| Pi Lambda Phi (ΠΛΦ) |
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|---|---|
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| Founded | 1895 Yale University |
| Type | Social |
| Scope | International |
| Motto | Nostros Amemus Not Four Years But a Lifetime |
| Colors | purple and gold |
| Flower | Woodbine |
| Chapters | 35 active in the United States and Canada 3 active colonies |
| Founders | Frederick Manfred Werner Louis Samter Levy Henry Mark Fisher |
| Headquarters | 36 Mill Plain Rd, Ste 309 Danbury, Connecticut, USA |
| Homepage | http://www.pilambdaphi.org/ |
Pi Lambda Phi (ΠΛΦ or Pi Lam) is a college social fraternity founded by Frederick Manfred Werner, Louis Samter Levy, and Henry Mark Fisher at Yale University in 1895. It was founded as the first non-sectarian fraternity, "a fraternity in which all men were brothers, no matter what their religion; a fraternity in which ability, open-mindedness, farsightedness, and a progressive, forward-looking attitude would be recognized as the basic attributes."[1] It currently boasts 35 chapters and four colonies in the United States and one chapter in Canada. The fraternity founded the Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity Educational Foundation[2] and sponsors the March of Dimes as its national benefactor.
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History
Pi Lambda Phi was founded in 1895 by three German Jewish students at Yale University who disliked the religious and racial limits of other fraternities. Chapters at other universities started soon after. While non-sectarian, it was predominately Jewish until the end of World War Two.[3]
Values
"Joining a fraternity means nothing. But when you have really worked for it, sweated for it, cursed it, and loved it, as well as the men in it, you have something."
– Brother Alfred "Koko" Kovner, PA Alpha Delta, Temple University '42
Philanthrophy
The official philanthropy of Pi Lambda Phi is the March of Dimes.[4]
The Pi Lambda Phi Educational Foundation [2] was founded in 1938 to provide educational scholarships for the brothers of the fraternity. It was reorganized as the Pi Lambda Phi Educational Foundation in 1992. In addition to providing scholarship and educational programs, the foundation provides recognition of humanitarian work for individuals outside of the fraternity through it’s sponsorship of the Pi Lambda Phi Humanitarian Award. . In additions to the educational foundation, Pi Lambda Phi recognizes The March of Dimes, [3] as a philanthropic enterprise supported by efforts of its undergraduate members..
The Creed of Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity
- That all Men are created Free and Equal.
- That no Society of Men can flourish unless Members of that Society are endowed with the Opportunities and Privileges of Freedom.
- That Freedom implies the Elimination of Prejudice – That the Elimination of Prejudice means a Better Understanding 'twixt Men.
- That it is incumbent upon me to fight for such Freedom even with my Life.
- That it is incumbent upon me in my Personal Life to be devoted to the Highest Standards of Honesty and Justice.
- That because my Country is dedicated to the Highest Standards of Freedom and Justice for all Men of all Creeds, I hereby pledge Allegiance to my Country, and to its National Symbol.
Famous Pi Lams
| Alumni | Notability |
|---|---|
| Norm Abram | American actor |
| Lewis Black | Stand-up comedian |
| Ben Cardin | Current United States Senator |
| Howard Cosell | American sports journalist |
| David Croll | Former Member of the Canadian Parliament |
| Mark Cuban | Current owner of the Dallas Mavericks |
| Harrison Dillard | Olympic Gold Medalist for track and field |
| Eliot Engel | Current United States Representative |
| Richard P. Feynman | American Physicist, considered the "Father of Quantum Mechanics" |
| Arthur Garfield Hays | Notable American Lawyer |
| Oscar Hammerstein II | American writer, producer, and director |
| Kevin James | Emmy Award-winning actor |
| Rafer Johnson | American decathlete, Olympic gold medalist. |
| Herbert Kohl | Current United States Senator, and current owner of the Milwaukee Bucks. |
| Sandy Koufax | Hall of Fame professional baseball player |
| Stanley Kramer | Academy Award-nominated American film director and producer |
| Rudy LaRusso | Professional basketball player in the NBA |
| Enoch Light | Classical violinist, bandleader, and recording engineer |
| Michael Mann | American film director and producer |
| Ed Rendell | Current Governor of Pennsylvania |
| Richard Rodgers | American composer |
| Bud Selig | Current Commissioner of Major League Baseball |
| Arlen Specter | Current United States Senator |
| Leigh Steinberg | Notable sportsagent |
| Sidney Yates | Former member of the United States House of Representatives |
Chapters
References
- ^ The Founders' Period History of the Fraternity
- ^ Educational Foundation Pi Lambda Phi Educational Foundation, Inc.
- ^ Sanua, Marianne Rachel (2003). ""Oh Yes, That Nonsectarian Jewish Fraternity": The Search for Identity 1895–1906" (Google Book Search). Going Greek: Jewish college fraternities in the United States, 1895-1945. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. pp. 49–50. LCCN 2002-007160. ISBN 9780814328576. OCLC 49799380. http://books.google.com/books?id=1u0sPzMEwOUC&pg=PA49#PPA49,M1. Retrieved May 19, 2009.
- ^ Pi Lambda Phi Partners with the March of Dimes official philanthropy March 2006
External links
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