Beta Pi Chapter, Montgomery & Chester Counties, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State
Delta Kappa Gamma International
Barnes and Noble Gift Wrapping Event
The members of Delta Kappa Gamma Beta Pi volunteer their time at the Barnes and Noble in Devon, PA during the holiday season. Members sign up for time slots during our given weekend and gift wrap books and gifts shoppers purchase at Barnes and Noble. All donations made to our chapter go into our Plantholt Fund, which supports children with special needs as well as families facing hardships.
The Center for Loss and Bereavement of Skippack
The Center for Loss and Bereavement is a non-profit organization that provides professional counseling, support services and education for families, individuals, and couples dealing with loss and bereavement. Located in Skippack Village in Montgomery County, the Center offers a warm and safe atmosphere that allows for the expression and exploration of those thoughts and emotions associated with the grief process. DKG Beta Pi chose to support the Center for Loss and Bereavement by funding two scholarships for children to attend a counseling camp/clinic.
DKG Alpha Alpha State Arts Retreat
In March, several members of our chapter travel to Ludlow, PA to participate in the DKG Arts Retreat. Often, a member of our chapter leads an art workshop! Members can participate in many workshops of their choice and have a fantastic time learning new techniques and skills!
DKG Beta Pi Designer Handbag Bingo
In October, Beta Pi's main fundraiser of the year is our Designer Handbag Bingo. Our Bingo Committee starts planning the Spring of the prior year to ensure that we lead a successful event. The Bingo Event is held at the King of Prussia Firehouse. Committee members turn to our chapter members for donations as well as reach out to the community for donations in order to build our baskets for our fantastic basket raffles. All proceeds raised go into our treasury to help fund our projects throughout the year, community outreach programs, and grant-in-aid scholarships!
DKG Beta Pi End of the Year Dinner
In May each year, Beta Pi hosts an End of the Year Dinner. During our dinner we enjoy a formal meal and then kick off our festivities. After dinner, we hold our LAST chapter meeting of the year. During our meeting, we review the accomplishments of our entire year. We honor members for meeting membership milestones (5 year, 10 year, 15 year, 20 year, 25 year, 30 year, etc. members) with an honorary pin, as well as recognize members for professional accomplishments (retirements, awards, etc.). We install new executive board members (if we reach the end of a biennium) that will serve for the next two years. We recognize all committee chairs for their accomplishments throughout the year. We submit/present applications of prospective members to the general membership and executive board for approval. We discuss possible events/projects to take part in/plan during the upcoming year. Our high school scholarship recipient from the previous year gives a speech and shares her experiences/accomplishments from her first year in college. Finally, we end the event with dessert and a video highlighting our past year!
DKG Beta Pi Girl Scout Project
On May 21st, 2018, DKG Beta Pi celebrated the culmination of Girl Scout Troop 7021 earning their DKG Badge! Troop 7021 is made up of Brownies and Junior Girl Scouts. Throughout the winter and spring, the troop worked their way through the DKG Girl Scout curriculum. The troop completed six total activities. First, they researched Dr. Annie Webb Blanton, founder of DKG, and compared her to Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts, citing the similarities in their missions. Second, the troop invited women educators to come to their meeting and learned about the educational professions of Principal, Administrative Assistant, School Board Member, School Librarian, and Teacher. This interactive meeting allowed the girls to not only learn more about the day-to-day activities of each woman, but to ask questions about, and make connections to these professions. The students were responsible for inviting and thanking each woman. Third, the troop collected individual snack packs of food for the Upper Merion Area School District. Each day, at each of the six schools, some students either forget or are unable to provide a snack. With the help of the UMASD district Social Worker, these snacks were distributed throughout the district for students in need! Finally, the troop learned and discussed the Vision Statement of DKG as well as the Girl Scout Mission Statement. The troop celebrated the culmination of this project by having a DKG Jeopardy game (troop against DKG Members)! Way to go girls!
DKG Beta Pi Induction Dinner
In the fall of each new year, DKG Beta Pi holds their new member Initiation Dinner at Shannondell in Audubon, PA. New members are given the chance to mingle with current members followed by a sit down dinner. After dinner, new members take part in our Initiation Ceremony where they officially become a member of DKG Beta Pi!
DKG Beta Pi "Lifeguard Program"
The "Lifeguard Program" was established as a support for current members that are active teachers. Members that are retired can assist active members in any way they see fit. For example, our "lifeguards" can volunteer in the classroom as a tutor, help prep lessons, photocopy materials, cut out lamination, or assist with projects. The main goal is to help alleviate stress and extra tasks that current teachers need to accomplish outside of school when the school day is over.
DKG Beta Pi Meet and Greet Social
In September each year, DKG Beta Pi hosts a Meet and Greet Social. During this event, all new members that are to be initiated meet the Beta Pi membership and have a chance to get to know one another while enjoying light fare. Each new member is introduced to the membership and then takes part in an orientation with their sponsor and Beta Pi Executive Board. During this event, we also hold our first chapter meeting of the year and review our Calendar of Events for the upcoming year!
