Chi Omega Foundation News
Thank you to Susanne Bundy Bowen, Phi | USC who made a gift of $100,000 when we reached 1,290 donors in honor of our 129th year!
Susanne Bundy Bowen, Phi | USC is a veteran CEO, industry leader and board director with a consistent record for building profitable companies and inspiring exceptional teams. She has led five companies as CEO, and served on public, private, and professional association boards, contributing expertise in strategy and organizational health. Her leadership experience includes scale of start-ups to teams of over 1,300 employees and $1.2 Billion in revenues. Susanne lives in Austin.
Susanne attended The Nancy Walton Laurie Leadership Institute of Chi Omega’s Spring Flagship and immediately saw the program’s value. “I’ve come to appreciate that a company’s success comes down to how strong its leaders are in creating a culture of collaboration and team effectiveness. Individuals may have natural leadership instincts, but to flourish, we all need opportunities to learn.”
But the good news doesn’t end there; we also had an anonymous donor who is so inspired by Susanne Bundy Bowen’s generosity, that contributed a bonus gift of $12,900 at1,500 donors.
Celebrate Founders’ Day with a gift allowing you to ensure transformational change in our young leaders. You can give the gift of empowerment, know-how, and wellness and safety. How is that possible?
give the gift of empowerment
You can give the gift of empowerment through programs such as Firesides Leadership Training; the largest training that Chi Omega does both virtually and in-person each year. This year, over 3,800 chapter collegiate leaders and advisors were provided resources to help them be successful.
The theme this year was “Loud and Clear Leadership,” and had nothing to do with volume, but everything to do with connection, empathy, and engagement. It was a transformational weekend for chapter leaders and advisors who were able to share best practices and ease the burden of leadership by connecting with other chapter leaders throughout the country.
give the gift of Know-How
You can give the gift of know-how by providing resources such as The Nancy Walton Laurie Leadership Institute of Chi Omega. This important program is designed to inspire alumnae and collegians to explore concepts and strategies that result in extensive personal growth.
It is delivered in a variety of ways with the most intensive being Flagship session held over a spring and fall weekend in Memphis, TN, home of Chi Omega’s Executive Headquarters. If you haven’t applied for this program yet, I highly encourage you to do so. You will be amazed at the personal growth that takes place in just one weekend!
You can also give Sisters the gift of wellness and safety. Your gifts have allowed Chi Omega to provide new thoughtful, engaging videos created by Dr. Lauren Cook, Gamma Beta | UCLA, to help collegians know how to have those hard conversations, when to intervene or even when to seek help. Lauren is a licensed clinical psychologist, and she has also served Chi Omega as a National Leadership Consultant, a chapter advisor and now on Chi Omega’s Wellness and Safety Committee. We are so fortunate to have this accomplished Sister create content for Chi Omega!
Currently, the freshman series is on our Training and Resource Center. If you get a chance, watch these videos. I found them to be incredibly insightful. Lauren will create additional videos for sophomores, juniors and seniors with specific wellness and safety issues facing them each school year.
give the gift of wellness and safety
Chi Omega Sisters THANK YOU for your past support of Chi Omega
Chi Omega is for a lifetime, yet there are moments when our collegiate Sisters confront unforeseen financial challenges that jeopardize their Chi Omega membership during college. Your gift to the Helping Hands Fund for Undergraduate Support eases those financial burdens and allows them to continue to thrive within Chi Omega’s nurturing Sisterhood.
Celebrate Giving Tuesday and your Sisters with a gift to the Helping Hands Fund for Undergraduate Support. This permanently endowed fund supports our collegiate Sisters in times of unexpected financial hardship. While basic necessities do not include Chi Omega dues, they may include room and board, tuition and fees, educational supplies and medical expenses. By easing financial burdens, we hope to allow our Sisters to remain in Chi Omega’s supportive Sisterhood.
The Helping Hands Fund for Undergraduate Support has given $104,000 to 215 collegiate Sisters since its inception in 2021!
Celebrate your Sisters with a gift to the Helping Hands Fund for Undergraduate
Hear the impact of your gifts
to the Helping Hands Fund for Undergraduate Support.
Alana Fidler, Xi Delta | Toledo
“During student teaching, I was unable to work as many hours as I needed to pay for all of my expenses. I heard about the Helping Hands Fund from alumna and was encouraged to apply.
Receiving this grant allowed me to fund all my expenses while balancing work and school during my most demanding semester.”
Alana has served her chapter as Community Service Director, Chapter President, and Foundation Ambassador. Thank you, Alana, for your service to Chi Omega!
Emma Robbins, Epsilon Gamma | Tulsa
“Summer of my freshman year my mom had a heart attack. We found through extensive testing that she had a rare heart and vascular disease. I couldn’t work as much as I planned because my mom needed me to care for her since she had physical limitations while her heart was healing.
The grant from the Helping Hands Fund for Undergraduate Support allowed me to continue my education without the added financial stress. Thank you, Sisters, for your support.”
Emma is currently serving her chapter as Recruitment Chair and is a past Social Events Director.
Hannah Passwaters, Alpha Alpha | North Texas
"The grant from The Helping Hands Fund for Undergraduate Support allowed me to continue my personal growth within my chapter, all while relieving an unexpected financial burden. In January of 2022, tragedy struck as our family home burned down, shattering our lives in an instant. As I struggled with balancing school, work, and financial stress, I needed my Chi Omega Sisters more than ever before.
Having a circle of strong, empowering women to celebrate my victories and support me through my trials has indelibly transformed my life. As I prepare to enter the workforce, the unwavering support of this close-knit community has instilled in me an unshakeable belief in my own intelligence and resilience."
Hannah has served as a Foundation Ambassador in her chapter.