Tri Sigma Foundation

Generous, making a difference with their community, empowering others — are we describing a Sigma sister you know? Each Convention the Tri Sigma Foundation recognizes two Tri Sigma women that show exceptional generosity within their community. These women, the Philanthropist of the Triennium and the Emerging Philanthropist of the Triennium, will be recognized at the 2019 Convention during the Laurels banquet on June 29.

All nominations must be submitted by than March 31, 2019.

Philanthropist of the Triennium:

This award honors a Tri Sigma for exceptional generosity and civic responsibility demonstrated by significant financial contributions to charitable organizations within their community, including the Tri Sigma Foundation.

Emerging Philanthropist of the Triennium: 

his award recognizes a Tri Sigma who is 40 years of age or younger for exceptional generosity and civic responsibility demonstrated through financial contributions and volunteerism to charitable organizations within their community, including Tri Sigma.

2016 Foundation Award Recipients

2016 Philanthropist of the Triennium

Dixie Shelton, Alpha Alpha and Houston Alumnae Chapter, was awarded for her generosity, dedication to scholarship, and commitment to her community. Her devotion to her community includes the creation of two scholarships at a local university, board service and providing a monthly stipend for a pastors and widows pension, supporting Salvation Army contributions and donations, and Meals for Homeless Mission – just to name a few. In addition to being a member of the Tri Sigma Foundation Pillars of Sigma, Walton Club and Watkins Society, Dixie and her husband endowed a scholarship with the Foundation several years ago.

2016 Emerging Philanthropist of the Triennium

Michelle Tantillo, Epsilon Omicron and Chicago Northwest Suburban Alumnae Chapter, was awarded for her servant leadership and passion for causes greater than herself. Her generosity includes blood drives, food drives, gift collection at the holidays and fundraisers for multiple foundations. Also, she spends her “free time” in a variety of walks and events where she donates in memory of family members. Since the loss of her dear friend, she has become active in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, participating in and fundraising for overnight walks and advocacy in her community. Additionally, as a Batten Society member, she is a generous donor to the Tri Sigma Foundation.

Watch the 2018 State of the Foundation

By Bonnie Rainey, Chair of Board of Directors

To our sisters, volunteers, and partners,

Thank you for supporting the Foundation this past year! Our 2017-2018 success would not be possible without you.

I want to express my thanks to a couple groups who went above and beyond in areas of engagement. To our chapter Foundation Chairs, thank you for your time and energy as you lead the way in our chapter fundraising efforts. Thank you to all the chapters and individuals who hosted a Bubble Zone to engage with our March of Dimes partnership. Last, but not least, thank you to our inaugural group of Steadfast Giving members, who continue to make the Foundation a priority every month.

The Board of Directors and staff are looking ahead and planning for the financial health of the Foundation. Our focus for 2018-2019 is to continue building a Foundation that is a stable and long-lasting support system for Tri Sigma. Our Sigma sisters and communities look to us to be leaders in philanthropy and service, and we want to continue to be those leaders for many more years to come.

With your help, we know we can achieve our goals. You truly make our mission possible!

In Our Bonds,

Bonnie Rainey, Alpha Sigma

Because of you 146 collegians, coaches and staff gathered on August 3-5 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to learn about character, compassion, etiquette, and leadership. Thank you for your generous support of the Foundation! With your help, we support Tri Sigma’s leadership and educational programs and empower young women to become leaders.

Select an image below to read how you have impacted a Sigma sister.

Foundation Chair Bonnie Rainey welcomes Lori Rassati as the newest board member for the Foundation.

The Foundation welcomes Lori Rassati to our Board of Directors! She attended her first Foundation meeting recently in Las Vegas beginning her three-year term.

Executive Director Meghan Paden shared “I am thrilled to have such a seasoned fundraising professional join the Foundation Board. Lori’s experience will only add to an already high functioning group of leaders focused on ensuring the future of Tri Sigma.”

About Lori

Why were you interested in serving on the Foundation Board of Directors?

I have been a professional fundraiser almost my entire career, but I really have never helped my sorority in this way. Through my work, I have been involved in fundraising efforts for other sororities, and I thought it would be nice to help Tri Sigma in this way. Thankfully, there was an opportunity for me to become involved with the Foundation Board of Directors. I also have two teen/pre-teen daughters, and their future college experience is on my mind. I want them to have the opportunities I had while being a Sigma if they choose. It takes alumnae support to ensure our sorority is strong for the women who want to join us.

How do you hope to grow and learn during your term on the Board?

I want to learn more about Sigma today so I can share the message of the great things we are doing. I really have not been involved since my mid-twenties, and I know the Sorority has changed tremendously in that time. I want to learn about today’s collegians and also meet Sigma alumnae from other chapters so I can learn from them. There are amazing women who are a part of Tri Sigma (that’s why I joined decades ago!), and I know they can share so much with me.

