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, It is the fourth Greek-letter organization founded for women, and the first "sorority" founded for women in the northeast.
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
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.". 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."
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."
Values - Sisterhood, Scholarship, Service, Leadership, Loyalty, Character Development
Motto
Alpha Phi's public motto is "union hand in hand". According to Alexandra Robbins it also has a "secret" motto, "A.O.E""
Founders
Alpha Phi's founding members were:
Martha Emily Foote Crow
Martha "Mattie" Foote Crow (1854 - January 1, 1924) was an educator and writer. Born in Sackets Harbor, New York, she played an important role in the development of higher education for women in the United States.
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
Business
Nancy Austin (Beta Delta – UCLA) – Management consultant and author of The Assertive Woman
Susan Bayh (Lambda – UC Berkeley) – attorney and professional director
Deborah Lippmann (Gamma Pi – Arizona State) – singer and celebrity manicurist with her own line, the Lippmann Collection
Janet Murguía (Gamma Delta – Kansas) – First female president/CEO of National Council of La Raza
Julee Rosso (Beta Beta – Michigan State) – Founder of The Silver Palate gourmet food shop and Co-author of Silver Palate Cookbook
Alice Waters (Gamma Beta – UC Santa Barbara) – author, chef, founder of Chez Panisse, the original "California Cuisine" restaurant
Frances Willard (Alpha Lambda – Alumna Initiate) – American educator, temperance reformer, and women's suffragist
Lynn Woolsey (Sigma – Washington) – Member of the United States House of Representatives
Sports
Susie Berning (Delta Delta – Oklahoma City) – American professional golfer
Julie Clark (Gamma Beta – UC Santa Barbara) – American airline pilot and aerobatic performer
Claire Waters Ferguson (Beta Beta – Michigan State) – First woman president of the United States Figure Skating Association
Jennifer Joines (Iota Gamma – University of the Pacific) – Silver medal winning American indoor volleyball player in the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Janis Klecker (Epsilon – Minnesota) – American long-distance runner, two-time United States national champion in the marathon
Marion Roper (Beta Delta – UCLA) – Bronze medal winning American diver in the 1932 Summer Olympics
Religion
Ruth Stafford Peale (Alpha – Syracuse) – Religious leader, public speaker and author
Catherine Maples Waynick (Epsilon Zeta – Central Michigan) – One of only eight women to be bishops in the U.S. Episcopal Church
Philanthropy
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.
Alpha Phi officially adopted Cardiac Care as a priority in 1946, which became Alpha Phi Foundation's 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
2009 – Women's Heart Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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.
