Lemonade for Literacy was just a small part of Pi Beta Phi’s “Read Lead Achieve” philanthropy effort. They hope to have a much larger event in November called Lips for Literacy to raise even more funds to end illiteracy and help foster a love of reading in students. They set up shop outside of RTUC on Sept 16 cheerfully selling lemonade for a dollar.

The sorority truly believes in the power of reading will donate the funds from this event to help put an end to illiteracy. The plan to donate the money raised is threefold. The first step is donating money to help buy books to read to children in Decatur for the sorority’s Champions are Readers initiative (CAR). Champions are Readers is a reading enrichment program for students in prekindergarten through third grade, currently the Phi Beta Phi’s are encouraging Decatur, IL students to read in Garfield Montessori and Enterprise Elementary School.

Phi Beta Phi will also donate funds and work with First Book who tirelessly work to provide children in need access to new books. So far the sorority as an organization has donated over 2 million books and has impacted 531,932 lives out of 1 million. That’s not all either, the funds raised also get allocated to Arrow and the Artic which was established at the 1967 Convention to commemorate the centennials of Canada and Pi Beta Phi. Arrow in the Arctic donations aims to preserve the language and culture of the North’s Inuit and First Nations.

Illiteracy rates are high in northern Canada. Often times, women are the first to become literate in their families and try to ensure their children will have a better future. Many of these children are home schooled due to extreme weather and vast distances. Due to the extreme weather and vast distances, Arctic libraries are vital community centers, both educationally and socially. Arrow in the Artic donations are used to purchase extra books for northern libraries, beyond the supply of books currently provided by the Canadian government. Funds are also used for materials and videos in English and Inuktitut, one of the native languages of the Northwest Territories. Other donations include Reference books, collections of stories by native authors and educational programming.

Stephanie Schroder Phi Beta Phi’s president was adamant their ultimate goal was to end illiteracy by encouraging students to read and continue to read because they enjoy it. Pi Beta Phi’s Champions are Readers initiative allows for differentiation so it can accommodate students’ varying academic needs. The program is not just donating books it’s much more. The programs goal is to be an interactive reading and mentoring experience between Pi Beta Phis and children in their local communities. The activities are designed to be flexible to be implemented in schools, after school programs, community centers, libraries and more. The purpose of CAR is to engage children in a positive reading experience and foster a lifelong love of reading. Cheers to the Phi Beta Phi’s for their philanthropic efforts to end illiteracy and foster a love of reading, keep up the good work. If you’re interested in helping the Phi Beta Phi’s in their quest to end illiteracy and make sure students and children in need have access to books and cultivate an enjoyment out of reading look out for their upcoming philanthropy events and make sure to donate for a good cause.