DKG Beta Pi "Slice of Beta Pi" Cookbook Project
The members of DKG Beta Pi 2017-2018, worked together to compile a cookbook that contained over 250 of our favorite recipes. Once we collected all of the recipes, they were typed and published through a cookbook company. Our cookbook was then open to our members, friends, and family for purchase. Our cookbook was also available for purchase at our annual Designer Handbag Bingo and Basket Raffle. Each book was $10 and all money raised went into our treasury to fund our grant-in-aid scholarships and community outreach service projects and programs.
DKG Beta Pi Spring Tea
In April, DKG Beta Pi hosts a prospective member Spring Tea at Simpson House Tea Room in Chester Springs, PA. During this event, members enjoy a wonderful tea and light meal while holding our Spring Chapter Meeting. At this event, we also welcome new prospective members to come and meet us and learn about all of the wonderful projects and events that we take part in throughout the year!
DKG Beta Pi Winter Breakfast
In January each year, DKG Beta Pi hosts a winter breakfast at Pepper's Italian Restaurant in King of Prussia, PA. Members are given the chance to unwind after a long holiday season and enjoy the fellowship of their sisters. After breakfast, we hold our Winter Chapter Meeting. At this meeting, we review the successes of our fall events and look forward to a busy spring! At the end of the meeting, we hold a White Elephant Swap! This is a wonderful chance to "exchange" some of those lovely holiday gifts that just weren't a perfect fit for you! During this meeting, we also collect items for our featured "charity drive."
Grant-in-Aid Scholarships
Each June, our chapter provides two Grant-in-Aid Scholarships ($1,000/each) to female high school students that are going into the field of education upon graduation.
We also offer a college Grant-in-Aid Scholarship ($1,000) to a female college student that is about to enter her student teaching practicum.
Both levels of scholarships require the applicant to complete an application, write an essay, submit letters of recommendation, and submit other materials such as resumes, transcripts, acceptance letters, etc.
We also offer a college Grant-in-Aid Scholarship ($1,000) to a female college student that is about to enter her student teaching practicum.
Both levels of scholarships require the applicant to complete an application, write an essay, submit letters of recommendation, and submit other materials such as resumes, transcripts, acceptance letters, etc.
Laurel House
Laurel House is a comprehensive domestic violence agency that provides support and preventative services in Montgomery County. The Laurel House offers a help hotline, emergency shelter, educational workshops, and supportive services. Our chapter supports Laurel House in a variety of ways. In the past, we have held a cell phone drive, collecting used cell phones that we donated to Laurel House. Laurel House then sends the phones to a recycling program where they receive a fee for each phone donated. We have also supported Laurel House with monetary donations, in which they can spend our donation in any way in which they need or see fit.
Leah's Dream, Inc.
Leah’s Dream is a 501C3 nonprofit that will sponsor education and community development for young women in Northern Ghana through financial and mentoring support. This organization was formed by Sandee Mandel in honor of her daughter, Leah K. Horowitz and is organized in Philadelphia, PA. Sandee founded Leah's Dream as a way to carry on her daughter's vision and to honor her memory. Leah worked for the International Food Policy Research Institute in Zimbabwe, Africa after graduating from Dartmouth University. She then worked as a Program Coordinator and Research Analyst in a field office in Accra, Ghana, Africa. Leah's goal was to help young women gain the knowledge and skills that they need to empower and improve the lives of women and children in their communities. Many women do not receive an education and if they are lucky enough to go to school, most are not allowed to attend secondary school. The Afafanto Scholarship Fund was created as a tribute to Leah's work and heartfelt belief that women in Ghana deserve more and that education at the grassroots level is the best way to impact the lives of women for generations. Our chapter was introduced to Sandee Mandel at the 2017 Four Chapter Brunch at the Desmond Hotel in Malvern, PA where she presented the story behind Leah's Dream. Sandee also introduced us to Emelia Guo, who is a liaison and Executive Director of Leah's Dream in Ghana. Our chapter chose to support Leah's Dream by funding a half scholarship for one girl's education in Ghana.
Norristown Ministries Shoebox Project
The members of Delta Kappa Gamma Beta Pi join together during the months of September-November to collect shoe boxes, hats, scarves, mittens, toiletries, and other basic necessities. In November, we meet for a day and assemble shoe box gifts that contain a variety of all that we have collected. We then gift wrap the shoe boxes and then deliver them to the Norristown Ministries Hospitality Center in Norristown, PA. The Shoe boxes are then distributed to the homeless during the holiday season.
Plaza Flowers FlowerCause
DKG Beta Pi has partnered with Plaza Flowers of Audubon! Anyone that purchases flowers through Plaza Flowers is asked to submit our referral/pin code: PI and 5% of all purchases will go to support Beta Pi's projects and scholarships! To purchase flowers through Plaza, please call 610.630.8825, visit their website www.pflorist.com, or visit their shop at 417 Egypt Road, Audubon, PA 19403. Thank you for the support!