Bonnie Rainey, Foundation Chair and Jennifer Avenel at 2018 Board of Directors annual meeting in Las Vegas.

As her term on the Foundation Board of Directors ends, we would like to recognize and thank Jennifer for her commitment and devotion to the Foundation throughout her years of service.

Jennifer Avenel has been a sister of Tri Sigma since 1992 when she was initiated into the Delta Pi chapter at Winthrop University in South Carolina, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in social work.  She has remained devoted to serving Tri Sigma and took the challenge to serve as chair of the Foundation Board in 2014.  As a leader for the Foundation, she most notably collaborated and helped lead us to form the partnership with the March of Dimes.

Get to know more about Jennifer and her journey as a Sigma sister. 

Q: What inspired you to become the Chair of the Foundation Board of Directors?

Jennifer: Honestly, my sisters’ belief in my ability to do the job. I knew that I was being interviewed for an officer position, but had no idea that I was being considered for chair until it was offered to me. I always want to serve Tri Sigma where I’m needed most, and the women on that nominating committee believed in me, so I accepted their challenge.

Q: What was the most rewarding part of serving on the board?

Jennifer: I think every woman who wants to serve others wants to because of their passion but also because of a desire to be part of something bigger than they are. The most rewarding part for me was all of the women that I had the opportunity to meet at the collegiate and alumnae level. The opportunities that I was given to mentor at Presidents Academy and the Dunham Woman of Character Institute taught me so much and I made lifelong connections. The other part that was very rewarding was the partnership between the Foundation board and the Tri Sigma Executive Council and Executive Director. Those two entities must work together in order to move Tri Sigma forward and we made some great strides. Most notably was our partnership with the March of Dimes.

Q: What was has been your most memorable experience as a Tri Sigma sister so far?

Jennifer: That is a very difficult question. I am fortunate that I have so many memorable experiences over the last 25+ years. From the strong bond that remains with my Delta Pi sisters, to the gift of my relationship with Emily Lewis Lee, Alpha Upsilon and Omega, which continues to move me. Then the opportunity that I had to be on stage with past National President Kaye Schendel giving the State of the Sisterhood address leading to the March of Dimes launch at our last convention.  Being part of the installation team at Auburn.  And everything in between!

Q: What kind of legacy do you want to leave with Tri Sigma?

Jennifer:  I want my legacy to be one of service. I will give of my time and talents where they are needed, and I will continue to remind Tri Sigma women of our lifelong commitment. Through my service on the Foundation Board, one topic that I became very passionate about is helping women to understand everyone can be a philanthropist. It’s not just about the financial support to the Tri Sigma Foundation but it’s also about the support that they can give to our sisterhood or to organizations in the communities in which they live. That is philanthropy too!  I will continue to carry that passion for philanthropy with me.

On August 3-5 in Pittsburgh, over 150 women will attend Dunham Women of Character Institute. You can show support to a Sigma sister and friends with our Violet Tribute tradition. With each $5 gift, you can honor her as an emerging leader while supporting the Tri Sigma Foundation. Your contributions will benefit the continued growth of our leadership programs like Dunham.

Honor a Woman of Character listed below by making a gift in her honor at VioletTributes.com. You can easily search for her by full name and chapter. The Foundation will ensure she receives a violet to wear on her name tag for each gift made in her honor from now until July 25 at 11:59 pm EST. You can include a special message of encouragement with each gift, which she will receive via e-mail.

Every donation is tax-deductible and benefits our Greatest Need. Thank you in advance for showering these women with love, support and Violet Tributes!

2018 Dunham Women of Character Institute

L to R: Tonia Melusa, Beta Beta; Kendra Reichling, Beta Xi; Haley Miscovich, Alpha Pi

By Haley Miscovich, Alpha Pi at Clarion University

As I mentally prepared for the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (or UIFI), packed my car, and embarked on a six and a half hour journey from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana I was both excited and anxious.  While I had heard about UIFI from sisters in my chapter who had attended years prior, like many others I was not completely sure of what to expect at UIFI.

I knew that this conference, held by the North-American Interfraternity Conference, would touch on the basics; leadership, personal development, scholarship, service, and philanthropy.  But after taking part in UIFI, it has inspired me to strive to become the best human, sister, and individual that I can be, as well as, helping me realize the true, lasting meaning behind my sorority letters.

I pulled into the beautiful Alpha Omicron Pi sorority house and was greeted by so many eager (but nervous) sorority and fraternity members from all over the United States and even Canada. After arrival I quickly realized that there was no time to waste; the facilitator mentioned that the week would be a whirlwind; seeming to take forever but also going by in the blink of an eye, and he was absolutely right. Each day began with breakfast at 7:30 am and would stretch until almost 11 pm. When going straight to bed seemed like the best idea, we avoided it to spend time getting to know the other Greek leaders and hearing about their experiences.

