Sigma Chi Celebrates 140 Years at UA, Launches $250,000 Iota Iota Bell Chapter Challenge Endowment Campaign

A cocktail reception and banquet were held at the chapter house on March 25 to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the Iota Iota Chapter of Sigma Chi at the University of Alabama. During the anniversary celebration, we also had the pleasure of announcing the Iota Iota Bell Chapter Challenge endowment campaign, which will help our undergraduate brothers reach new heights and continue Iota Iota’s reign of excellence into the future.

What Is the Bell Chapter Challenge?

Iota Iota’s endowment campaign stems from Sigma Chi Foundation’s Thomas Cowan Bell Chapter Challenge, which provides enhanced values-based leadership and scholarship benefits for undergraduate brothers. When compared to non-Bell undergraduate chapters*, Bell recipients averaged a higher overall cumulative GPA, as well as 58% more brothers on the Dean’s List, 63% more brothers active in campus organizations, 84% more brothers within academic honor societies, 400 more hours of community service per year, and $7,400 more raised per chapter for philanthropy.

The goals of the Iota Iota Bell Chapter Challenge include:

• Raise $250,000 to establish an Endowed Iota Iota Bell Chapter Fund at the Sigma Chi Foundation through tax-deductible charitable gifts.
• Establish a foundation of support for current and future generations of Iota Iota Chapter Sigma Chis.
• For the Iota Iota Chapter to be a leader in the fraternity with this initiative. If endowed, the Iota Iota Chapter will be the…
  • First chapter in the state of Alabama to receive this designation.
  • Second chapter in the SEC to attain these benefits.
  • Twelfth chapter in the Sigma Chi Fraternity to have a Bell Chapter Endowment (currently 242 active chapters).

The annual benefits for a Bell Chapter include:

• Three additional Balfour Leadership Training Workshop slots (eight total attendees free of charge)
• ADDITIONAL $250 travel stipend to Balfour LTW
• One designated Horizons slot for qualified applicant
• Two $1,000 scholarships for qualified applicants
• Crossroads alcohol and drug education program
• Donor recognition plaque for display in the chapter house
• Invitation to an exclusive Bell Chapter dinner at Balfour LTW

We hope you will join us in supporting this exciting endeavor. For an easier, faster way to donate to the Iota Iota Bell Chapter Challenge endowment campaign, go to http://microsites.sigmachi.org/grand-central.php?form=Iota-Iota to make your gift online.

*All data based on the 2016 Sigma Chi International Fraternity Annual Report (Peterson accreditation data) filed by undergraduate chapters.