefitting our collegiate and alumnae sisters, as well
as the world around us. Our women live by our virtues everyday by serving both their communities through raising money to
support worthwhile causes and by donating their time to projects and causes in which they believe.
The Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation’s philanthropic cause is School and College Readiness. By providing the next generation with
the resources necessary to succeed in the classroom, we are also helping to prepare them to succeed outside of the classroom.
Community Impact Fund
The Community Impact Fund coordinates efforts between the Foundation and collegiate chapters in support of Phi Sigma
Sigma’s philanthropic cause of school and college readiness. When the chapter raises money through a fundraising event, the
money is deposited in the chapter’s Community Impact Fund through the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation. The chapter is able to
designate the proceeds to support their partner school by funding backpack builds, direct financial grants to support programs
or projects, or purchasing other equipment/supplies for the school.
Backpack build & school supply drives
One of the largest inhibitors to educational success is a lack of resources including school supplies. As advocates for school and
college readiness, we want to make sure students have the necessary supplies to truly succeed. Through our partnerships with
local schools, we are able to ascertain what supplies students are truly in need of and help fill that void through supply drives,
collections and donations.
Our backpack builds provide an opportunity for us to share the importance of school and college readiness with others, while
allowing us to directly impact and give back to our communities. Our members witness first-hand what new school supplies can
mean to students who might not have the means to succeed otherwise.
Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation
Vision
Mission
Scholarships & Grants
Empower Phi Sigma Sigma women to
aim higher.
Cultivate relationships, secure and
provide financial resources for Phi
Sigma Sigma sisters to achieve
excellence, impact their
communities, and change the world.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Phi Sigma
Sigma Foundation is able to give thousands of dollars
worth of scholarship and grant money to collegians
and alumnae each year. In support of our Founders'
mission "the advancement of womanhood," these
funds enable sisters to achieve excellence, impact
their communities and change the world.
Our History
The Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation, Inc. was announced in the Spring 1965 issue of The Sphinx.
“The Foundation will incorporate all of Phi Sigma Sigma’s philanthropy funds such as the Dollars
for Scholars Fund (loans to graduates and undergraduates of Phi Sigma Sigma), the National
Scholarship Fund (gifts to undergraduates who aid as colonizers and to graduates who aid as
resident advisors), and the Philanthropic Grant Fund (to universities and institutions for
scientific as well as cultural advancement). The first board of directors included Ann Reiter (Iota,
’39), Past Grand Archons Veachey Rudolph Bloom (Xi, ’46) and Ruth Cooper Breslauer (Kappa,
’45) (also the Fraternity’s legal advisor), and Grand Archon Dr. Florence Denmark (Nu, ’52)."
The Foundation was formally incorporated on November 15, 1969. The first chair was Ilene
Olansky (Zeta, '52).That year the Foundation awarded $2,000 in scholarships and educational
grants, the Arthur Markowitz Book Award to one law student for $50, and six $250 educational
grants.
Since 1969, the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation has raised tax-deductible donations to directly
benefit Phi Sigma Sigma sisters through leadership programming, scholarships and need-based
educational grants, and more recently, through compassion grants for those facing
catastrophic events. The Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation also supports disaster relief worldwide
and facilitates volunteer projects in our local communities to help the disadvantaged achieve
readiness for school and college entrance.
Beta Eta Chapter
Phi Sigma Sigma
C/O Officer of Frat. and Sorority Life
215 HUB-Robeson Center
University Park, PA
16802
Phi Sigma Sigma, Inc.
1213 Liberty Rd, Suite J #335
Eldersburg, MD 21784
Emergency Line: (410) 530-1913