Phi Sigma Sigma

Phi Sigma Sigma
ΦΣΣ
Founded	November 26, 1913 (1913-11-26) Hunter College, (New York, New York)
Type	Social
Scope	International
Mission statement	To inspire the personal development of each sister and perpetuate the advancement of womanhood.
Vision statement	Phi Sigma Sigma is a dynamic sisterhood of powerful women fostering uncompromising principles, igniting positive change and embracing individuality.
Motto	Diokete Hupsala "Aim High"
Maxim	"Once a Phi Sigma Sigma, always a Phi Sigma Sigma."
Colors	King Blue      Gold
Symbol	Sphinx
Flower	American Beauty Rose
Jewel	Sapphire
Publication	The Sphinx
Philanthropy	Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation
Chapters	150+ (115 active)
Members	60,000 collegiate
Headquarters	8178 Lark Brown Road, Suite 202 Elkridge, Maryland, USA
Homepage	http://www.phisigmasigma.org/

Phi Sigma Sigma (ΦΣΣ), colloquially known as "Phi Sig," was the first collegiate nonsectarian sorority, welcoming women of all faiths and backgrounds. Founded by 10 women on November 26, 1913, Phi Sigma Sigma is now an international sorority with 60,000 initiated members, 115 collegiate chapters and more than 100 alumnae chapters, clubs and associations across the United States and Canada. The ten young women who founded Phi Sigma Sigma are: Lillian Gordon Alpern, Josephine Ellison Breakstone, Fay Chertkoff, Estelle Melnick Cole, Jeanette Lipka Furst, Ethel Gordon Kraus, Shirley Cohen Laufer, Claire Wunder McArdle, Rose Sher Seidman, and Gwen Zaliels Snyder.

Dedicated to the twin ideals of promoting the brotherhood of man and alleviation of the world’s pain, Phi Sigma Sigma strives to instill the values of leadership through service, lifelong learning and social inclusiveness in today’s young women and future leaders.

Epsilon Psi Chapter house at Western Illinois University

In 1918, Phi Sigma Sigma expanded by founding its Beta chapter at Tufts University in Medford, MA, and the Gamma chapter at New York University, although ironically, both of these chapters are inactive as of today. In November 2009, the Delta chapter, at the University at Buffalo, was reinstalled; making it the oldest active chapter. The second oldest active chapter is the Epsilon chapter at Adelphi University, in Garden City, NY, which was recolonized December 6, 2008. While other chapters were founded earlier and have been recolonized, the Xi Chapter at Temple University is the oldest chapter in continuous existence, having never lost its Charter, founded in 1926.

The official publication of Phi Sigma Sigma is The Sphinx, which first appeared in 1923. The sorority's first song, "The Hymn," was written in 1921 by Pearl Lippman of the Alpha chapter and her husband, Arthur Lippman.

Phi Sigma Sigma has also established chapters in Canada: Upsilon chapter (1930) at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Delta Epsilon chapter (1981) at University of Windsor in Windsor, and Zeta Eta chapter (1991) at Carleton University in Ottawa.

Philanthropy

The sorority's official philanthropy is the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation, which supports the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). The Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation also provides scholarships and educational grants, as well as leadership programming to collegiate and alumnae members. The NKF has been Phi Sigma Sigma's primary philanthropic endeavor since 1971 because kidney disease was a leading health concern for women at that time. Since then, Phi Sigma Sigma has actively helped educate women, men and children about kidney disease, as well as the importance of organ and tissue donation and transplantation. In the recent past, the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation was a major sponsor of the National Kidney Foundation U.S. Transplant Games, a national Olympics-style event where organ-donor recipients competed in various athletic competitions, thereby highlighting the need for, and success of, organ donations and transplantation.

Following September 11, 2001, the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation established the Twin Ideals Fund to provide assistance to disaster victims. Named for Phi Sigma Sigma's twin ideals - to promote the brotherhood of man and alleviate the world's pain - the fund has contributed to aid organizations in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami in southeast Asia and Hurricane Katrina.

Each year, thousands of Phi Sigma Sigma sisters participate in a philanthropic fundraising event known as "Rock-a-Thon," where they spend a marathon day gathering donations as they sit in rocking chairs located in highly public places, such as on campus, in malls and at community events. This event raises tens of thousands of dollars annually for the Foundation and NKF.

Collegiate and alumnae chapters also participate in various philanthropic events benefiting their communities. Examples of these include walking for multiple medical causes, gathering food and supplies for U.S. troops, coordinating local reading programs, fundraising so underprivileged women can attend college, providing shoes to needy children, and assisting Habitat for Humanity.

Timeline

• On November 26, 1913, Phi Sigma Sigma was founded at Hunter College in New York City.

• In 1918, Phi Sigma Sigma expanded by founding the Beta Chapter at Tufts University in Medford, MA, and the Gamma Chapter at New York University. This prompted the first National Convention in New York City that same year. Delegates to the Convention adopted the fraternity's Constitution and elected the first Grand Council. Fay Chertkoff was elected the first Grand Archon.