Ronald McDonald House
In March, our chapter travels to the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House where our members cook a breakfast for all of the families that are currently being housed at the Ronald McDonald House on that given weekend. All food is supplied by our chapter and it is a fantastic event that our members continue to attend each year!
SEPA DKG Four Chapter Brunch
In March, our chapter participates in the Four Chapter Breakfast that is held at the Desmond Hotel in Malvern, PA. Our chapter meets with three other chapters to enjoy a breakfast, participate in a guest speaker session, and also share successes that each chapter has achieved during the given year. It is a great opportunity to network and interact with chapters in our area!
Theatre Horizon
In February, our chapter takes a trip to a theatre horizon play. The proceeds that are raised from the play that we attend funds the featured cause. Our chapter also provides a scholarship for one child to attend the Autism Drama Program.
Upper Merion Community Cupboard
The Upper Merion Area Community Cupboard (UMACC) is a food pantry open to anyone who lives within the boundaries of the Upper Merion Area School District and is hungry or food insufficient. DKG Beta Pi chose to support the Upper Merion Community Cupboard at our Winter Breakfast Meeting by holding a food drive. Members brough pancake/waffle mix, syrup, tomato sauce, and syrup, which were the main items of need during that given week. However, members also brought other miscellaneous items that the cupboard can always use. Along with the food drive, DKG also chose to support the community cupboard with a monetary donation from our Community Outreach!
Upper Merion Emergency Aid
Upper Merion Emergency Aid is a nonprofit aid organization serving the Upper Merion Community of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. UMEA assists the residents by offering food giveaways to families in need, hosting an Adopt A Family Holiday Program, hosting a Back to School Shoe/School Supplies giveaway, and providing emergency assistance to families in need. DKG Beta Pi supports UMEA by hosting a canned food drive during our annual Designer Handbag Bingo and Basket Raffle. All participants are asked to bring a canned good to the event to help UMEA expand their food bank prior to the holiday season. Our chapter also supports UMEA by providing a monetary donation, which can be used in any way UMEA sees fit.
Past Projects of Beta Pi
ABC Quilts: Our chapter took part in this project for several years. The members of our chapter handmade quilts and paired them with a children's book. The quilts and books were then distributed to newborns at a local hospital. Throughout the duration of this project, our chapter made over 100 quilts. We won the Alpha Alpha State project award several times for this project!
Cups for a Cause: Our chapter collected new or gently used bras and were donated to the store, Soma, located in the King of Prussia Mall. Soma calls this project "Soma Gives Bras." Soma explains this project with the following message: "In partnership with the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), the bras we collect are distributed to women in need in your local communities. The National Network to End Domestic Violence is the leading voice for survivors of domestic violence, representing over 2,000 shelter programs throughout the United States."
Hurricane Andrew School Supply Collection: In 1992, DKG Beta Pi led a school supply collection for Naranja Elementary School in Miami, FL after Hurricane Andrew. Beta Pi collected 25 boxes of school supplies and had them shipped to Miami to the teachers of Naranja Elementary School to provide support since they had lost everything in the Hurricane.
Laurel House Collection: DKG Beta Pi members collected pillows, toys, bed sheets, clothing, journals, paper towels, diapers, wipes, bibs, towels, washcloths, and blankets and donated all items to the Laurel House in Norristown, PA.
Mom's House Summer Collection: Mom's House Program located in Phoenixville, PA. Mom's House is a program that provides free childcare to mothers who are going back to school to earn their college degree. Mom's House is in need of diapers, craft supplies, and other needs to run their Summer Program for children. Our chapter collected supplies from their list to help in any way that we can in an effort for them to run their program efficiently and successfully.
Montgomery County Hospital Book Donation: Our chapter donated 100 copies of "The Night you were Born" to Montgomery County Hospital Maternity Ward in Norristown, PA. Each book was given to the next 100 babies born with a book plaque inside the book cover explaining who DKG Beta Pi was and why we were donating the books.
Philadelphia Book Bank Project: DKG Beta Pi members visited the Philadelphia Book Bank in Philadelphia, PA and donated books. Once there, members helped to sort, label, and shelf all donated books. The Philadelphia Book Bank serves educators in schools, preschools, daycares, and after school programs to provide books and other services.
Plaid Pajamas Project: For the 2017-2018 service year, our chapter chose to support The Plaid Pajamas Project! Our chapter collected 65 pairs of pajamas from infant-adult sizes from January until April. All pajamas collected were donated to the Plaid Pajamas Project and then from there, the pajamas were distributed to CityTeam Chester and Turning Points for Children. From there, each organization donates the pajamas to families and individuals in need of warm clothing for the winter season!
Project Backpack: DKG Beta Pi members collected backpacks and school supplies and stuffed each backpack with a variety of items. All backpacks were then donated to all of the elementary schools in Upper Merion School District. The backpacks were then distributed to students based on need by the elementary counselors, principals, and teachers.
Royer Greaves School for the Blind: DKG Beta Pi worked with the Royer Greaves School for the Blind by visiting the school and reading to students. Members also recorded books on tape for the students to listen to on a daily basis.