Mission
To strengthen the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity and the impact it has on the fight against Lou Gehrig's disease through the fundraising and athletic efforts of its members.
Iron Phi will:
- Strengthen the partnership between Phi Delta Theta and The ALS Association
- Raise monies and support for The ALS Association
- Raise monies and support for the Phi Delta Theta Foundation to support educational programming within Phi Delta Theta
- Provide members of Phi Delta Theta with the opportunity to achieve personal athletic goals
- Strengthen the Phi Delt community by bringing undergraduates and alumni athletes together
About Iron Phi
The concept of Iron Phi was developed as a way to strengthen both Phi Delta Theta and its impact on the fight against Lou Gehrig's disease. The Fraternity has a philanthropic partnership with The ALS Association, a non-profit entity with the mission of bringing awareness to the disease and finding its cure. Through the fundraising efforts of members of Phi Delta Theta on the way to achieving personal athletic goals, the Fraternity will be able to mobilize its membership base to help the Phi Delta Theta Foundation and The ALS Association achieve their missions.
To become an "Iron Phi", members of Phi Delta Theta (undergraduates and alumni) must select an athletic endeavor (marathon, half-marathon, running relay, triathlon, duathlon, ironman, bike race, etc.), raise $1,000 during the training for that athletic event, and accomplish the athletic event itself. It is our goal to have a select number of large-scale Iron Phi events each year across North America, but we also envision brothers becoming "Iron Phis" through chapter or individual-led athletic endeavors in local communities.
Lou Gehrig was known as the "Iron Horse" during his baseball career because of his durability and perseverance. His prowess as a hitter, consecutive games-played record (2,130), and never-give-up attitude after being stricken with ALS inspired those around him. In the spirit of Brother Gehrig, the name "Iron Phi" was given to the initiative to encourage those involved to remembers Lou's approach to life when setting out to achieve something.
Watch a short online informational session about Iron Phi
Ways to Get Involved:
- Join a group of Phis from multiple chapters to accomplish your athletic goal at a featured Iron Phi event. 2010 events include:
- Flying Pig Marathon - Cincinnati, Ohio - Sunday, May 2 (Marathon, Half-Marathon, or 4-Person Marathon Relay)
- Kansas City Marathon - Kansas City, Missouri - Saturday, October 16 (Marathon, Half-Marathon, or 4-Person Marathon Relay)
- Dallas White Rock Marathon - Dallas, Texas - Sunday, December 12 (Marathon, Half-Marathon, or 5-Person Marathon Relay)
- Gather a group of your chapter brothers to fundraise and accomplish a race in your local community. (Any race is acceptable)
- Individually fundraise and participate in a race of your choice.
- Donate to an Iron Phi’s fundraising efforts or the Iron Phi general fund.
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Sponsor Iron Phi and have your company's logo visible on our website
- Open your doors and host an Iron Phi when he comes to town for a large group event
Inspiration for the Concept
The Iron Phi concept is a hybrid of two existing entities:
Team in Training
Team in Training, is an endurance sports training program. The program provides training to run or walk a full marathon or half marathon or participate in a triathlon, or a century (100-mile) bike ride. Team members raise funds to help support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in exchange for a life changing experience, certified coaches, training clinics, personal fundraising Web site, support from staff and teammates, a fundraising mentor, event fees, and lodging and airfare to more than 60 accredited events in the US and abroad.
Since 1988, more than 340,000 volunteer participants have helped raise more than US$800 million for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which says that TNT is the oldest and largest endurance sports training program in the world.
PUSH America
www.pushamerica.org
Push America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 1977 through Pi Kappa Phi as a way for undergraduate fraternity brothers to experience leadership development through service of people with disabilities. PUSH remains the exclusive philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi. Push America's organization is based on three central areas of focus: Disability Awareness, Fundraising, and Volunteerism.
Major events include the Journey of Hope- three cross-country bike journeys during the summer, each consisting of 50+ Pi Kappa Phis who have raised money to participate ($500,000 raised each summer), Give-a-Push and Push Camp weeks that bring Pi Kappa Phis together over spring break to tackle handicap accessible construction projects at camps for kids with disabilities, and other smaller scale athletic and construction endeavors.
