A year ago in 2001, Beta Beta raised more than $20,000 for the Pi Kappa Alpha Educational Foundation when the chapter participated in its first Pike Fund Phonathon campaign - an event where members call Pike alumni all across the country soliciting donations to help fund scholarships, grants and leadership conferences. That $20,000 was enough to earn the members the Phonathon Cup at the International Convention for being the #1 fundraising chapter of the year.

In 2002, however, Beta Beta Pikes crushed that total and are close to setting a new all-time fundraising record!

In five days at the beginning of October, UW Pikes raised more than $33,000 in pledges from Pikes across the country. When all the checks from the “maybe” pile (those who said “send me something and I’ll see”) come rolling in, expectations are that the grand total will top $40,000. The question Beta Beta has, though, is whether it’ll be enough to top the $41,186 record set back in 1996 by Delta Nu chapter at Wayne State University.

“I certainly hope so,” said George Miller (Zeta Beta chapter, ’97), director of annual giving for the Educational Foundation. “Working with Beta Beta this year is my first time running a Phonathon and what better way to start than to beat the record my old boss, Eddie Scott (Epsilon Omega chapter, ‘94) (now director of alumni affairs for the Fraternity), set when he was in this position.”

Phonathons are conducted five or six times a year and only with chapters that have set themselves apart by their actions and high standards. With Beta Beta’s success over the past several years, the International Fraternity has recognized the chapter’s leadership role within the Fraternity and already is making plans for a return visit during the 2003-04 school year.

At that time, members again will vie for the coveted diamond and ruby-encrusted badge given to the week’s top caller. This year, the award went to Joe Marchesano (‘02), who raised $5,746. Yashar Shayan, a pledge, took second with $2,572, followed by Steve Leigh and Matt Hornecker, also both pledges, who earned $1,972 and $1,962, respectively.

Even if the men of Beta Beta don’t beat the record this year, the likely $40,000 total should be enough to put the chapter into the winner’s circle at the Officers Leadership Academy this summer when the 2002-03 Phonathon Cup is awarded.

And, as a reminder, if you have not yet sent back your Pike Fund pledge card, please do so and please consider designating that gift (by simply writing a note on the card) directly to the Beta Beta Chapter Endowment Fund or the Bob Keene Scholarship Fund.