DISABILITY AWARENESS

Pi Kappa Phi organizes a variety of events to increase disability awareness on campus and in the community. Events like wheelchair basketball, guest speakers and Empathy Dinners help members of Pi Kappa Phi to spread a message of acceptance and understanding for people with disabilities.

FUNDRAISING

Pi Kappa Phis across the nation have collectively raised over $10 million in support of the various programs The Ability Experience offers. Members create unique events at every campus. Chapters organize sporting events, raffles, disability speaking presentations, among many other eye-catching events on campus.

VOLUNTEERISM

Pi Kappa Phi chapters across the country are becoming more involved in their communities through volunteer relationships with local organizations that support people with disabilities. Pi Kappa Phi chapters who have a volunteer relationship are eligible for grants through The Ability Experience to help people with disabilities in their local community. Locally, the Beta Omicron Chapter is involved in the following projects:

• MISS ABILITY PAGEANT: The Miss Ability Pageant, an outreach project of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, aims to raise awareness on behalf of people with disabilities. Prior to the competition, contestants are encouraged to raise funds and awareness for the fraternity’s philanthropy, The Ability Experience. The overall winner is selected based on judges’ scoring from interviews, fitness/sportswear, talent, evening gown, and an on-stage question. Miss Ability then serves as an official ambassador for The Ability Experience on the NSU campus during the following school year.
  
  
• ABILITY WEEK: The Beta Omicron Chapter’s “Ability Week” aims to spread awareness about disabilities, raise funds for The Ability Experience, and provide service to enhance the lives of those with disabilities. The week has included disability awareness activities such as wheelchair relays, blindfold tee ball, “Spread the Word to End the Word” awareness campaign, a penny wars fundraiser, a scaffold sit, a pedaling marathon, friendship visits, or an empathy dinner.

• NATCHITOCHES ARC PARTNERSHIP: Pi Kappa Phi regularly participates in friendship visits with the Natchitoches ARC. The partnership allows our members to interact with our friends with disabilities and provide services to the association as needed. Through this partnership, the Beta Omicron Chapter is able to award a ‘Circle of Giving’ grant through The Ability Experience. Circle of Giving grants are 25% of the chapter’s fundraising for the year and given to our local volunteer relationship.

• AccessABILITY: This construction program provides opportunities for Pi Kappa Phis across the country to get involved in their local community. Through the construction of wheelchair ramps, The Ability Experience and Pi Kappa Phi are making homes more accessible for families year after year. This program is designed to benefit families who have a family member with a disability.