My UIFI small group, Chapter 1

Other than fraternity and sorority collegians and interns there was also an amazing team of facilitators, who work in student affairs or for Greek organizations, eager to guide and challenge us throughout UIFI.  Each day we attended large group sessions where we were introduced to new topics followed by smaller sessions where we had the opportunity to talk more deeply about these topics with our assigned group members and facilitators.  In small groups, we were encouraged to develop trust with each other by sharing things that are important to each of us, take the time to look at issues from each other’s perspectives, and discuss our thoughts and experiences.

Throughout UIFI, students were challenged to reflect on themselves, their values, their leadership styles, and their Greek organization’s ritual.  We talked about creating an action plan to put our sorority or fraternity values into action in our daily lives, which for me meant thinking about how to embody the characteristics of a Tri Sigma woman of character.  UIFI also challenged us to think deeply about some of the most important issues in our Greek communities and what impact these issues can have on the longevity of Greek Life on college campuses.

This was an eye-opening experience for me because I attend a small school where many of these issues aren’t very relevant. However, one of my biggest takeaways from UIFI is that although all sororities and fraternities have different values and rituals, we are all working together as a team and need to hold each other accountable as one.  On any team it is clear that if one teammate is not working toward the common goal the entire team can face the consequences; it is crucial for teammates to hold each member accountable for their actions even when it is difficult.

UIFI 2018 – Session 4 – June 9 to 13

Thanks to the Tri Sigma Foundation I had the opportunity to attend UIFI June 9 -13.  While I have been fortunate enough to attend other Greek leadership conferences, I can say that UIFI has been the best and most impactful conference that I have been a part of. UIFI brings Greek leaders from all over the country and turns them into friends while providing them with all the tools they need to take back to their campuses and make a difference in their communities.  I am honored to have been chosen to represent Tri Sigma at UIFI – Session 4 and thankful to have been able to meet the many amazing facilitators, Greek leaders, friends, and two of my fellow Sigma sisters.

Attending UIFI has truly allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a sorority leader. If I had the opportunity to attend UIFI again I would take it in a second.  Be sure to look for the UIFI Scholarship applications in spring 2019. If you’re interested in UIFI and have any additional questions, you can contact me at H.A.Miscovich@eagle.clarion.edu.

As we celebrate Tri Sigma’s 120th anniversary, it’s your turn to be an advocate for our youngest Sigma sisters. Will you make a significant and meaningful gift to lift up a future Tri Sigma leader?

This past January, Collegiate Chapter Presidents attended our national leadership program Presidents Academy. Along with creating a plan for their presidencies, they developed plans for successful personal leadership using their strengths.

Leadership programs such as Presidents Academy provide training and education for our sisters to become future volunteers for our Sorority, experts in their field of study, and leaders inside their future company’s board room.

Make a gift of $120 to empower Tri Sigma leaders of today and tomorrow.

Presidents Academy Impact

96% of participants feel they can create a plan for their chapter presidency and successful personal leadership, compared to 66% prior to the program

Presidents Academy was hosted in Nashville, Tennessee on January 4-7, 2018. Read more about Presidents Academy and other Tri Sigma programs.

Your generous gift develops strong women ready to lead, that will positively impact the future success of Tri Sigma and the world.

On March 2-4, 194 participants attended Education Summit in Chicago, Illinois. Chapter Education Directors and Scholarship Advisors attended this program designed to provide practical skills training, supporting their ability to effectively implement scholarship and membership education.

Because of YOU, these women learned life skills, felt empowered as leaders and connected with sisters from across the country. Here are a few words from a couple of the participants that we wanted to share with you…

On January 4-7, over 100 Collegiate Chapter Presidents gathered in Nashville, Tennessee for Tri Sigma’s 2018 Presidents Academy. 

Thanks to your generosity Sigma sisters experienced sisterhood on a national level, many for the first time. Plus, they spent the weekend learning and preparing to lead their chapter this calendar year.

Here are a few of 2018 Presidents Academy learning objectives:

• Develop an action plan to foster development of personal strengths
• Implement a strengths-based approach to problem-solving
• Create a plan for prioritizing personal wellbeing
• Identify multiple resources for support in her leadership role
• Create a plan for presidency and successful personal leadership

You truly made a difference and
empowered Sigma leaders at Presidents Academy.

“I was able to learn my strengths and build mmy confidence to be a successful chapter president. Presidents Academy has given me tools that I will take with my throughout my life.”

-Candice Kelley, Eta Zeta at University of Alaska Anchorage

“I learned ways to lift my sisters up and received a hightened awareness and confidence that will allow me to have a successful presidency. Your efforts have made this possible.”

-Devyn Vinson, Zeta Alpha at Bryant University

“Presidents Academy was a unique experience that allowed me to become more confident as a leader. It has prespared for the upcoming year and will help me effectively serve my chapter and lead us into the future.”

-Kathryn Branham, Gamma Psi at Morehead State University