• In 1923, the first issue of The Sphinx, the sorority's official magazine, was published.

• In 1930, Phi Sigma Sigma became an international sorority when it founded the Upsilon chapter at The University of Manitoba in Manitoba, Canada.

• In 1936, Phi Sigma Sigma’s first double-letter guard, signifying the beginning of the Greek alphabet, was granted to Beta Alpha chapter at the University of Maryland.

• In 1947, Phi Sigma Sigma became an associate member of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC).

• In 1951, Phi Sigma Sigma became an official member of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC).

• In 1957, the Phi Sigma Sigma Cardiology Laboratory was established at Yeshiva University College of Medicine in New York City. Phi Sigma Sigma presented a $20,000 grant to establish the laboratory.

• In 1963, Phi Sigma Sigma celebrated its 50th year, the Golden Anniversary, in New York City. A centennial celebration is planned 2013 in New York City, as well.

• In 1966, the sorority created its national Leadership Training School (LTS), an event scheduled during those years when no convention was planned. LTS has since been replaced with the sorority's ACHIEVE leadership and risk-management program, launched in 2005. ACHIEVE stands for "Achieve, Challenge, Honor, Integrity, Engage, Value and Excellence" - among the top values Phi Sigma Sigma sisters hold dear.

• In 1968, the separation of Hunter College’s two campuses prompted the original Alpha chapter to divide. Alpha Alpha was installed at the new Herbert Lehman College in the Bronx, while Alpha chapter remained on Hunter College’s Park Avenue campus. Neither is active at this time.

• In 1969, in an effort to provide greater focus on the philanthropic activities of Phi Sigma Sigma, the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation was created by Jeanine Jacobs Goldberg, who led the foundation as its first president.

• In 1971, the Fraternity adopted the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) as its official philanthropic cause at the National Convention.

• In 1999, the National Make a Difference Day Award was presented to Phi Sigma Sigma in recognition of its commitment to volunteer service and community involvement. Phi Sigma Sigma sisters still participate in Make a Difference Day, which is a national event promoted by USA Weekend magazine.

• In 2012, Phi Sigma Sigma sent a notice to Penny Arcade via legal counsel requesting that a post purporting to reveal the sorority's 'secret' handshake be expunged from the Penny Arcade forum.

Founders

• Lillian Gordon Alpern
• Josephine Ellison Breakstone
• Fay Chertkoff
• Estelle Melnick Cole
• Jeanette Lipka Furst
• Ethel Gordon Kraus
• Shirley Cohen Laufer
• Claire Wunder McArdle
• Rose Sher Seidman
• Gwen Zaliels Snyder

Chapters

Main article: List of Phi Sigma Sigma chapters

Notable alumnae

• Irna Phillips (Theta) - "Mother" of the modern soap opera, creator of Guiding Light, As the World Turns, Days of Our Lives, and Another World.
• Nancy Pimental (Gamma Iota)-A screen play writer for The Sweetest Thing and a writer for the TV series South Park. She also replaced Jimmy Kimmel as co-host of the Comedy Central game show Win Ben Stein's Money, a job she held from 2000 through 2002
• Marian Rosen-The youngest woman lawyer to appear before the Supreme Court of the United States.
• Meghan McCabe (Zeta Eta) – Manager, Communications for the JUNO Awards (Canada's Music Awards)^{[citation needed]}
• Amy Diaz (Iota Theta) - Miss Teen USA 2001, Miss USA 2008 (top 15), Miss Earth USA 2009^{[citation needed]}
• Shannon Ford (Delta Kappa) - Mrs. USA 2011^{[citation needed]}
• Zelda Rubinstein (Iota) - Actress and activist^{[citation needed]}
• Tatyana McFadden (Theta) - Six-time Paralympic medalist^{[citation needed]}
• Alex Flinn (BetaTheta)- New York Times Bestselling author of Beastly^{[citation needed]}
• Kyna Wise (Delta Gamma) - Singer and actress, daughter of Ray Wise^{[citation needed]}
• Aliza Virani (Zeta Eta) - Miss Teen Vancouver 2007^{[citation needed]}
• Louise Schlegel (Gamma Pi)- Miss Maryland 2008^{[citation needed]}
• Jesse Ladoue (Delta Nu)- Miss New York International 2013^{[citation needed]}
• Caitlin Klug (Theta Nu)- Miss Teen Michigan USA 2007^{[citation needed]}
• Andrea Kremer (Nu) - Correspondent for HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" and former sideline reporter for "NBC Sunday Night Football." She was also ESPN's first female correspondent and worked there from 1989 to 2006.^{[citation needed]}

References

• Phi Sigma Sigma Website

External links

• Phi Sigma Sigma Website
• Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation
• Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation Blog